From the beginning, the University of Erfurt focused its objectives towards excellence of research and appealing academic and teaching conditions, to be achieved by a cooperative and international approach based on excellent working conditions for scholars in their early academic career and for academics from abroad as well as options for students to study abroad and make a lifetime experience. To create a successful international campus community, social support and the non-academic integration of international students are of special importance. Some goals of the first strategy were the sustainable perpetuation of our welcoming culture, the development and maintenance of international appealing Bachelor and Master degree courses, the organization of international summer/winter schools, as well as the promotion and development of offerings for the acquisition of intercultural competencies. In addition to the improvement and/or perpetuation of competitiveness of the University of Erfurt on a national and international level, the university attaches special importance to providing a neutral space for academic discourse.