Initiative Solidarische Welt Ilmenau e.V.

"ISWI" is the abbreviation for "Initiative Solidarische Welt Ilmenau" (Initiative for World Solidarity, Ilmenau). We are a student-led association founded by the students of Ilmenau University of Technology in 1992 to foster tolerance, understanding among nations and an international attitude. Our biggest project is the “International Student Week in Ilmenau” (also abbreviated as “ISWI”). ISWI is the largest student conference of its kind in Germany. It takes place every second year on the campus of Ilmenau University of Technology. During the 10 days of ISWI, young people from around the world with different cultural, educational, and personal backgrounds have a platform to get-to-know each other and to share their view points. The purpose of the intercultural dialogue is to improve tolerance and open-mindedness among its participants as well as the locals of the city of Ilmenau. The participants of the student week will have the opportunity to exchange their experiences and views, to discuss current issues and to develop ideas and possible solutions for the discussed problems.

We have approximately 40 active members. Additionally, there are numerous inactive members who continue to support us. As we prepare for larger projects, many more volunteers join forces with us.

Our association is also the Local Erasmus Initiative at the TU Ilmenau. As LEI Ilmenau, our events also have the goal of preparing outgoing Erasmus students for their stay abroad. In addition, we want to bring incoming Erasmus students together with our events and integrate them into the intercultural campus.

ISWI e.V. has been a long-standing member of the District Youth Association (KJR). The KJR focuses its work on the promotion and further development of youth work in the district. It represents the interests of its members to the public, representative bodies and authorities. It is important for ISWI to ensure that all people live and work together, especially on the campus of the TU Ilmenau - but also to promote the exchange and support to foreign and German people. At ISWI e.V., we regularly bring this interest into the district youth group. There we work with other associations and initiatives, share our projects and also receive great support from the other member associations in organizing our International Student Week.

We are also part of the SOrCE network (Students Organising Conventions Everywhere), which brings together various associations and institutions that organise conferences and festivals similar to the ISWI. The aim in setting up this network was to create a basis for collaboration, to help one another with organisation and to learn from one another.