Welcome to a free YUFE Academy Lecture and poster exhibition open to anyone interested on May 9, 10-12:00 in GW2 B2880. Registration via the YUFE Virtual Campus: Link

Loneliness remains a significant yet often overlooked challenge for international students, impacting their mental health, academic success, and overall wellbeing. As newcomers, they frequently struggle to build meaningful connections beyond their university environment, facing barriers such as cultural differences, language difficulties, and social exclusion.

This talk presents findings from comparative studies on international student loneliness conducted by Dr Polina Ivanova (University of Bremen) in the UK, Japan, and the US, highlighting key factors contributing to social isolation and the coping strategies students employ. Preliminary insights from Germany, based on her interviews and observations in Bremen, will also be discussed. The talk will explore the role of university support services in fostering inclusion, practical steps institutions can take to create more socially connected environments, and considerations for policy and institutional change.
By addressing loneliness proactively, universities can enhance international students' sense of belonging and wellbeing, ultimately improving their academic and social experiences. This session aims to provide practitioners with insights and actionable recommendations to better support international students in their institutions.

Bio: Dr Polina Ivanova is a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Education (FB 12), University of Bremen, working on the project "International students’ loneliness and social engagement in European university cities" within the framework of the YUFE4Postdocs programme, co-funded by the European Commission and the YUFE Alliance. Her research interests include international higher education, civil society, and migrant wellbeing.
Her recent publications include:
? Civil Society and International Students in Japan: The Making of Social Capital (Routledge, 2023)
? Refugees and Asylum Seekers in East Asia: Perspectives from Japan and Taiwan (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024, co-edited with Dr Lara Momesso)
? International Students’ Loneliness and Social Engagement: Narratives from the United States and Japan (Journal of International Students, 2025, co-authored with Yi Sun, Wendan Li, and Krishna Bista).

After the presentation and the Q&A round (10-11:00), there will be a poster exhibition (11-12:00) presenting related projects and results from researchers of the University of Bremen:

1. Dr. Matthias Olk "Inklusion als normative Aufgabe. Rekonstruktionen zur Alltagsmoral grundschulp?dagogischer Praxis"
2. Dr. Deniz Barasi  “Studieren unter Bedingungen des ?konomisierten Lehramtsstudiums - Eine rassismuskritische Perspektive auf Professionalisierungsprozessen angehender Lehrer*innen”
3. Prof. Dr. Natascha Korff und Dr. Jenny Bredull “Lehramt International: Reflecting Diversity and Inclusion in Teacher Education”