Information Platform for Refugees
Context
Upon their arrival in Germany, refugees have many questions, including issues such as medical care, the asylum process, participation in language courses, activities with locals, or finding a job. Since the number of refugees has increased significantly in recent years, it is difficult to provide every refugee with an answer to all their questions. Moreover, this information varies from city to city. Therefore, providing refugees with the right information at the right time in the right format is a major challenge.
Benefit
Integreat makes it easier for refugees to access relevant information during their first months in Germany. In addition, the app facilitates the work of volunteers and social service providers. In August 2019, 52 cities and municipalities in Germany are already using the Integreat app. The collaboration with local job platforms enables refugees to find suitable internships and jobs.
In July 2018, Integreat was selected as a lighthouse project of the Google.org Impact Challenge and awarded a prize of 250,000 € to expand the functionality of the app and increase its reach. In addition, the Integreat project received other awards such as the "Heroes of the Homeland" award (from the Adalbert Raps Foundation), the "Integration Award" from the government of the Swabian region, the Generation D Award, and the Social Impact Award from the TUM School of Management.
Aim
The aim of the Integreat project is to develop an app that provides refugees in different cities with relevant information in a language they are familiar with. City governments, volunteers and social service providers can share information and offers with refugees using the app.
Realization
To achieve the project goal, we are developing an app for refugees and a platform where city administrators, volunteers and social service providers can share information and offers. Since refugees do not have a constant internet connection, the app downloads information packages from the platform and stores them on their smartphones. The app is customizable for each city to accommodate differences between cities. In addition, we provide a package of general information for Germany to reduce the customization effort for each city. To realize this project, we are working closely with experts such as "Tür an Tür e.V.," an initiative to support asylum seekers.
Search & People Search
Location & approach
The campus of TU Dortmund University is located close to interstate junction Dortmund West, where the Sauerlandlinie A 45 (Frankfurt-Dortmund) crosses the Ruhrschnellweg B 1 / A 40. The best interstate exit to take from A 45 is "Dortmund-Eichlinghofen" (closer to Campus Süd), and from B 1 / A 40 "Dortmund-Dorstfeld" (closer to Campus Nord). Signs for the university are located at both exits. Also, there is a new exit before you pass over the B 1-bridge leading into Dortmund.
To get from Campus North to Campus South by car, there is the connection via Vogelpothsweg/Baroper Straße. We recommend you leave your car on one of the parking lots at Campus North and use the H-Bahn (suspended monorail system), which conveniently connects the two campuses.
TU Dortmund University has its own train station ("Dortmund Universität"). From there, suburban trains (S-Bahn) leave for Dortmund main station ("Dortmund Hauptbahnhof") and Düsseldorf main station via the "Düsseldorf Airport Train Station" (take S-Bahn number 1, which leaves every 20 or 30 minutes). The university is easily reached from Bochum, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr and Duisburg.
You can also take the bus or subway train from Dortmund city to the university: From Dortmund main station, you can take any train bound for the Station "Stadtgarten", usually lines U41, U45, U 47 and U49. At "Stadtgarten" you switch trains and get on line U42 towards "Hombruch". Look out for the Station "An der Palmweide". From the bus stop just across the road, busses bound for TU Dortmund University leave every ten minutes (445, 447 and 462). Another option is to take the subway routes U41, U45, U47 and U49 from Dortmund main station to the stop "Dortmund Kampstraße". From there, take U43 or U44 to the stop "Dortmund Wittener Straße". Switch to bus line 447 and get off at "Dortmund Universität S".
The H-Bahn is one of the hallmarks of TU Dortmund University. There are two stations on Campus Nord. One ("Dortmund Universität S") is directly located at the suburban train stop, which connects the university directly with the city of Dortmund and the rest of the Ruhr Area. Also from this station, there are connections to the "Technologiepark" and (via Campus Süd) Eichlinghofen. The other station is located at the dining hall at Campus Nord and offers a direct connection to Campus Süd every five minutes.
The AirportExpress is a fast and convenient means of transport from Dortmund Airport (DTM) to Dortmund Central Station, taking you there in little more than 20 minutes. From Dortmund Central Station, you can continue to the university campus by interurban railway (S-Bahn). A larger range of international flight connections is offered at Düsseldorf Airport (DUS), which is about 60 kilometres away and can be directly reached by S-Bahn from the university station.
The departments of TU Dortmund University are spread over two campuses, the larger Campus North and the smaller Campus South. Additionally, some areas of the university are located in the adjacent "Technologiepark".
Street navigation from and to the TU Dortmund University:
The document and the graphic represent the motorways and federal highways around the TU Dortmund University in a very simplified way:
This interactive map helps you find and navigate between facilities and buildings on campus:
This document contains a simple campus map in German and English: