The shortage of skilled workers is a key challenge for companies in the wir4 region (cities of Kamp-Lintfort, Moers, Neukirchen-Vluyn and Rheinberg) and the district of Wesel. At the same time, the region is a popular place to study, attracting many talented individuals from abroad. At Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, they are trained in a variety of degree programmes. The STAY2GROW funding project aims to encourage these highly qualified people to stay in the region, as until now most of them leave after graduating.
Through cultural, sporting and social activities, as well as accessible counselling and placement opportunities in the regional labour market, STAY2GROW aims to encourage students to choose a future in the wir4 region and ensure that its diverse business landscape gets the skilled workers it needs. Companies will be supported through initiatives that facilitate recruitment and integration of international workers. We are convinced that international students are one key to the future success of the region’s economy.
Within a regional network, we are developing solutions that will benefit companies, students and urban societies. We are always happy to welcome new partners, please get in touch if interested.
STAY2GROW is a project funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, implemented by wir4-Agentur für Wirtschafts- und Strukturförderung GmbH on behalf of the wir4 cities.
Please find further information on the project here.
Josephine Runge
Tel. +49 (0) 2841 999969-13
josephine.runge@wir4.net
Sarah Bothen
Tel. +49 (0) 2841 999969-15
s.bothen@wir4.net
Eliza Kliuchnyk
Tel. +49 (0) 2841 999969-15
e.kliuchnyk@wir4.net
Over the past few months, we have been working intensively on concrete ideas and measures aimed at better integrating international students into the region, opening up new opportunities for them, and at the same time sustainably strengthening connections with society, associations, and businesses. We are now pleased to present these for the first time.
International students do need a central platform providing all the essentials at a glance: relevant information about culture, sport associations and events in the wir4-region.
As part of an Interdisciplinary Project (IP), students from different semesters and study programs came together in three project groups to explore where exactly barriers and challenges exist in everyday professional and private life, and how these can be removed or how students can be supported in overcoming them.
As part of the federal competition “Zukunft Region,” we were present on behalf of the STAY2GROW project and presented the initiative at our own information stand.
To raise awareness of our STAY2GROW project in the municipalities, Josephine Runge was among the guests at the forum “Zusammen - Leben in Kamp-Lintfort” where she presented STAY2GROW.
On November 20, 2025, the 3rd Annual Regional Policy Conference of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy took place in Chemnitz, where STAY2GROW also presented itself.
