Siegen is a middle-sized university city with about 105.000 inhabitants and located in the south part of North Rhine-Westphalia. Ranked as the regional metropolis in the South Westphalian urban agglomeration Siegen has much to offer: low fees in the daycare-facilities for children, a good health care system, building plots and different possibilities for recreational and sportive activities in the city itself and in its surrounding area. Hence it is a very livable city and particularly interesting for families.

Its economic structure is characterized by small and medium-sized family-owned companies which offer good career prospects; lots of them are global market leader, so called “hidden champions”. The city has a constant low unemployment rate.

For a long time Siegen was affected by the tradition of mining and building huts. Up to today it is deemed as the German centre of steel and sheet metal processing. During the 60’s and 70’s Siegen was attracting many Gastarbeiter, immigrant workers. Today about 20percent of the inhabitants have a migrant background.

Together with the Urban Integration Council and about 40 migrant communities Siegen celebrates the annual and well-known “festival of friendship”, a great party to promote diversity and cultural awareness. Beyond this great festival Siegen organizes a lot of recurring events against right-wing extremism, racism and anti-semitism like the “European Action Week Against Racism”, the “Intercultural Week” or other events aiming to promote civil commitment, democratic behaviour and efforts that benefit diversity and tolerance. Many of these activities are supported by the federal government within the framework of programmes like “Encouraging Tolerance – Strengthening Skills” or “Demokratie leben!”

The University of Siegen with its students and exchange students give our city a youthful international flair.