FH Intercultural Theology Hermannsburg

University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology

Welcome to FIT

The University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology (FIT) is specializing in the fields of intercultural theology, diaconia and ecumenical cooperation in a global context. Students acquire in praxis-oriented teaching and research the essential intercultural, theological and social diaconal qualifications to deal with the everchanging challenges being faced in the wake of globalization.

The FIT is also an exceptional place of intercultural and interreligious encounter: Students from Germany and all over the world live and learn together and share with one another their diverse theological and cultural backgrounds.Currently, 92 students from 33 countries are studying at the FIT - including the Master's programme "Intercultural Theology" offered in cooperation with the University of Göttingen.

In particular our students perceive the internationality and interculturality on campus, combined with the special range of courses offered at our university of applied sciences, as unique and horizon widening. At the FIT students do not only learn about Intercultural Theology in the lectures, but they live it every day in the community. Here you are "FACING GOD AND THE WORLD"!

Get inspired by this diversity!

Invitation to Devotions & More

Dear students, dear members of faculty and staff, dear friends of FIT,
With the start of lectures, the doors of the FIT Chapel have opened for various forms of common pause and reflection on God and our faith. You can find details here:
Spiritual Life at FIT
A warm welcome!

Internships of FIT students: Diverse, global and local

At the end of the winter semester 2022/23, five students of FIT returned to the campus after their long-term internship and publicly reported on their experiences. This year, all students chose to do an internship in Germany, but nonetheless in very different settings and with global reference. Read more here: Report-Longterm-Internship-2023.pdf

Inaugural Lecture by Professor Dr. Kleine Vennekate

Since 01.04.2022, Professor Dr. Katharina Kleine Vennekate has held the chair of Practical Theology with a focus on diakonia in an intercultural perspective at the University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology Hermannsburg (FIT). On Jan. 31, 2023, she delivered her inaugural lecture to FIT faculty, staff and students, as well as to family members and guests. The topic of the inaugural lecture was "Supporting traumatized migrants as a task of intercultural pastoral care in church communities".

On behalf of the entire team, Rector Professor Dr. Andreas Kunz-Lübcke thanked Professor Kleine Vennekate for her great commitment to FIT as a teacher, Vice Dean for Administrative Affairs and appreciated colleague. The students - represented by MA student Seoyeon Han - also recognized her dedication to the university and presented her with a bouquet of flowers.

With almost two semesters at FIT behind her, Professor Dr. Kleine Vennekate sums up for herself as follows: "Working at FIT and the community as well as the exchange with students and colleagues gives me a lot of pleasure".

Here you can find the summary of the lecture:

Report Inaugural Lecture 31-01-2023

FIT celebrates Graduation

In September 2022, the University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology Hermannsburg (FIT) celebrated the graduation of six students.The celebration began in the FIT Chapel with a service led by Prof. Dr. Katharina Kleine Vennekate, follwed by the ceremony for the official presentation of diplomas. Rector Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Richebächer, who retired a few days later at the end of September 2022, was the first well-wisher and characterized the six graduates from Kenya, Nigeria, Georgia, China/Hong Kong and Germany in his address as a "great social treasure of our society and our churches in a world torn apart by war, racism and ecological crises." Further congratulators were the regional bishop Dr. Karl-Hinrich Manzke (Ev.-luth. Landeskirche Schaumburg-Lippe), Director Michael Thiel (Ev.-luth.-Mission Society in Lower Saxony / ELM) and Sabine Rudnick (deputy mayor of the municipality Südheide) who came to offer their congratulations. Finally, the graduates represented by Jeremiah Friday Ogbaga, Keti Verulidze and Ann Naliaka took the floor and expressed words of joy and thanks.

Here is the report from the Graduation (in German): Bericht Graduierungsfeier 2022

Mission Committee decides to close FIT after a transitional period. University operation continues until probably 2025

The Mission Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Lower Saxony (ELM) decided on the 09.03.2021 to phase out the two Bachelor degree programmes at the University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology Hermannsburg.

University operations will continue until students who have started their studies by the winter semester 2021/2022 can complete their degree prgramme within the standard or maximum period of study according to the respective examination regulations.

Although the FIT enjoys a high reputation, especially among actors from science, mission and ecumenism, because of the good quality in teaching and research as much as because of its educational offer relevant for society and churches, financial aspects ultimately had priority in the decision-making of the MA.

FIT has taken a position on the closure decision as follows: Open letter FIT to closure decision

For details on the Mission Committee`s decision please check here: https://www.fh-hermannsburg-eng.landeskirche-hannovers.de/News-and-events

The FIT is looking constructively to the future and is seeking options as to how and where intercultural theology can be anchored academically and also in church structures in the future. We do this out of the conviction that intercultural theology is relevant for church and society and will become even more relevant in the future.