Peter Kuckat ©Leuphana
"My son was looking for a place to study after his Abitur. Coincidentally, we came across the programme for guest auditors" , said Peter Kuckat.

Peter Kuckat often cycles to Lüneburg three times a week. This way he not only does something for his health, but also for his head: "Enrolling in the guest auditor programme at Leuphana was the best decision I could have made." Until a year ago, the graduate in business administration was still active in his profession. Most recently he worked in the finance department of the HWK (Chamber of Crafts), and before that he had been head of its Meisterakademie Plus Lüneburg. In the course catalogue for guest auditors, he therefore chose offers from economics and social sciences: "I wanted to build on my existing knowledge and see what I still retained from my own studies."

The father of a family didn't just discover Leuphana's programme for guest auditors when he retired: "My son was looking for a place to study after his Abitur. Coincidentally, we came across the programme for guest auditors." Peter Kuckat was immediately intrigued, but his professional responsibilities did not allow him to attend university. The Melbeck resident has now enrolled at Leuphana for the start of the 2022 winter semester: "The content is high quality and the lectures and seminars are livelier than a book." He can't imagine studying without coming to the lecture hall: "I can't imagine listening to a lecture on Zoom yet. I would miss the contact with lecturers and fellow students." Peter Kuckat enjoys the exchange after the lecture and the atmosphere on campus: "Once a week I visit the cafeteria and eat vegan food. I probably wouldn't have tried that without my time at Leuphana."

In terms of content, Peter Kuckat is also entering partly unknown territory: "Among other topics, I am attending a lecture on the basics of Christology, although faith and the church have not been of major interest to me so far. Now I have a better understanding of many things and can make qualified comments."

Peter Kuckat intends to continue his studies as a guest auditor in the coming semester and to look into sustainability, among other options.

The Open Lecture Hall is intended as a portal for anyone interested in continuing their academic education. Anyone can become a guest auditor - regardless of previous education or school-leaving qualification. There are no admission requirements. Guest auditors attend courses from the university's regular programme of study and thus have the opportunity for intergenerational professional exchange and to make new contacts. Courses from different departments can be combined. The fee for up to 4 semester hours per week (SWS) is 102.00 Euros per semester. Students who wish to take more than 4 SWS pay 153.00 Euros.

Leuphana warmly invites all those interested to the information event on Tuesday 21 March 2023 at 4.30 p.m. in the central building on the Leuphana campus (room C40.256). You will receive information about the schedule and the most important dates in the coming summer semester, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas with guest auditors. Please register by 14 March 2023 by email to offener-hoersaal@leuphana.de.