When Taoufik Mghiouach walks through the door of the IT Centre at OTH Regensburg, it usually doesn’t take long before the first laughter rings out. A quick joke here, a friendly greeting there. His colleagues like his laid-back manner. And he likes the people around him. There’s a good reason why he’s been receiving so many congratulations of late: the Moroccan-born man has been granted German citizenship. Shortly afterwards, his position at OTH Regensburg was also made permanent.
It is a moment Taoufik Mghiouach has been working towards for a long time. He has been living in Germany since 2014. Back then, he came to Bavaria to study computer science at OTH Regensburg. He completed his bachelor’s degree and stayed. The city became the centre of his life. The university became a familiar place.
In December 2023, he joined the IT Centre at OTH Regensburg. Among other things, he manages applications in the areas of CRM and WebUntis. His colleagues say he quickly found his feet professionally. And socially, of course. “Taoufik fits perfectly into the team. He brings expertise to the table, but above all a positive attitude that shapes the way we work together,” says IT Centre Head Christian Broser.
Bureaucratic hurdles overcome
For a long time, however, a small bureaucratic question mark hung over his professional future. The post was intended as a permanent position from the outset. However, because his residence permit was issued on a temporary basis, his employment contract could only ever be extended on a fixed-term basis.
“It was always clear to us that we wanted to keep Taoufik on long-term. But the legal framework made that difficult,” explains Andreas Biersack, his team leader. “We’re all the more delighted that things are now clear.”
The path to naturalisation required patience: forms, supporting documents, exams. In the naturalisation test, Taoufik Mghiouach answered 33 out of 35 questions correctly. He now holds German citizenship as well as Moroccan citizenship.
For OTH Regensburg, his story is more than just a personal success story. It is a prime example of successful integration. “Taoufik shows just how successful integration can be when people are given opportunities and make the most of them with dedication,” says Vice-President Prof. Dr Christoph Skornia.
“Our university thrives on openness and internationalism.”
President Ralph Schneider also sees this as an important signal: “Our university thrives on openness and internationalism. We are delighted that Taoufik has made the transition from student to permanent member of staff.”
The man himself doesn’t make a big fuss about it. That’s just like him. His colleagues describe him as down-to-earth, humorous and easy-going. He likes telling jokes. He enjoys the Bavarian dialect. And he has long since made Regensburg his home.
Perhaps that is precisely what is so remarkable: for Taoufik Mghiouach, integration was never a major project. It happened step by step. In the lecture theatre. In the office. In conversations with colleagues. In everyday life. Today he’s back at his desk in the IT centre. The door opens. Someone calls out a greeting to him. Taoufik smiles. And this time it’s clear: he’s staying.
