In the context of the “Studium+M” programme, five Studentenwerke implemented a pilot project over a period of three years (2015 to 2018) to address the current situation of students with a migration background and host conditions at the higher education locations, and to make improvements in line with the programme’s objectives.
Studierendenwerk Bonn
The pilot project Studium? Läuft! (Higher education studies? Going nicely!) of the Studierendenwerk Bonn follows five principles (motivate, inform, advise, support and study) and addresses the current situation of school pupils and students with a migration background in the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg higher education region. The aim is to encourage more pupils with a migration background to decide to pursue higher education studies and to motivate students with a migration background to successfully graduate. The spheres of action are schools, higher education institutions, the Studierendenwerke and the environment of municipal and private stakeholders who are already active in the topic area. The core target groups are pupils with a migration background as well as their parents, and students with a migration background.
The project Studium? Läuft! is mentored by Deutsches Studierendenwerk in the context of the Studium+M programme and financially supported by Stiftung Mercator.
Project results
The practical core of Studium? Läuft! is the schools programme in which an entire class of pupils visited us in the Studierendenwerk. First they listened to presentations about BAföG, housing and the services of the Studierendenwerk. Then the student “education role models” designed the “motivational” part of the programme with experience reports, individual discussion, a higher education institution puzzle hunt through the library, advice on study programmes etc., and then a meal together in the Mensa. In addition, there was a taster course in which pupils attended university/college events during their autumn holidays, accompanied by the education role models. The peer-to-peer approach, which was elementary to the Studium? Läuft! programme proved to be very successful. The partnership with the schools created new experiences. We recently started a partnership with two youth centres, meaning that a new and very motivated group of pupils moved into our sphere of activity.
From the project’s early stages, we discussed the use of the term “migration background” contained in the programme name and decided that we would focus on it as little as possible via the project wording. Our conclusion was that it was a very good idea to fill the interface between school and higher education studies with a programme such as Studium? Läuft!. We were very surprised that very many students – whether they had a migration background or not – did not know that they could apply for BaföG or had very little information about it. In many cases, this newly acquired knowledge was the foundation for considering higher education studies. We think that the mixture of information and motivation, which peers can communicate better than anyone else, is a promising concept that could be included in the counselling and advisory service of the Studierendenwerke. After all, it’s about the students of tomorrow.
Information and contact details at: www.studium-laeuft.de
Studierendenwerk Darmstadt
The project Vielfalt leben – vom Ihr zum WIR (Living diversity – from YOU to WE) focuses on the potential-oriented partnership between students with a migration background and society, so that diversity can actually be experienced as an enrichment. This promotes change towards a more open society and equal opportunities.
The often deficit-oriented way of thinking and viewing things needs to be replaced by a positive, resource-oriented perspective. This can only succeed if significantly more people than before are willing and able to enter into an interactive dialogue, build trust and develop understanding for one another. “Vielfalt leben – vom Ihr zum WIR” is based on the pillars of interface analysis and networking, the inclusion of pupils with a migration background and their parents, and staff development on the topic of diversity/interculturality at the Studentenwerk.
As part of “Studium+M – a programme aimed at encouraging more students with a migration background into higher education studies”, the project “Vielfalt leben – vom Ihr zum WIR” (Living diversity – from YOU to WE) was supported by Stiftung Mercator until the end of 2018 and mentored by Deutsches Studierendenwerk.
As part of “Studium+M – a programme aimed at encouraging more students with a migration background into higher education studies”, the project “Vielfalt leben – vom Ihr zum WIR” (Living diversity – from YOU to WE) was supported by Stiftung Mercator until the end of 2018 and mentored by Deutsches Studentenwerk.
Project results
The focus of our project Vielfalt leben. Vom Ihr zum WIR is promoting the resources and strengths of pupils and students with a migration background in a targeted manner and developing a sustainable culture of welcome through true diversity at the Studierendenwerk Darmstadt. Vielfalt Leben. Vom Ihr zum WIR focuses on longer-term change processes. It was intended to pave the way for open cooperation between pupils, students at the TU Darmstadt and Hochschule Darmstadt (Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences) as well as employees of the Studierendenwerk. The aim was to make the topic of self-perception and perception of others tangible and to raise awareness of the fact that there is no single truth. Only those who are prepared to reflect on their own thoughts and attitudes, and to incorporate new and initially unfamiliar thoughts can overcome hurdles in their interactions with other people. Together with the project management, our team of five tutors designed various workshops that promote respectful and discrimination-free interaction. An intensive collaboration was established between the tutors and the "Albert-Schweitzer" Gesamtschule as partner school. Together with an after school club of pupils from years 9 and 10, we designed workshops under the motto “school without racism” for other pupils in the school. As part of the intercultural professional training for Studierendenwerk employees, the workshop for Studierendenwerk apprentices was a particularly colourful highlight.
Two studies provide information on the situation of pupils and students with a migration background:
The quantitative 2016 survey, “Zukunftspläne nach der Schule (“Plans for the future after you leave school”), conducted on our behalf by the Institute of Sociology at the TU Darmstadt, produced worthwhile results. Around 1,300 senior class pupils from 15 schools took part in the survey. The evaluation shows that pupils with a migration background have a greater desire to study than native pupils. Nevertheless, they are much less likely to attend higher education institutions after leaving school.
In qualitative interviews carried out in 2018, the students at TU Darmstadt and Hochschule Darmstadt who were surveyed cited insufficient information on training opportunities as being one of the “stumbling blocks” on the path to higher education studies. In addition, the usual performance assessment systems discourage many people. The financial situation is also often an insurmountable hurdle.
Kölner Studierendenwerk
The #StudiScout project focuses in particular on providing information and stimulating motivation at a pre-university stage. In partnership with Cologne’s higher education institutions and experts in student financing, social counselling and student accommodation, we organise presentations on the social and economic conditions and requirements for higher education studies. Our student #Scouts report on everyday life on campus and describe their often difficult path to higher education, thus acting as living education role models for pupils with a migration background and parents who did not themselves attend a higher education institution. #StudiScout stands for educational equality and focuses primarily on information, education and motivation. A further area is the strengthening of the intercultural skills of the employees of the WERK (KStW). #StudiScout organises and presents diversity seminars as well as communication and conflict workshops to this end. #StudiScout is mentored by Deutsches Studierendenwerk in the context of the Studium+M programme and financially supported by Stiftung Mercator.
Project results
The #StudiScout project focuses in particular on providing information and stimulating motivation at a pre-university stage. In partnership with Cologne’s higher education institutions and experts in student financing, social counselling and student accommodation, we organise presentations on the social and economic conditions and requirements for higher education studies. Our student #scouts report on everyday life on campus and describe their often difficult path to higher education, thus acting as living education role models for pupils with a migration background and parents who did not themselves attend a higher education institution. #StudiScout stands for educational equality and focuses primarily on information, education and motivation. Another field is strengthening the intercultural skills of employees at the Kölner Studierendenwerk. To this end, #StudiScout organises and hosts diversity seminars as well as communication and conflict workshops.
#StudiScout was an insightful project. It helped pupils to get to grips with the social and economic conditions of studying even before starting their studies. Knowing about the support options available also motivated those who could not initially imagine studying at higher education level. Kölner Studierendenwerk (KStW) will also focus more on networked corporate marketing in the future and also take “not-yet-students” into account in its corporate communications. The partner schools will stay in contact with the KStW and collaborate with the Studierendenwerk. The KStW will not be continuing the #StudiScout project, not least because of the federal state talent scouting programme. Inexplicably, Studierendenwerke were not eligible to apply for this programme.
Studentenwerk Marburg
Campus Marburg All In was the name of the regional pilot project of the Studentenwerk Marburg. The central topic of the project was the improvement of equal opportunities and a culture of appreciation for students with a migration background at Philipps-Universität Marburg. The Studentenwerk Marburg was able to gain various local partners for this, because it is well known that: “Marburg not only has a university, Marburg is a university”. The project team’s agenda included visits to schools and the intercultural opening of the Studentenwerk's administration department. Another aim of the three-year project was to explore how access to existing local counselling and advisory service for young people with a migration background and their families can be made easier and more transparent. The aim was to promote and support potential, eliminate uncertainties and thus contribute to students with a migration background successfully completing their courses of study.
“Campus Marburg All In”, part of the project “Studium+M – programme for more students with a migration background”, was mentored until 2018 by Deutsches Studierendenwerk and supported by Stiftung Mercator.
“Campus Marburg All In”, part of the project “Studium+M – programme for more students with a migration background”, was mentored until 2018 by Deutsches Studentenwerk and supported by Stiftung Mercator.
Project results
The regional pilot project “Campus Marburg All In” placed the topic of networking at the centre of its project work, because “other cities have a university, Marburg is a university!” The project work was based on a survey of all Marburg students in the winter semester of 2016 in partnership with the city of Marburg. The result showed that only 1/9 of those surveyed from the target group were aware of the various counselling and advisory services for students in Marburg, but 2/3 would like to use them. We therefore bundled our energy into a wide-ranging social media campaign. In collaboration with a regional start-up company, we created five video spots on the five core areas of the Studentenwerk (daycare for children known as “Kita”, BAföG and social counselling, food and residence halls) and published them on various digital and print channels and platforms.
We held a networking conference with various partners and, together with the Department of Education at Philipps-Universität, developed an interactive educational parcours that had to be completed by the conference participants. Building on this, we developed a number of measures to make everyday life and the start of studies easier for our target group. Visible project successes for us are, on the one hand, making a wider group of students aware of our work, but also raising the awareness of our colleagues about intercultural topics in their daily work. Tips that we can pass on to other Studentenwerke or higher education institutions? There are more than just “Germans” and “internationals”, but a colourful and diverse group of students, some of whom have intercultural biographies, challenges and needs. However, the questions of how to finance higher education studies, how to find affordable accommodation and general support in everyday student life remain the same. All groups bring with them a great hunger for knowledge and curiosity about the higher education landscape.
Studierendenwerk Thüringen
In the context of the project kompTEAM from the Studierendenwerk Thüringen, a skills team compiled special counselling and supervision services in all its spheres of work for students with a migration background at the higher education location of Weimar.
Weimar is the location of the Studentenwerk whose federal state (Thüringen) has the highest percent of students with a migration background among all the German federal states. The aim is to increase the success of students with a migration background in completing their studies, the establishment of a better appreciation culture and intercultural sensitisation of the Studentenwerk employees in Weimer, leading to an inclusive way of working throughout the Studierendenwerk Thüringen. “kompTEAM” is part of the project “Studium+M – programme for more students with a migration background”, mentored by Deutsches Studierendenwerk and supported by Stiftung Mercator.
Project results
To implement the objectives of the kompTEAM project at the Studierendenwerk Thüringen, an internal project team consisting of employees from nine different work areas and different hierarchies was set up to work on intercultural cases and issues from everyday life at Studierendenwerk Thüringen in monthly team meetings under external moderation in a solution-oriented way. Each of these meetings resulted in a concrete measure for at least one of the departments involved. The solutions and advice developed in the internal project team meetings were documented in the form of internal guidelines and brochures, and made available to the departments. The deliberate involvement of students played a major role. Studierendenwerk Thüringen would like to uphold this principle and also the increased use of students as language and cultural mediators. In addition, low-threshold offers are needed in order to reach all employees in the Studierendenwerk with intercultural professional training programmes. The naming of such programmes must also be considered with regard to the target group.
Another result is the implementation throughout Thuringia of an intercultural menu line as a sub-product of kompTEAM. This change process was accompanied by a change management team for around six months and implemented in all of the Landesstudierendenwerk’s student restaurants. An accompanying cookbook was produced for the new menu line, which was launched with a campaign week including an intercultural supporting programme and tasting stands in the five largest student restaurants at four locations in Thuringia.
Service for international students
The 57 Studentenwerke and Studierendenwerke in Germany ensure that students are offered more than just a research and teaching programme at their university, and that they feel comfortable and welcome here. They shape the framework conditions of higher education studies and take into account the diversity of the students.