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New study on studying with illness and disability starts
Image: University of Kassel."Almost 11 percent of students at German universities are affected by one or more forms of health impairment. In an international comparison, Germany in particular has a problem with dropouts. Although there is great interest in preventing dropouts, there is still a gap in research on dropouts in connection with health," explains Prof. Dr. Alfons Hollederer, Professor of Health Care Theory and Empiricism at the University of Kassel. The university's new research project "ErfolgInklusiv - Studienerfolg bei Krankheit und Behinderung durch Nachteilsausgleich, Beratung, Gesundheitsförderung und Inklusion" aims to close this gap.
The researchers are investigating the academic success of students with chronic illness and disability, using the University of Kassel as an example. To this end, they are analyzing the effectiveness of disadvantage compensation during examinations, psychosocial counseling, health promotion, disability-related social services and social networks of students on academic success or dropout.
For the study, all of the nearly 25,000 students at the University of Kassel are to be surveyed at the end of the winter semester 2021/2022. A second survey is planned at another measurement point. In parallel, a legal-sociological analysis will run for three years.
Finding and developing prevention potential
Through the results of the study, the researchers hope to derive helpful instruments for students that can be used by teachers in a goal-oriented manner. "Although there are already instruments for compensating for disadvantages, these are not very standardized from a professional point of view. Students with visual impairments, for example, need different support than students with a mental illness," explains Hollederer. The study is thus also intended to raise awareness of the challenges faced by students with disabilities.
"We are combining the scientific strength of the University of Kassel from health science, university research and participation and health law," Hollederer emphasizes. He will be responsible for the quantitative empirical survey at his department. Dr. Shweta Mishra from the International Centre for Higher Education Research Kassel will focus on the qualitative analysis of the survey and international comparative aspects. Prof. Dr. Felix Welti from the Department of Social and Health Law, Law of Rehabilitation and Disability will take over the research and analysis of the German and Hessian law for students with disabilities and its implementation. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has set new impulses here in recent years. As the University of Kassel's representative for studies and disability and a member of the advisory board of the Information Office for Disability and Studies at the German Student Union, Welti is also practically involved in the work for barrier-free studies.
The project is funded in the BMBF funding line "Study Success and Dropout" of the Science and Higher Education Research (WIHO) in the amount of 582,654 euros with a duration of three years.
Short presentation of the project:
The project is currently looking for a research assistant:
https://stellen.uni-kassel.de/jobposting/33532fd76008b710cc816475acd7a2235faca5700
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Alfons Hollederer
(Project Management)
Department "Theory and Empiricism of Health Care"
E-Mail: alfons.hollederer[at]uni-kassel[dot]de
www.uni-kassel.de/go/gesundheit