50 Years of Academic Advising - Virtual Action Day Provides Information on Study Programs

In her virtual greeting, the Minister emphasizes: "Hessen's universities offer a future-oriented and exciting range of courses. At the action day, prospective students will gain insights into different subject areas, information on how to apply and can ask students about their own personal experiences. Prospective students with special challenges are particularly addressed; for example, because they have chronic illnesses or are the first in their family to study. Diversity at our universities has been growing for years - which is a good thing, because our society needs different perspectives and experiences to move forward. That's why we support initiatives and programs, for example, that motivate people to start studying who don't take this path for granted."

A new landing page was created for the day of action. It can be reached at www.studiereninhessen.de and presents the appealing lecture program. Also after the action day it will provide current information to the study orientation and the study offer in Hessen. Despite digital initial information, the personal advisory situation remains the core business of the student advisory services: "The expertise in our student advisory services is more important than ever after the Corona period. The diverse access to digital information never replaces the personal conversation in a student advisory service," says Prof. Dr. Ute Clement, who as president of the University of Kassel is chairwoman of the Conference of Hessian Universities (KHU). As spokesperson for the universities of applied sciences, Prof. Dr. Eva Waller, President of RheinMain University of Applied Sciences (HSRM), adds: "Student advising accompanies people on their personal educational and life paths and supports them in achieving the goals they have set for themselves. In times of an increasingly large and differentiated range of studies, it offers orientation."

Young prospective students in particular often feel uncertain about their future careers and the wide range of study options available. For 50 years, the central student advisory services of the universities have been offering comprehensive and always up-to-date advice on study and career orientation. On the occasion of the anniversary, they will be giving 25 presentations on topics such as "Shaping the environment", "Promoting development" or "Creative with formulas, numbers and rules" to show which Hessian universities offer suitable courses of study. In doing so, they address the differences between the more research-oriented and more application-oriented study programs.  

Other cross-university lecture topics include "Studying with Disabilities or Chronic Illness," "Dual Studies in Hessen" and "University Access for Vocationally Qualified Students." Parents and teachers will also receive information on how they can support students in their study and career orientation. In addition, students will report on how they have mastered the entry into university and talk about the difference between school and university. In the last time slot at 6 p.m., the participating universities will introduce themselves and offer space for specific study information and questions.

The mission of the student advisory service, which has long been anchored in law, is to support future students in their choice of university and subject, to pass on information about the requirements and contents of the course of study, to provide advice in the event of decision-making conflicts and to improve the accuracy of the fit of the choice of study for prospective students. This requires open-ended, confidential counseling and basic knowledge of various educational options and the range of studies available. Up-to-date knowledge of educational career design and a high degree of sensitivity to unequal, conflicting prerequisites and diversity are brought to the table by the student advisors through regular continuing education.

The program at a glance

An overview of the multifaceted program and further information can be found at:  www.studiereninhessen.de.

In addition to the information event, it is also possible to make individual counseling appointments at any time at the student counseling offices of the individual universities.

• Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
• Goethe University Frankfurt
• Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
• Fulda University of Applied Sciences
• Geisenheim University of Applied Sciences
• RhineMain University of Applied Sciences
• Justus Liebig University Giessen
• Philipps University Marburg
• Technical University of Central Hesse
• Darmstadt University of Technology
• University of Kassel

Contact and inquiries:

Jutta Müller
Central Student Advisory Service
Central Hessen University of Technology (THM)
Mail: jutta.mueller[at]verw.thm[dot]de

Kristin Meier
Central Student Advisory Service
Central Hessen University of Technology (THM)
Mail: kristin.meier[at]verw.thm[dot]de