100 participants from over 30 universities and public authorities accepted the invitation of the “Orientation (Study) Programs at German Universities” network to discuss the conditions for a successful start to university studies.
Choosing the right one from 12,000 degree programs? This is the task that first-year students face every year. The universities, on the other hand, are faced with the challenge of providing the best possible support to interested parties in making an informed decision.
Uta Riedel, spokesperson for the network and coordinator of the orientation studies at the TU Hamburg, opened the conference and welcomed Christian Schröder, Vice President of the TU Berlin, who outlined the growing orientation needs of the young generation in his keynote address. He then moderated the panel discussion “Signposts in stormy times. How can universities offer orientation to Generation Z?” The panel guests discussed from different perspectives the extent to which orientation study programs at universities can close the gap for the increased need for orientation among the younger generation.
Dr. Martin Lommel, Chancellor of the TU Darmstadt, Melanie Rischke from the Center for Higher Education Development (CHE), Birgitta Kinscher (HTW Berlin) as well as Karin Brandt and Marcel Grafmann (students at the TU Hamburg and former participants in the orientation program) discussed the advantages and disadvantages of orientation studies programs. The perspectives of the participants, the organizers and the sponsors of such programs were discussed.
An extensive range of lectures and workshops then enabled the participants to gain deeper insights into existing structures. In addition, new ideas and efforts by universities to meet the current need for orientation in stormy times were presented.
Contact person:
Lydia Jäger
Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, ZLL
lydia.jaeger[at]tuhh(dot)de
040/42878-3679
