Counselling - International Affairs - Culture (BIK)
In 2022, the Counselling/International/Culture department received a total of 731 consultations from students at all Münster universities, prospective students and graduates in transition from studying to working life. Due to the changing corona crisis, the advisory services were also constantly adapted and made more flexible in 2022, so that those seeking advice were able to take advantage of a low-threshold and confidential service throughout the year despite ongoing restrictions until the middle of the year.
Email and telephone counseling, both by appointment and on direct request, was supplemented by two weekly open, digital video consultation hours, each held by two employees. At the same time, open counseling services took place in person two days a week, the digital consultation hours also twice a week, with one service specifically aimed at students with children/families. Face-to-face counseling was offered at the Steinfurt campus until April 2022.
The number of consultations in 2022 remained below the pre-pandemic level. As in the previous year, one of the reasons for this was that a slight decline in international clients is still evident. This “main group” traditionally makes use of the Studierendenwerk’s specific “house offers”. As in 2021, the vast majority of international students in financial need requested non-repayable aid and grants or concessions and scholarships. The vast majority of “internationals” in Germany are excluded from state social benefits, which exacerbates their precarious situation. The effects of the still reduced labor market situation were also evident in the advisory work in 2022: The focus was on inquiries about specific employment regulations, job applications and requests for job placement.
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In 2022, 263 international students seeking advice (2021: 137), 171 German students with no particular thematic focus, 46 non-students (relatives, prospective students, parents and various institutions), 147 students with disabilities/chronic illnesses and 131 with children/families (multiple answers possible) were counseled.
The “emergency scholarship” concept developed in the previous year, which can be used more flexibly by students in financial difficulties with poor repayment prospects several times during the entire duration of their studies, was awarded seven times in 2022.
Thanks to remaining donations, the advice center was able to continue the small temporary “Corona Special Fund” and support students in special emergencies with a one-off “Corona grant”. These funds were paid out to those seeking help for the last time at the end of the year.
Towards the end of the year, a new cooperation was also established for students in financial difficulties: the Catholic foundation “Antonii-Bruderschaft” provides students with further support in financial crises. Larger purchases such as teaching materials, laptops, but also household items and semester fees can be covered by the institution.
The special target group “students in special life situations” visited the advice center a total of 541 times and for the first time clearly made up the vast majority of advice contacts. For example, the proportion of counseling sessions from the group of students with children/pregnant students/single parents was clearly in first place with 231 counseling sessions (compared to 131 in 2021). Students with disabilities and chronic illnesses, including mental disorders, were represented with 147 counseling sessions in 2022 (284 contacts in 2021). The problems faced by students from the separate groups continue to be multi-layered and complex. Even though the challenges associated with the pandemic were slowly decreasing, the recurring restrictions that were felt until mid-2022 continued to have a negative impact on students. Last year, for example, a large proportion of clients had problems in the area of student finance. This was due to the fact that past arrears, loans, rent debts and private loans were added to current problems.
All target groups from the areas of “special circumstances” were affected by this.
In 2022, as in the years before the pandemic, the topics of “credit/loans” and “social benefits” were increasingly in demand. The topics that are traditionally most in demand (“Jobbing” and “Loans”) were again in high demand in 2022 (102 in 2021 for “Loans” and from 193 to 218 for “Jobbing”). The “Psycho-social” topic remained consistently high with 366 counseling contacts. The classic family or pregnancy conflicts, debts or conflicts of international students from crisis areas in need of psychosocial counseling as well as conflicts arising from living together in shared flats, partnerships or everyday student life – all of this continued to be a frequent focus of counseling against the backdrop of the coronavirus crisis and the associated challenges. Inquiries regarding leave of absence and examination procedures (113 cases), compensation for disadvantages (111 cases) and study organization (211 cases) illustrate a clear change compared to the previous year.
Studierendenwerk-specific support services
As already mentioned, specific home offers to support students in financial need fell sharply in 2022 due to the pandemic-related developments:
Loans were only granted 10 times in 2022. In the wake of the ongoing effects of the pandemic, grants, such as those provided via the bridging assistance, rather than loans were the first choice. Students avoided further debt. Over the course of the year, it became apparent that students were also increasingly suffering from the consequences of inflation, rising energy and consumer prices and a general increase in the cost of living. At this point, comprehensive relief from a higher authority is necessary in the future, as selective aid does not provide lasting relief in any way.
The BIK department supported five students in 2022 via the special coronavirus fund created from private donations. Only 55 students made use of the free table offer, and the children’s plate was only issued five times. The BIK department also awarded a large number of donations in kind in 2022 in the form of children’s equipment, toys, household items and clothing. An established format such as the “clothes swap” will continue this trend in 2023.
Networking
In addition to the advisory services, the BIK department designed an information series for the first time on the topic of dropping out of university/reorientation “Canteen instead of canteen” with cooperation partners from the field of training professions as well as additional information on the topic of “Student financing”. The events took place both in person and online and were very well received. It is therefore planned to expand these formats in 2023.
The following networks took place in 2022 with the participation of the BIK department:
- NRW Student Services Working Group
- Psycho-Social Counselling
- Alliance Women’s Working Group
- AK Single parents
- AK Study with family
- AK Studying with disabilities
- Exchange for coordinators of the tutoring teams
- AK International Students
Students with children
One member of staff gradually took over the “Study and children” area of responsibility. The family tutor organized numerous target group-specific activities, such as Easter egg hunts and Christmas craft activities, trips to the swimming pool or the circus, which fortunately only took place in person after the pandemic. She also helped to further equip the children’s playroom in the Gescherweg II family home and took part in a training course organized by the Sarah Wiener Foundation on the topic of “I can cook” in March 2022, for which she also organized a series of topics on healthy and enjoyable eating and cooking with parents and their children.
In addition, the well-attended “Studi-Kidz-Café” format took place in cooperation with the BIK. Three times a semester, student parents meet with their children for a low-threshold exchange. Participants are often students with their younger children, babies and toddlers, but occasionally also older children. This series is carried out in cooperation with the Equal Opportunities Offices of the two universities WWU and FH and the Social Affairs / Study and Child Department of the two universities. In May 2022, after a 2-year break from the Studi-Kidz-Café series, the big family summer party took place in front of the castle. In addition to a magic show and children’s entertainment, there was a bouncy castle, popcorn machine, chips food truck, university sports equipment, face painting, tombola and information on studying with children. This was surprisingly well attended with around 300 people, including many families with children.
Tutors and home council work
In good cooperation with the building management and Student Accomodation, the exchange and direct support of student self-administration in the halls of residence of the voluntary hall councils took place again after the corona break. During the pandemic, many students were increasingly dependent on the social space in the halls of residence. After the break, volunteer hall councils had to find and reassemble themselves. For example, we were able to support the Gescherweg hall council in re-establishing itself, the cinema room in Heekweg was put back into operation, and there was also an exchange with the hall council in Stadtlohnweg and with the RHW association. At Wilhelmskamp, several students were found who wanted to get involved in the future.
In 2022, the team of tutors organized and carried out a variety of social and intercultural events for international and German residents of the residential complexes. Most of the events were offered in person, as this was possible despite the contact restrictions at the beginning of the year.
The Spanish, French and German language get-togethers were continued. In addition, an Italian regulars’ table was established in the event program. A cooperation project was also planned with the Japanese university group for the “Setsubunfest” in January 2023.
Other popular event formats in the residential complexes were pub evenings/live music at Pömpel in the Heekweg residential complex and the regular Game Night in Stadtlohnweg. Joint events organized by the residence tutors in Heekweg and Stadtlohnweg were the Flunkyball tournament and joint barbecues. A movie quiz was offered several times in Gescherweg.
Games evenings and cooking together were also offered in the Wilhelmskamp residential complex. In Steinfurt (Stegerwaldstraße hall of residence), the room provided by the Student Accomodation department was used weekly for activities such as games evenings and intercultural exchange. During the exam period, the room also offered added value as a place to study.
A special highlight was this year’s “Diwali meets Christmas” on 24.12.22 – a festive, multicultural event with Christmas traditions and Indian food. Among the participants were students who were alone in Münster at Christmas. This was primarily intended to prevent loneliness in the residential complex on public holidays.
Cultural work
The fixed offers also included the distribution of welcome packages, the so-called “Erstibeuteln”, for the international newcomers as well as offers for the semester welcome (dormitory tours, city tours, etc.).
The “clothes swap” format was also a very popular event among students in 2022. It was offered twice in both the summer and winter semesters. Participants bring their discarded clothes to swap and have the opportunity to find new treasures at the event. With music, cold drinks and snacks, the students also get to talk about the topic of “sustainability in the fashion industry” and have the opportunity to make new contacts.
Diversity
Regular stage formats in the cultural sector are planned from 2023. This was only possible to a limited extent due to the contact restrictions imposed by the pandemic and the staffing situation at BIK. For example, the Open Stage in the Viva Campus Café will be relaunched at the start of the summer semester. The organization and planning started at the end of 2022.
The regulars’ table for students with illnesses was continued online in the winter months and then offered in person. In September, this was expanded as a regulars’ table for students with illnesses and/or disabilities, as a new diversity tutor from the status group was hired.
In addition, the “Friendship Speeddating” event series, which was initially offered as an online version in 2020, has continued to prove its worth in 2022 and remains one of the most popular events in the tutoring project.
In addition, the two diversity tutors have planned a trip to the “Stockfinster” dark museum in Essen to provide information about the living conditions of blind people. This excursion is planned for February 2023.
International
An international tutor was hired in the tutoring team to offer a program of events for all international students. There were many interested students, especially at the Festival of the Dead.
In addition, a large welcome party “Students Welcome” was organized for (international) students in the Hier und Jetzt to mark the 100th anniversary of the Studierendenwerk. The evening before, there was an open day at the BIK. The entire team introduced themselves on the premises at Steinfurter Str. 67. In addition to information and contacts, there were opportunities for exchange, various games in the garden, snacks, drinks and the inauguration of the new common room in the basement. 50 students and colleagues found their way to the BIK that afternoon.
For the seventh year in a row, the Counselling – International Affairs – Culture (BIK) department hosted a French volunteer for 10 months in 2022. The main focus here in 2022 was on Franco-German exchange. The biweekly French get-together was a successful part of the event program and was once again offered in person.
In order to strengthen the Franco-German friendship, the French volunteer networked with a woman from Münster who was completing her voluntary service at Orléans City Hall. Working together, the two developed a concept for a student exchange, which initially took place online. Part of the online exchange was a photo competition on the topic of “mobility / mobilité”. Two winners received a four-day stay in Münster as a prize, while the other two students won a four-day stay in Orléans. The accommodation chosen was the SeeZeit of the Studierendenwerk.
The cooperation project with the International Office of Münster City Hall and Orléans as part of the city partnership will continue in 2023. To celebrate the Franco-German friendship, in particular the city partnership between Münster and Orléans, the tutors from the BIK department and the Romance Studies department as well as the French volunteer attended the annual celebrations
In cooperation with the partner department, the Romance Institute of the WWU, the French volunteer helped to organize the orientation week for French students, as well as the Bibliobus, a mobile library that carries French literature.
Summary and outlook
The year 2022 was still characterized by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, the first steps towards “normality” were taken.
In addition to the digital Counselling, information and event formats, face-to-face offers were once again designed.
The initial response to the expanded event program was consistently positive. It was observed that the number of visitors was very high following the restrictions and exceeded the usual level in many areas. This not only applied to the big anniversary party in Hier und Jetzt for the students with over 600 people, but also to smaller and new cultural and leisure events in the halls of residence, organized by the tutors.
The situation was different in the area of open consultation hours, which are once again offered in person. These are not yet at the same level of utilization as before the pandemic. Instead, digital counseling and consultation hours are being used.
Individual appointments for Counselling and information are also preferred by the majority of students. The “Tevis” system for individual appointments, which will be introduced in the future, will supplement the existing formats.
The utilization of student services (loans, emergency scholarship, free table and children’s plate) was slightly higher than in the previous year.
But here, too, it can be observed that 2022 was still characterized by the pandemic, but with a further trend towards normality. In the future, “corona-related” online offerings will continue to complement face-to-face events in all areas of Counselling, Culture and International Affairs.
In 2022, the BIK department was staffed with four full-time employees for the first time. The strategic direction of the “BIK” department is constantly reflected upon and adapted to the changing needs of the target group as well as to optimize the internal structure.
For example, the recruitment of an additional employee to supplement the “Outreach work” area is planned for 2023.
Cross-departmental experience at the Studierendenwerk shows that closer support for students, particularly in the halls of residence, makes sense in order to provide preventative services to avoid psycho-social problems on the part of students in a professional and target group-oriented manner. This supplementary concept aims to offer Studierendenwerk customers further needs-based support to improve their quality of life in the university environment and beyond.
For 2023, the Counselling/International/Culture department therefore sees itself more than ever in the role of a flexible and service-oriented service provider with additional, improved and low-threshold offers – so that, together with colleagues from all departments of the Studierendenwerk, studying can be a success.
