Dear readers and readers,

Studierendenwerk Münster currently provides its services to over 60,000 students.
By performing its numerous and important social tasks, the Studierendenwerk is an important partner for the universities in their efforts to attract students to the academic locations of Münster and Steinfurt in the face of increasing competition.
The quality with which Studierendenwerk Münster manages its diverse tasks in the core areas of Accomodation, Catering, Student Finance, Counselling and Childcare, as well as in other business areas, not only increases the attractiveness of the university landscape, but also that of the location and the entire Münsterland region.
The Studierendenwerk is involved in attracting around 60,000 students to Münster and Steinfurt as places to study. It therefore plays a major role in all the associated positive effects for the region. This is particularly true in cultural and economic terms. The purchasing power that students bring to Münster should be mentioned at this point.
As at the balance sheet date (31.12.2022), the Studierendenwerk was managing the above-mentioned tasks with 557 employees (excluding trainees [14] and managing directors), who come from the city of Münster, but also increasingly from the surrounding area.
With total assets of around € 235.4 million and its employees, the Studierendenwerk plays an important role as a regional employer. These are predominantly long-term jobs with extremely low fluctuation. The number of severely disabled employees is well above the minimum required by law. Here too, the Studierendenwerk fulfills its role as a social service provider and employer in an exemplary manner. In addition, Studierendenwerk Münster has been certified as a family-friendly company since 2009 and works with the active support of many employees to continuously improve the compatibility of work and family life. In this financial year, the Studierendenwerk was honored for its long-standing personnel policy. The certificate is presented with a gold-colored sash.

Studierendenwerk Münster’s function as a service provider and a secure employer must also be maintained in the future.
The current criteria of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for the allocation of the fixed amount subsidy for ongoing business entail the risk that the funds made available will decrease from year to year after adjustment for inflation and thus no compensation for cost increases, especially for energy and tariff increases. Fortunately, the general subsidy for the Studierendenwerke in NRW was increased slightly in the 2021 and 2022 financial years and a number of separate state funding pots for energy, catering and psychosocial counseling have been launched in 2022.
However, from the Studierendenwerke’s point of view, a further effective and permanent increase in state subsidies is urgently needed due to the additional cost burdens, especially against the background of the war in Ukraine and the associated inflation. This is also necessary in order to close the gap that has arisen in recent years between the relative increase in subsidies from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the far greater increase in students’ social contributions.
Studierendenwerk Münster currently still charges a social contribution of €99.34. An adjustment has already been decided by the Administrative Board. An adjustment has already been decided in the Administrative Board and will be made in the winter semester 23/24 to €120.00.
In order to generate additional profit contributions, the Studierendenwerke will continue to examine whether they can expand their range of services and open up further markets in the student environment. Deficient services must be reduced as far as is justifiable in terms of the social mission.
One situation that must be taken into account in Münster is that the Studierendenwerk largely owns its real estate in the areas of administration, residential facilities and large halls of residence, while other Studierendenwerke operate their facilities in buildings owned by the universities or the state (BLB). Accordingly, it must be able to cover all associated problems, risks and, above all, investment measures and their effects (loan repayments, etc.) without state aid.
While the funds for the general subsidy in the state budget are decreasing due to the inflation effect alone and the cost burdens are increasing in parallel, a sufficient amount for the twelve Studierendenwerke in North Rhine-Westphalia for project funding is planned for the coming years.In addition, the Studierendenwerk will continue to be required to invest considerable funds in the multi-digit million range in its own buildings in the large Mensas, but also in the technology of the corresponding catering facilities and in student Accomodation over the next few years.
. In addition, there is a particular focus on the creation of new living space through the densification of our own properties.
Studierendenwerk will continue to be required to constantly review its other services and organizational processes in order to achieve a sufficient annual result in the future.
In order to improve internal communication and optimize the above-mentioned organizational processes, a new organizational chart was drawn up with the management and executives of Studierendenwerk Münster in October 2021. In the reporting year, the new strategic structure of the Studierendenwerk was then developed in several workshops with the management, the department heads and the department heads.
Due to the business policy of commercial prudence, the financial liquidity of the Studierendenwerk is stable. This ensures that future necessary investments and unforeseeable situations can be mastered.
With a positive annual result of € 459.7 thousand, the business performance in 2022 shows that the employees of the Studierendenwerk have succeeded in solving many difficult tasks despite the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine and that they have worked with commitment and dedication for the benefit of the approximately 60,000 students in Münster’s higher education sector.