What is higher education policy?

Outdated learning material? Not enough room and no decent books in the library? BAföG does not come in as it should? The apartments in Frankfurt are unaffordable? Correction times take forever, and you wonder if you’ll be celebrating your 80^th birthday at the university? Then you have come to the right place! Because most problems at the university can be solved! Often times, these are problems that can be solved in the committees with the lecturers, administrative or technical staff. In some cases, however, it is also necessary to change state or federal regulations or the funding of the universities. That is what we can and will work together on. We are committed to ensuring that more money goes into education and that teaching staff is better trained and fairly remunerated. It is also up to us to ensure that education is available to everyone and does not dependent on the social background, as is unfortunately still the case in Germany.

And what does the Higher Education Policy Unit do?

We are the interface to the various areas and committees of the university and the higher education policy structures outside our university. Inside the university, points of contact such as student councils, the Senate or the University Presidium are important for us. Outside the university, we network with other student representatives, trade unions, university policy alliances, etc. In addition, we try to influence ministries for higher education and research (at federal and state level) and legislation in general, but also political associations (such as the Science Council, the Accreditation Council, the German Rectors’ Conference or the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs).

What do you get out of working in this unit?

Everyone benefits from the work in this unit! Students as a group, society and of course you personally. Anyone who wants to improve the university also acquires many skills and of course has a lot of fun. Through your work concerning higher education policy, you will not only get to know many interesting fellow students from other departments, but you will also make good acquaintances with professors and other staff. Those who become involved in the AStA, therefore, not only acquire political work skills from scratch but also pick up organisational skills when we organise workshops, protest marches or other events. It almost goes without saying that teamwork, willingness to compromise, communication skills such as presenting and negotiating are acquired in everyday work. Above all, you become part of a team that you can rely on and that supports you outside of work.

In addition, more and more employers are looking for strong personalities who have already proven themselves in everyday life. Through participation, your character is strengthened and your personality developed.

Education affects us all, so it makes sense to get involved politically as well. The education system is also constantly developing and by getting involved we can help determine the direction in which it should go.

What does the unit currently work on?

• How can we help shape our study programs?
• State election 2018 in Hesse: What is important to us and how do we draw attention to it?
• Increase of the tutors’ salaries
• Networking among the student councils
• Transparency in the committees
• Housing policy
• Study funding and BAföG
• Commitment to improving teaching conditions by increasing the number of university staff