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The German National Association for Student Affairs (Deutsches Studentenwerk – DSW) is the voluntary association of all 58 local student service organisations (Studentenwerke – STW) in Germany. The Studentenwerke provide public services for the economic, social, medical and cultural support of students in German universities. They add a considerable contribution to the realization of a society based on equity. In cooperation with universities and the surrounding city administrations, they improve the framework for higher education and participate thus in the shaping of life at university. In order to achieve these objectives, the DSW plays an important role. Within the decision making process, the different bodies and statutory groups cooperate together with the legal representatives of the local Studentenwerke, voluntary members of the associations.
The Deutsches Studentenwerk – supports its members in realizing their tasks, while respecting their self-reliance and independence.
The DSW:
• supports the interests of its members and carries their know-how into policy making on the federal and regional levels
• supports local Studentenwerke generally or in particular cases through seminars, conferences, working tools, publication of information material and organisation of initial and continuous professional training
• engages in lobbying and advocacy efforts;
• develops cooperation with institutions and organisations which share the same goals
• carries out tasks within its mission from public administration, institutions and organisations
• defends the interests of students at universities in social policy
The Deutsche Studentenwerk is independent of political, religious and ideological groups.
The Association
According to the statutes, the Deutsches Studentenwerke has three bodies: the general assembly, the board of directors, and the secretary general. There is also an advisory board (Kuratorium), which is composed of the conference of rectors, students, representatives of federal and regional government, the German Cities Association (Deutscher Städtetag), unions and employers as well as members of parliament and other public figures. The Council of the federal states (Länderrat) consults the board of directors and the secretary general in all matters of fundamental importance. The students council (Studierendenrat), established in May 2004, also plays an important role. It is composed of student members who are actively involved in the bodies of local Studentenwerke. Besides this, there are nine committees on specific subjects which consult the association.
Vision
The German National Association for Student Affairs (Deutsches Studentenwerk – DSW) strives for an international, intercultural, open and tolerant higher education area, in which the social and economic well-being of all students is guaranteed by strong, independent, professional and well-equipped student services organisations.
The growing internationalization of the European higher education area (EHEA) concerns not only research and teaching, but also requires excellent social and economic living conditions of all students as a precondition for successful learning. It also requires broad access to higher education for all social groups in a network society of knowledge.
The Deutsches Studentenwerk is therefore working for free, democratic and accessible higher education for everyone irrespective of social background or nationality.
The international and intercultural activities of DSW aim at a free exchange of experience, mutual learning and permanent transfer of knowledge in all important areas of student affairs.
Mission
As a national association, we support the internationalisation of local Studentenwerke (the local student service organisations) on two levels:
• Externally, DSW supports the development of long-term partnerships, exchange programs and international cooperation of the 58 German Studentenwerke with partners in Europe and overseas, and shares its experiences and particular approach in the discussions of international conferences and organisations
• Internally, DSW is actively engaged for the intercultural opening of Studentenwerke and works for the integration of international students in Germany in order to create a tolerant, open and culturally diverse higher education area
Activities
In order to turn this vision into reality, the mission of DSW is translated into specific tasks:
The Department for International Relations of Deutsches Studentenwerk:
• Supports the local Studentenwerke in international cooperation, partnerships and exchange programs
• Works for a friendly welcome and integration of international students in Germany
• Defends the model of strong and independent student service organisations on the international level
• Coordinates and manages the exchange of experience with student service organisations in Europe, North America and Asia
• Promotes the exchange of experts as well as knowledge on the international level by means of conferences, delegations, exchange programs and similar activities
• Works closely with European partners, e.g. within the framework of the European Council for Student Affairs
• Influences the decisions and developments in the field of international educational policy
• Cooperates with international organisations such as EU-institutions, UNESCO, Council of Europe etc.
Last meetings of the Polish-German working group
• 25 February 2011, Poznan University of Technology
• 14-15 April 2011, Weimar
Participation of CRASP Office Head in the annual conference of the EAIE (European Association for International Education), Dublin, 10-15 September 2012
Participation of CRASP Vice-President, Rector Stanislaw Bielecki in educational fairs “Education Abroad”, Kiev, 15-17 November 2012
Particpation of CRASP President in the 20th CRC Establishment Anniversary meeting, Prague, 14-15 February 2013
Participation of CRASP Office representative in the annual conference APAIE (Asia-Pacific Association for International Education), Hong Kong,11-14 April 2013
Participation of a CRASP Office representative in educational fairs “Education Abroad”, Kiev, 11-13 April 2013
Participation of CRASP Vice-President, Rector Stanislaw Bielecki in the HRK Annual Assembly, 13 May 2013
Participation of CRASP Honorary President in IREG Forum on University Rankings Methodologies under scutiny, 16-17 May
Participation of CRASP Vice-President, Rector Stanislaw Bielecki in the 5th University Business Forum, Brussels, 4-5 June 2013
Participation of CRASP representative, Rector Marek Tukiendorf in the First China-Central and Eastern European Countries Education Policy Dialogue organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange, Chongqing, 27-29 June 2013
Participation of CRASP Office Head in the annual conference of the EAIE (European Association for International Education), Istanbul, 10-13 September 2013
Participation of CRASP President, CRASP Vice-President and CRASP representative, Rector Marcin Palys (University fo Warsaw) in the meeting with National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) of the Federative Republic of Brazil and Council of Rectors of Brazilian Universities (CRUB) representatives, Brasilia, 21 October 2013
Participation of CRASP representative, rector W. Nykiel (University of Lodz) in the conference “INTERUV: Joint study programmes:facilitator for university internationalisation”, Rome, 6-7 November 2013
Meeting of CRASP representative – Prof. J. Woźnicki with a delegation of the Union of Rectors of Higher Education Institutions of Ukraine, Kiev, 29 November 2013
Participation of CRASP President in the conference ’The German universities in the European Research Area (ERA) – How should we prepare ourselves?, organized by HRK, Luxembourg, 16-17 January 2014
Participation of a group of CRASP memeber insitutions representatives along with CRASP Office Head in the educational mission to Brazil, 18-25 March 2014
Participation of CRASP delegation in a trilateral meeting with German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and French Rectors’ Conference (CPU), Mainz, 8-9 April 2014
Meeting of CRASP representative – Rector T. Kuczyński in the IGLO ERA meeting, Brussels, 9 April 2014
Participation of CRASP Vice-President, Rector S. Bielecki in the IREG conference, London, 14-16 May 2014
Participation of CRASP representative – President of CRASP International Affairs Committee, Rector W. Nykiel in the ’Arab-Euro Conference on Higher Education (AECHE), Amman, 10-12 June 2014