On your marks, get set, go

Press release, September 19, 2023

Few institutions in Hesse are as diverse as the University of Applied Sciences (HAW): New students from Germany and abroad, with vocational qualifications or high school diplomas and of varying ages, begin their studies every semester. This diversity, a strength of the Technical University of Central Hesse (THM) and other HAWs, also presents challenges: Starting university together can quickly lead to students being either underwhelmed or overwhelmed due to their different backgrounds. Therefore, it is all the more important to consider individual strengths and weaknesses to ensure a successful start.

The "Transfer Day for Starting University Studies," hosted by THM, addressed this issue. Representatives from Hessian universities were invited to jointly explore the challenges faced by first-year students today. The participants were welcomed by THM Vice President Prof. Dr. Katja Specht, who was visibly pleased with the "personal exchange among the eight Hessian universities." The aim, she explained, was to "provide impetus." THM has already taken this step: The Transfer Day focused, among other things, on the theme "GettING Started.".

This is a pilot project by THM University of Applied Sciences, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, and Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. The idea is to extend the Bachelor's degree program in particularly demanding natural sciences and engineering subjects by two semesters, making it eligible for BAföG (German Federal Training Assistance Act) funding. At the beginning, a skills assessment is conducted: What is the student's level in school subjects such as mathematics, biology, physics, or chemistry? Participants also receive organizational support for socializing at the university, accompanied by mentors – usually fellow students who have themselves participated in the program. "Through these small groups, we achieve a much more direct identification with the university and the subject of study than in traditional events focused on study organization," explains Professor Katja Specht. All of this is intended to ensure a smooth transition to university life.

This is one of several programs offered by various Hessian universities of applied sciences under the umbrella of "Study at an Adapted Pace" (SaG). These programs are funded until 2025 by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art (HMWK) as part of the project "High Quality in Studies and Teaching, Good Framework Conditions for Studying" (QuiS).

Audio – Poetic Recording for Transfer Day 2024:

Dr. Clemens Bohrer, Deputy Head of the Department for Studies and Teaching, represented the Ministry at the Transfer Day and presented the funding notification for the current year, amounting to over one million euros. He knows the challenges of university studies from his own experience. The trained heating engineer still remembers the beginning of his studies "clearly, even though it was 30 years ago." His conclusion: "People are different, so how can university studies be the same for everyone?"