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
Presentation of CRASP member institution educational offer in the Englsih language, Annual Expo of European Association for International Education, Antwerp, 12-16 September 2008
Participation of CRASP Secretary General in the meeting on Swiss-Polish Programme for Science Cooperation, 18 September 2008
Participation of CRASP Honorary President as a panelist in First ASEM Rectors’ Conference, organized by EUA and HRK, Berlin, 27-29 October 2008
Promotion of CRASP member institutions during India – EU Higher Education Symposium and Fairs, New Delhi, 9-16 November 2008
Promotion of CRASP member institution educational offer in foreign languages at Study in Europe in Moscow, 12-16 November, 2008
Participation of CRASP President and CRASP Honorary President in the seminar on shaping knowledge and innovation communities of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Bratislava, 24 November 2008
Participation of CRASP Secretary General and CRASP Office in the ACA Annual Conference 2009, Warsaw, 14-15 May 2009
Participation of a group of rectors and CRASP Secretary General in the conference UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in the Europe Region: Access, Values, Quality and Competitiveness, Bucharest, 21-24 May 2009
Paricipation of CRASP Office Head in the annual Internatioanl Education NAFSA Conference, Los Angeles, 23-30 May 2009
Ministerial visit with the participation of a delegation of CRASP member institution rectors in Kazakhstan, 28 June-2 July 2009
Participation of CRASP Secretary General in EU-Asia Higher Education Platform Round Table (at the invitation of EUA), Brussels, 2-4 July 2009
Participation of CRASP Office in the EAIE 21st Conference; Connecting Continents, Madrid, 16-19 September 2009
Participation of the President of CRASP IT Infrastucture Committee, rector T. Kryzynski, in the seminar “Enabling Open Scholarship (EOS)”, 13 January 2010
Participation of CRASP President in the Bologna Ministerial Anniversary Conference 2010, Budapest-Vienna, 11-12 March 2010
Participation of CRASP representative, rector M. Gorynia, in the meeting of the Directors-General for Higher Education and Presidents of Rectors’ Conferences, Zaragoza, 26 April 2010
Interview of CRASP Secretary General for “Deutsche Universitat Zeitung” on the subject of the implementation of the LLL idea at Polish schools published in the 6 June 2010 issue
Participation of CRASP Office representative in the Annual meeting of EUPRIO – the Association of “European Universities Public Relations and Information Officers”, Stresa, (Italy), 1-4 September 2010
Participation of CRASP Secretary General in the OECD/IMHE conference "Higher Education in a World Changed Utterly: Doing More with Less, Paris, 13-15 September 2010
Participation of CRASP Office Head in the annual international EAIE conference, 15-18 September 2010
Participation of CRASP Office representative in the ACA seminar “Mobility under the magnifying glass: New insights, old challenges, future perspectives”, Brussels, 3 December 2010
Visit of SRK Secretary General, Denisa Voskarova to the CRASP Office, 1-3 December 2010
Participation of CRASP International Affairs Committee President, rector K. Musiol in the “Global University Summit”, Dijon, 5-7 May 2011
Visit of CRASP President in Kazakhstan at the invitation of the Embassy of the Polish Republic in Astana, 8-14 May 2011
Participation of CRASP Office representative in the annual conference of Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) – “The excellence imperative. World-class aspiration and real-world needs”, Vienna, 22-25 May 2011
Participation of CRASP Office Head in the annual conference and educational fairs of NAFSA (Association of International Educators), Vancouver, 29 May-3 June 2011
Participation of CRASP Office representative in U-Multirank final seminar, Brussels, 9 June 2011
Participation of CRASP Office representatives in the conference “International Bologna Conference – The Social Diemension – Stocktaking and Future Perspectives of Student Affairs and Services”, Berlin, 11-13 July 2011
Participation of CRASP Secretary General in the 33th EAIR (European Higher Education Society), Warsaw, 29-31 August 2011
Participation of CRASP Office Head in the annual conference of the EAIE (European Association for International Education), Copenhagen, 13-16 September 2011
