Universities and businesses in the Lower Rhine region are launching a joint network as part of the ‘NEXT STEP niederrhein’ project to support students who are unsure about their studies or who have dropped out.
“We bear responsibility for our students, and that applies even when their studies are not going quite as planned,” explained Professor Dr Berthold Stegemerten, Vice-President for Studies and Teaching at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, in his joint welcome address with Professor Dr Marion Halfmann, Vice-President for Studies, Teaching and Continuing Education at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. At the event, the project management team from the two partner universities presented the initial findings of the ‘NEXT STEP niederrhein’ project. These include, for example, the website at www.next-step-niederrhein.de, which offers an introductory guide accessible anytime, anywhere, as well as key information and details of regional support services.
In a lively panel discussion, Dr Ralph Angermund from the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia, together with representatives from business, industry, chambers of commerce, chambers of crafts, the Wesel branch of the Federal Employment Agency, and both universities, discussed the various challenges and opportunities involved in providing sustainable support to students who are experiencing doubts or wish to drop out of their studies. Particular emphasis was placed on the opportunities arising from close cooperation between the universities.
“The network of our universities enables us to bring together stakeholders from across the entire Lower Rhine region. It is particularly important to us to provide students with appropriate support and to offer guidance as they navigate their doubts or a process of reorientation,” said Vice-President Halfmann. And Stefanie Winde, project manager for ‘NEXT STEP niederrhein’ at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, added: “The demand across the various campuses shows that students with doubts about their studies need space and support. The reasons behind these doubts vary. It is therefore always important to focus on the individual situation of those seeking advice.”
The ‘NEXT STEP niederrhein’ project has set itself the aim of meeting the counselling and guidance needs of precisely this group of students. Together, the aim is to offer them comprehensive and personalised guidance and coaching, right through to a possible withdrawal from their studies, whilst providing suitable prospects for the future.
Furthermore, a regional information and counselling network has been established through cooperation between Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences and Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences. The various labour market stakeholders play an important role in this. The partnership aims to establish competence-based credit transfer options for students changing degree programmes or universities, as well as for those embarking on vocational training.
The state-level ‘Next Career’ project, which gave rise to ‘NEXT STEP niederrhein’, is funded by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia with 460,000 euros.
