16 - Germany - Educational/vocational guidance, education/employment links

Educational/vocational guidance, education/employment links – universities

Student counselling and support at universities

The Framework Act for Higher Education ( Hochschulrahmengesetz) stipulates that institutions of higher education are responsible for providing subject-related advice accompanying a student's studies throughout the entire duration of their course.

The responsibilities of counselling in the higher education sector include the provision of information and advice for students and those applying for higher education on the content, structure and requirements of a course of study; it assists students during their complete course of study, and in particular on completion of their first year, by providing subject-related advice. Counselling tasks are divided among lecturers, who provide specialist guidance, and the student counselling office, which provides general guidance. The student counselling offices are also responsible for helping students cope with personal difficulties and for dealing with questions relating to their studies. In addition to lecturers and the student counselling offices, student bodies in each department also offer support and assistance relating to the individual subjects. In many cases special introductory seminars are held at institutions of higher education for future applicants. In providing counselling, higher education institutions are intended to cooperate in particular with the employment agencies responsible for careers advice and the offices responsible for the Staatsprüfungen(state examinations).

Some institutions and departments provide tutorials and refresher courses to students during their basic studies ( Grundstudium). These courses are conducted by undergraduate and research assistants and have the following functions:

• to furnish information about facilities, academic/scientific working methods, the structure of the course of studies and examination requirements;
• to help in overcoming difficulties understanding and learning the material and encourage self-study in study groups;
• to provide long-term individual support and further social relations between students.

Students who have personal problems or learning difficulties can also consult student counselling offices and psycho-social counselling services. The institutions of higher education and student welfare organisations have set up a variety of independent offers especially for foreign students. These include special student counsellors, clubrooms, grants and service centres.

Measures to facilitate the transition from university to working life

The universities' student counselling offices and the employment agencies' career guidance services furnish information and guidance to help graduates move from higher education into the professional world. Their prospects on the employment market may be improved by specialising in appropriate fields of study and enrolling in appropriate weiterführende Studiengänge graduate study courses (further study, supplementary and follow-up courses). Work placements afford an opportunity to gain an insight into the working world and establish contact with prospective employers. Proof of work experience (for four to six months, in some cases up to a year) acquired before or while studying is demanded in a number of fields, especially in natural and engineering sciences. To improve the employment prospects of arts and social science graduates, some higher education institutions have set up programmes in collaboration with employment agencies to place them in industry and equip them with key skills (e.g. a grounding in computing, elementary business skills).

Many institutions of higher education offer measures designed to prepare for self-employment and to encourage students to set up their own businesses.

Educational/vocational guidance, education/employment links – colleges of art and music

Student counselling and support at colleges of art and music

As for universities, the Framework Act for Higher Education (Hochschulrahmengesetz) stipulates that colleges of art and music are responsible for providing subject-related advice accompanying a student's studies throughout the entire duration of their course.

Measures to facilitate the transition from colleges of art and music to working life

Many of those who complete artistic studies have difficulty finding suitable employment or earning an adequate livelihood from their own artistic endeavours. To improve their prospects, subjects have therefore been added to the curricula that qualify them for practical work (teaching, management in the cultural sector). The transition to working life can be eased by a suitable choice of courses and extra qualifications.

Educational/vocational guidance, education/employment links – Fachhochschulen

Student counselling and support at Fachhochschulen

The Framework Act for Higher Education ( Hochschulrahmengesetz) stipulates that Fachhochschulen are also responsible for providing subject-related advice accompanying a student's studies throughout the entire duration of their course.

At some Fachhochschulenand in some courses tutorials and refresher courses are offered to students during their basic studies ( Grundstudium). These courses are designed to inform students about their subject and introduce them to scientific and academic working methods. Students who have personal problems or learning difficulties can consult student counselling offices and psycho-social counselling services.

Measures to facilitate the transition from Fachhochschulen to working life

Student counselling offices at Fachhochschulenand the career guidance services of the employment agencies furnish information and guidance to help graduates move from higher education into the professional world. Their prospects on the employment market may be improved by specialising in appropriate fields of study.

The declared aim of a Fachhochschuleeducation is that it should be closely related to professional practice. This purpose is served chiefly by incorporating one or two Praxissemester (semesters of work experience) into the course of studies. In many cases the topics of Diplomarbeiten or Bachelorarbeiten(dissertations) derive from problems that students have encountered in the practical semesters. In some cases, they are prepared in collaboration with industry and trade. In this way, students can gain an insight into the working world and establish contact with prospective employers before graduating. The offices for practical training (Praktikantenämter) at the institutions of higher education and the careers advice service of the employment agencies provide help finding placements. In addition, it is also possible to look for placements in Internet marketplaces for practical training ( Praktikantenbörsen).

Educational/vocational guidance, education/employment links – establishments outside the higher education system – Berufsakademien, Fachschulen

Thanks to the combination of theoretical and practical training, graduates of the professional training courses based on a dual system offered by the Berufsakademien are prepared for working life during their actual studies. It is often the case that students are even taken on after obtaining their qualification for entry into a profession at the Berufsakademieby the very company that trained them.

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