University of Kassel and Studierendenwerk Kassel cooperate with ArbeiterKind.de

ArbeiterKind.de encourages and supports pupils and students whose parents have not studied on their educational path. A cooperation agreement signed today (24 November) in Kassel by University President Prof. Dr. Ute Clement, Managing Director of the Studierendenwerk Christa Ambrosius and Katja Urbatsch, founder and Managing Director of ArbeiterKind.de, identifies a number of areas of coordination and cooperation to facilitate this in Kassel in the future. For example, representatives of the organization will be more present at university events with their advisory services. Conversely, ArbeiterKind.de wants to refer to the professional information and advice services offered by the university and the Studierendenwerk at its own events and when supporting "working-class children" through volunteers.

"Germany cannot afford to waste talent," explained Ute Clement, a professor of vocational education who also conducts research into educational pathways. "In the face of an increasingly dramatic shortage of skilled workers, we are facing major challenges for which we need every clever mind." The President added: "Education also facilitates integration and social cohesion, and last but not least, there is a right to education and to pursue an individual's educational path to the end. It is our task as a university to offer this education to everyone who meets the requirements. Academic education must not depend on the money or experience of the parents."

This is why, adds Christa Ambrosius for the Studierendenwerk, it is extremely important that students from non-academic families actually get the advice they need. "With ArbeiterKind.de, we now have a strong partner at our side who helps us to reach these students in a bundled and even more targeted way than before. A good and important cooperation that we are very pleased about." The Studierendenwerk offers students financial advice as well as legal and social advice, for example. This service complements the university's information and advice services for students and prospective students.

Katja Urbatsch said: "We have been active together with our volunteers in Kassel since 2008 and support first-generation students. The cooperation with the University of Kassel strengthens our ability to provide targeted support and convey a strong sense of belonging through our community. I am delighted that we can strengthen our commitment in Kassel on the basis of the cooperation agreement and dovetail it with the university's services."

How many students at the University of Kassel come from homes without academic experience is not exactly recorded beyond voluntary surveys - this is not possible for data protection reasons alone. In a recently published survey by the German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies DZHW, almost one in two participating Kassel students stated that neither of their parents had a university degree. ArbeiterKind.de says it is represented at the university by a local group of volunteers who offer an exchange of experiences at monthly open meetings, among other things. The personal support with university orientation and scholarship applications is particularly appreciated. ArbeiterKind.de's commitment in Hesse is supported by the Hessian Ministry of Science and the Arts.

Press contact:

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Press spokesperson
Tel: +49 561 804-2474
E-mail: presse@uni-kassel.de

Brigitte Schwarz
Studierendenwerk Kassel
Press spokesperson
Phone: +49 561 804-2565
E-mail: b.schwarz[at]studierendenwerk.uni-kassel[dot]de

Lamia Chérif
ArbeiterKind.de
Phone: +49 69 798 185 65
Email: c herif@arbeiterkind.de