News
CampusKompass: Shaping the University Together
CampusKompass, an innovative module for students, encourages active participation in shaping the university and helps students develop valuable skills for serving on committees.
CampusKompass Module : Committee Work and University Practice – Active Participation as a Labor of Love
With the module “CampusKompass: Committee Work and University Practice,” Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has created an innovative teaching unit for the 2024/25 winter semester that specifically inspires and equips students to actively shape their university. Developed through a participatory process led by the Vice President for Education and International Affairs, Professor Sophia Keil, and the Advisor for University Pedagogy, Daniel Winkler, the module is a labor of love that makes an important contribution to strengthening student self-governance.
Committees are the forums where key decisions regarding the future development of our university are made—this is where far-reaching decisions are taken: from the introduction of new degree programs to the ongoing optimization of teaching and learning conditions, and the strategic direction regarding research and International Affairs. They offer all member groups—students, staff, and faculty—the opportunity to actively help shape the future of our university. As the largest group, students are at the center of my work. It is particularly important to me to empower them in their committee work and to provide them with the tools they need to participate in decision-making. The new CampusKompass module, which was developed in collaboration with students in line with the “students-as-partners” approach, pursues precisely this goal: by imparting key competencies, students can further develop their personalities and, as a result, actively and effectively help shape their university.
”The “Students as Partners” approachdescribes a cooperative and equal partnership between students and faculty in shaping teaching and learning processes, as well as in the further development of higher education structures. In this approach, students are viewed not only as learners but as active contributors whose perspectives and skills make a significant contribution to improvement and innovation in higher education. This approach not only enhances the quality of teaching but also strengthens students’ sense of responsibility, self-efficacy, and commitment to their university.
Participatory Development as a Recipe for Success
The module was developed to specifically inspire students to take an active role in shaping their university and to show them the importance of volunteer committee work as an opportunity for personal growth. Together with dedicated students—including Svea Holtkamp, Julia Jurczyk, Nathalie Lange, Miriam Meyer, Luise Porst, Johann Scheffel, Max Scholz, Deny Seredenko, and Annika Thomas—the module was developed over the course of several intensive workshops. Their perspectives, ideas, and feedback played a key role in shaping the module—a prime example of the participatory approach to university governance that is practiced at the HSZG.
The participatory approach of involving the students in the development of the modules was crucial in order to develop a practical and needs-oriented program. The close collaboration with the students showed us all how successful working together as equals can be.
”
A Diverse Range of Teaching Units with Practical Content
The module kicked off with the course “Introduction to Higher Education Structures and Policy” on October 23, 2024, in Görlitz. The Rector of the HSZG opened the afternoon with a welcome address.
The CampusKompass module is a prime example of how commitment, creativity and collaboration can be combined to provide lasting impetus for our university culture. It shows that students can achieve outstanding things with the right tools and the necessary support.
”The CampusKompass committee module includes the following thematic focuses, which were carried out by experienced lecturers and external experts:
- University structures and policy
- Communication, moderation and presentation
- Leadership, teamwork and networking
- Conflict management and negotiation
- knowledge management
Participants not only gained in-depth knowledge about working in university committees, but also developed skills that are useful for their personal and professional development.
Joint Evaluation and Outlook
To conclude the module, a workshop was held on January 7, 2025, during which the students evaluated the course content and their experiences together with the Vice President for Education and International Affairs, Professor Sophia Keil, and the University Teaching Specialist, Daniel Winkler. The session included a facilitated reflection discussion as well as a Teaching Analysis Poll, a structured feedback process designed to identify specific barriers to learning and areas for improvement. The results will be directly incorporated into planning for the next semester. The CampusKompass committee module will be permanently integrated into the Studium Fundamentale and continuously refined.
Ongoing discussions with students help us to continuously develop the committee module and adapt it optimally to their needs.
”The students who took part in the committee module commented as follows:
"I really liked the fact that we covered the most important basics of committee work in a comparatively short time."
Annika Thomas
"The content on moderation, presentation and chairing meetings was particularly helpful for my previous and future committee work. I also find the external perspective that we need to allocate tasks and responsibilities even more clearly in our work in future very valuable."
Johann Scheffel
"For me, the coolest thing was that the content is not only highly relevant for committee work, but also for personal and professional development."
Denys Seredenko
An Important Step for the Future
“CampusKompass: Committee Work and University Practice” is not just a module, but an important initiative to promote a culture of participatory decision-making at HSZG. With CampusKompass, the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences has created a format that demonstrates how successful collaboration on an equal footing can be—and that encourages students to actively help shape the future of their university.
Living Co-determination—The Relevance of Student Government
Committee work is a central pillar of democratic participation at universities. It offers students the opportunity to actively participate in decision-making processes, help shape the development of their university, and represent the interests of the student body. Through their involvement in committees, students not only gain insight into university governance processes but also develop important social and professional skills such as negotiation, teamwork, and conflict management. Active participation is a crucial factor in ensuring that the university fulfills its responsibilities in the best interests of all stakeholders.
Student representatives can be found in the following areas of the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences:
- in Faculty Student Committees
- on Faculty Councils
- in the Student Council
- in the Senate
- in the Extended Senate
All students in a faculty (and in some cases, a department) form the student body. As a representative body, students can elect a Faculty Student Committee. The Faculty Student Committee represents the interests of its students and, to this end, elects student members to the Faculty Council, the Study Commission, and the examination and practical training committee.
The Faculty Student Committees of the university form the university’s Student Council. As a body representing the student body, it advocates for their interests as a legally recognized constituent body of the university and is responsible for addressing student concerns university-wide.
The Vice President for Education and International Affairs, Professor Sophia Keil, would like to thank all the students—especially Svea Holtkamp, Julia Jurczyk, Nathalie Lange, Miriam Meyer, Luise Porst, Johann Scheffel, Max Scholz, Deny Seredenko, and Annika Thomas, as well as the faculty and contributors who have enriched the CampusKompass module with their dedication and creativity. Their efforts have made the launch of this module a success.
1st floor
4th upper floor