"Students advise students" organizes two-day opening workshop with all faculties of the HSZG.
On May 4 and 5, 2018, 25 students from all faculties took part in the joint opening workshop for training to become a student academic advisor. The two-day workshop took place in the Bluebox auditorium in Görlitz.
"Students advise students" (SbS) is a support service offered by the university that makes it easier for first-year students to start their studies. Fellow students from higher semesters serve as contacts and a voice of experience for the newcomers as they settle into their new life situation.
The core of the workshop was accordingly the clarification of the tasks and goals of the student advisory service, typical questions that first-year students often ask SbS staff and getting to know the tools of a student advisor. The workshop participants also looked at the university structure and the umbrella project "Diversity as strength", networked with each other and discussed and tested group dynamics processes.
The participants reflected together on what constitutes good student advice and how it can be designed to effectively help first-year students. On the one hand, content and topics were developed and worked through interactively. On the other hand, the focus was on experiential and group-oriented tasks and methods. Students from both locations were able to get to know each other and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere at a joint barbecue with a campfire, music and various games. The students also developed various ideas for networking Zittau and Görlitz as well as the individual faculties in order to facilitate a better connection between the locations, both for the project and for all students.
Wishes, ideas for activities and events were also collected and developed. Further interdisciplinary and faculty-specific workshops are planned as part of the training of student advisors. The aim is to get to know the counseling and support services within and outside the university as well as to learn and try out techniques and methods for good counseling.
Students who would like to support SbS are welcome to contact the study scouts of the faculties. Students receive a certificate for participating in the workshops and seminars.
Many thanks to the Campus Manager, Jürgen Scheibler and the organizers of the successful opening workshop, Sandro Hänseroth and Stefan-Tobias Dittmann.
