Thursday, November 9th, 2023
Studentenwerk Oldenburg presents annual report 2022/23
The support offers for the approximately 25,500 students in Oldenburg, Emden, Wilhelmshaven and Elsfleth are in high demand in the current crisis situation. At the same time, this also challenges the student union itself.
“The impending crisis was averted,” says Ted Thurner, managing director of the Oldenburg Student Union, with relief when looking back on the completed 2022 financial year. Energy prices temporarily reached twenty times their previous year's level. Fortunately, this extreme value did not last, but the costs remained significantly higher than before. The student union was able to counteract this with tough austerity measures. But it was the state of Lower Saxony's emergency aid fund for the student unions that ensured that the additional costs did not have to be paid from the students' wallets: "The special funds directly benefited the students," emphasizes Thurner. They not only prevented price increases, but could also be implemented into concrete accents: Since 2022, all canteens have had a daily “Lower Saxony menu” for just 2.50 euros, which has been very well received by canteen guests.
Tangible support for students in crisis
The past years of crisis have left their mark on many students - especially since these are unfortunately by no means over. They desperately need the support of the student union. Gisela Degener, head of the Psychological Counseling Service (PBS), summarizes the problem as follows: “The shock of the pandemic has massively shaken many students’ trust in the ability to plan and make sense of their lives and their actions under reliable conditions.”
Accordingly, the demand for psychological advice has increased significantly: Last year, 972 consultations took place at the three PBS locations in Oldenburg, Emden and Wilhelmshaven, in contrast to 774 in 2021. The number of consultations was also in the pre-Corona year of 2019 with 809 at a much lower level.
50 euros more BAföG for 14 percent more recipients
The BAföG department of the Oldenburg Student Union is also reporting a noticeable increase for 2022, and in two respects: 5,587 students were able to receive support through BAföG benefits, an increase of 14 percent compared to the previous year. At the same time, the average amount paid out increased by a good 50 euros, from 590 to 641 euros. “This development was really good!” says the head of the BAföG department, Stefanie Vahlenkamp, with satisfaction. In addition, each BAföG recipient received a total of 575 euros additionally through two heating subsidies. However: The structural BAföG reform announced by the traffic light coalition, which would, among other things, ensure an automatic adjustment of student financing to rising costs, is still not in sight, Vahlenkamp regrets. However, it is urgently needed to ensure that no one has to decide against studying for financial reasons in the coming years.
The Oldenburg Student Union in the year 202 2 at a glance
- 25,552 students supervised at the University of Oldenburg, the Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences and the Jade University of Oldenburg/Wilhelmshaven/Elsfleth
- Six canteens, four cafeterias, three café bars
- 15 residential complexes and houses with a total of 2,233 places
- four daycare centers with a total of 252 places
- three psychological counseling services
- social counseling, disability counseling and student financing counseling
- “unikum” cultural area with the cultural office and the student “Oldenburg University Theater” OUT
- Department for Training Support (BAföG Office)
- 297 employees
- Managing Director since 2013: Ted Thurner