The Studentenwerk Augsburg is a student service organization and a
corporate entity in its own right . It was established in 1973 - three
years after the foundation of the University of Augsburg.
All the Studentenwerks draw on the philosophy of the student support
organizations established in Germany after World War I, the aim of
which was to facilitate studies of students with a low financial backing.
According to this philosophy, it is not only the curriculum which
determines the success of one's studies. The social and material conditions
of the students are equally critical—they determine whether
students can sufficiently concentrate on their studies or not.
In accordance with this philosophy, the Studentenwerk Augsburg
perceives itself as a modern student service organization, the task
of which is to facilitate social development of about 24.000 Students
of the University of Augsburg, the Universities of Applied Sciences
in Augsburg, Kempten and Neu-Ulm.
The yearly turnover of the Studentenwerk Augsburg amounts to €
35 Million and it employs around 140 persons. It runs five dining-halls
, seven cafeterias and four Coffee-Bars, offers convenient catering
services to students and university employees. The Studentenwerk
Augsburg provides affordable accommodation to students in 1.430
appartments (primarily single ones) in six different student halls.
It also processes applications for financial aid provided for in
the Federal Education and Training Assistance Act (Bafög).
These services of the Studentenwerk are completed with the provision
of short-term and long-term loans to students who found themselves
in a difficult life situation, psychological counselling and social
and legal guidance. The daycare center for approx. 69 children aged
1-3 run by the Studentenwerk Augsburg enables students to combine
their study with parenthood.
Providing these services, the Studentenwerk Augsburg helps considerably
to put the equality of opportunities in practice and to improve
the life situation of students. The Studentenwerk makes it possible
for students to complete their studies without interruption.
Despite the worsening financial backing, in the future, the Studentenwerk
Augsburg is not going to concentrate only on keeping the service
standards but also on enlarging the offer of services in some areas
according to the needs of the students - e.g. by developing the
so-called "mentor program" aimed at the integration of
foreign students or by supporting student cultural activities by
enabling them to participate in a culture project called "Campuskunst"
and "Cafotoria".
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