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Student participation in committees

What are university committees?

Committees are formed to advise and decide on important university issues. The members of the committees are professors, employees and students. All students at the university elect their representatives in the committees once a year, and all enrolled students can stand for election. The elected representatives then bring the concerns and interests of the student body to the committees.

First things first! – FAQs

  • To elect representatives to the university committees who hear your voice and represent your interests.
  • So that students are involved in decision-making processes and can participate in them in order to further improve the study conditions for current and future students.
  • Because university policy directly influences your studies, processes and life on campus.
  • To actively participate in university life and to help shape it.

  • Students elect their committee representatives annually.
  • The next elections to the Senate, the Faculty Councils and the Equal Opportunities Advisory Board will take place on 28 and 29 June 2022, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in House 5.

As enrolled students: two representatives in the faculty council of their own department, four representatives in the Senate and two representatives in the Equal Opportunities Advisory Board.

The results will be announced on the intranet.

  • After the election, the elected representatives begin their work in the committees.
  • In addition, all students have the right to attend sessions as guests.

Which committees are there?

1. Student committees

Purely student committees are the student representatives of the individual departments, the overall student representation of the university as well as the inter-university committees of the state of Thuringia.

The Student Council (StuRa) is the body of the student body elected by students throughout the university. The StuRa represents the interests of students inside and outside the university. The tasks of the StuRa include the perception of the students' political, social and cultural interests. These include, in particular:

  • the promotion of civic education,
  • the organisation and support of cultural projects, open airs and campus festivals,
  • the commitment to social issues such as the compatibility of studies and child/family,
  • the representation of the interests of international students,
  • the maintenance of regional and supra-regional student relations.

The number of members is 9-17 students.

Student councils (FSR) are made up of the elected representatives of the respective departments. The Student councils represent the interests of students in a department and is responsible for student affairs within the department. In addition, the members of the Student councils represent the interests of students from the respective department at university level. The Student councils have 3-11 members

An overview can be found on the page of the Student Council of the EAH Jena.

The Conference of The Thuringian Student Bodies (KTS) is the association of the student representatives of the ten thuringian state universities. It represents the approximately 50,000 students vis-à-vis the state of Thuringia, in particular the parliament and the Ministry of Science.  

The KTS takes on the following tasks:

  • position on university policy issues in Thuringia and Germany,
  • elects the student members to the Board of Directors of the Studierendenwerk,
  • participates intensively in the negotiations on the semester ticket,
  • is one of the supporting organizations of the student accreditation pool,
  • networks itself and the student bodies in Thuringia with the other student representatives in Germany.

Each Thuringian university sends two students as delegates, so the KTS has a total of 20 delegates. From this circle, KTS elects two equal spokespersons.

2. Committees in the departments

Within the various departments, there are committees that deal with all topics relating to teaching and research. These include the Faculty Council, the Study Commission, the Examination Board and Appointment Committees.

The faculty council is responsible for all matters of the department on the topics of teaching and research. Among other things, he deals with:

  • the establishment, abolition or modification of study programmes,
  • the decision of the study and examination regulations,
  • the decision on the fundamental use of financial and human resources.

The FBR consists of two professors, two employees and two students. In matters that directly affect teaching, research or the appointment of professors, the FBR also has three professors.

A study commission is assigned to each course of study. The study commissions further develop the respective field of study. For this purpose the following takes place:

  • made recommendations on teaching content,
  • the use of funds discussed,
  • discusses the evaluation of teaching.

In all matters relating to studies and examinations, the Study Commission must be consulted before decisions of the Faculty Council; it also has a right of initiative. The study commission consists of three professors and three students who do not have to be members of the FBR.

The Examination Board ensures that the provisions of the study and examination regulations are complied with. The scope of the Audit Committee's activities includes, in particular:

  • the decision on fundamental questions of admission to examinations as well as in other examination matters of fundamental importance,
  • monitoring the correct application of the test provisions,
  • the handling of appeals against audit decisions and the decision on appeals in audit matters.

In addition, it provides suggestions for the reform of the curriculum and the study and examination regulations. The Examination Board consists of professors, staff and at least one student member; the members are obliged to maintain secrecy.

Appointment committees are set up to refill or replace professorial staff. The task of an appointment committee is to find the most suitable person for the position to be filled with a view to research and teaching. To this end,

  • reviewed the applications received,
  • invited several applicants to make appointment presentations,
  • draws up a list of appointments, which is then submitted to the Faculty Council and the Senate for resolution.

An appointment committee consists of five members of the group of professors, one employee and two students.

3. University-wide committees

There are various university-wide committees that deal with topics that affect the university as a whole. These include the Senate, the associated Senate committees and the Equal Opportunities Advisory Board.

The Senate is largely responsible for shaping academic life at University of Applied Sciences Jena. It deals with:

  • with the structure of the university,
  • the structural and development planning of the university, which formulates the strategic goals of the university for the coming years and measures to achieve them,
  • the distribution of personnel and material resources,
  • the vote on appointment proposals of the appointment committees,
  • the establishment and abolition of study programmes,
  • Guidelines of research and development.

The Senate is also involved in the election of the Rector and the Chancellor. The Senate is chaired by the Rector, and voting members are nine professors, four employees and four students. The members are elected in free, equal and secret ballot by the respective group of members.

The Senate may appoint Senate committees for some of its tasks and, if necessary, grant them decision-making powers. In addition, decisions of the Senate are prepared by the Senate Committees. There are currently five Senate committees, each consisting of five professors, two employees and two students:

  • Study Committee
  • Research Committee
  • Budget Committee
  • Library Committee
  • IT Committee

The Equal Opportunities Advisory Board has the task of supporting the university in implementing equal opportunities regardless of gender and ensuring that the interests of students with children are taken into account. The Equal Opportunities Council consists of the Equal Opportunities Officer, two professors, two employees and two students.