What is university politics?

As a student at the University of Greifswald, you are automatically a member of the student body. When you re-register or enrol, you pay part of the semester fee to the student body. Its tasks are varied and can be found in the statutes of the student body.

If you would prefer to watch a film about the text here, take a look at this video from moritz.tv, which provides information about the various committees of the student body.

Tasks of the student body

The following tasks arise from the State Higher Education Act and the statutes:

  1. Representing the interests of students as members of the University of Greifswald,
  2. Participation in the improvement of teaching and in the preparation of the teaching report,
  3. Advocating for the economic advancement and social concerns of students, especially students with children,
  4. Representing the political and academic interests of its members and commenting on related issues,
  5. Supporting and promoting intellectual and cultural interests,
  6. Promotion of student sport, insofar as the university is not responsible for this,
  7. Maintaining supra-regional and international student relations, especially in the Baltic Sea region,
  8. Promoting political education and a sense of civic responsibility on the basis of the constitutional order,
  9. Promotion of equal rights for members of the University of Greifswald,
  10. Promotion of ecological issues at the University of Greifswald,
  11. supporting the integration of foreign students, and
  12. promoting the formation of opinion within the student body through suitable media.
What does that have to do with me?

The question is justified because many people just want to study. However, due to the many different tasks of the student body, you are almost always affected by it in some way, be it during Freshers' Week, at parties in student clubs, with the student media or even when you need help with your studies. Student body committees are involved in all of these and many more areas.

And you can be part of it! If you want to play an active role in shaping the university, contribute or discuss ideas at short notice or are simply interested in politics, apply to join a committee. You can either start right at the top and apply for a place in the student parliament or start small in your student council.

Below we explain how exactly the various committees are made up and what their tasks are.

Student Parliament

The student parliament is the highest decision-making body of the constituted student body. Its tasks range from appointing the General Students' Committee (AStA) and approving the student body's financial budget to a wide range of different motions.

The statutes of the student body, which regulate all political issues and the powers of the various committees, provide further information about the work of the student parliament.

Student councils

You are guaranteed to have met your student representatives during Freshers' Week. Their task is to advocate for the academic interests of the students of the individual student councils, i.e. your degree programme. So if you have any questions about your studies, your FSR is there for you. Further details are regulated by the student body's general student council regulations.