FAQ english

What is Studienkompass?
What is Studienkompass offering?
Why was Studienkompass initiated and who stands behind the programme?
How does the selection-procedure work?

What is Studienkompass?

Studienkompass (compass of studies) is a three-year support programme, that is free of charge.

The programme

• supports its participants two years before they graduate from school (with ?Abitur?) to get to asses their own interests and learn about their individual strengths,
• encourages them to study a subject that fits their talents,
• invites them to discuss their situation with other students of their age, who presently are in the same state of orientation
• accompanies them during their first year at university and doing this lays the foundation for a successful course of studies.

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What is Studienkompass offering?

The programme combines an individual support with group activities in the Studienkompass regions. Core of the programme are four main workshops that focus on the individual advancement of the participants. The four main workshops last for one or two days. Abitur examinations as well as holiday time in the regions are taken into consideration when the dates are fixed. The workshops will take place on weekends so students can participate in their school-classes as usual. The four main workshops will follow in intervals of six months up to one year.

Professional trainers will support Studienkompass participants in the workshops and

• focus on finding the participants? individual strengths,
• determine scholarly and professional directions that suit the individual,
• teach crucial skills, which young people need for a successful start at the university.

Additionally all participants are involved in regional projects and gain insight in different fields of study and professions as well as direct contacts to university students and companies. The regular contact within the regional group gives participants the feeling of being part of a working network and lets them encourage each other with fruitful ideas and interesting activities or field trips.

During the entire time of support the participants will have their personal contact-person allocated in the Studienkompass-team and in their region.

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Why was Studienkompass initiated and who stands behind the programme?

Studienkompass is promoting the personal development of young people. Students, who have the ability to go to university, are encouraged to use their potentials.

In comparison to other countries too few students in Germany go to university after graduating from school. By means of the individual support, Studienkompass contributes to the aim of having enough well educated graduates to secure Germany?s competitiveness in the future. That way the programme is acting against the tendency, that in comparison to other countries too few students in Germany go to university after school and not enough university-students graduate.

Studienkompass was initiated by the Accenture-Stiftung, the Deutsche Bank Stiftung and the Stiftung der Deutschen Wirtschaft (sdw). Aim of the initiative-partners is to expand the programme step by step in regions all over Germany, thus making it available to a growing number of young students.

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How does the selection-procedure work?

Core of the selection-procedure is a test, which was developed exclusively by the staff of the Institut für Begabtenforschung (ITB) for Studienkompass. It resembles the established tests that are used for career orientation. All students participating in the test will receive an individual feedback that will show wheteher a university career is the most suitable choice.

The Studienkompass-selection-test lasts two hours. It  takes place in schools on the computer. In order to get a good estimation of affinity of studying and the candidates' abilities the test has two different parts: a procedure to identify the individual ability to learn and a questionnaire in which the candidates give an estimation of their own capacities.

In the first part of the testing applicants will receive two different assignments that check their comprehension of numbers and language. "Ability to learn" means the capacity to understand information and use it reasonably as well as getting used to new situations. The assignments used in the Studienkompass-test are taken from an academically established and approved learning-ability-test. A good estimation of the comprehension of language and numbers is important to gain insight in the participants' affinity to study. Furthermore it contains first details towards certain aptitudes.

The second part is a questionnaire with questions concerning their experience in school and during their leisure time. Applicants estimate their own abnilities on a scale from "does not apply at all" to "does apply completely". The capabilities are: aims & stamina, initiative & engagement, motivation, reflecting ability and reflecting willingness as well as social competence. These five abilities in particular are important attributes for young people who want to study.

Also those who cannot participate in the programme are to benefit from the Studienkompass-selection-test: all students who participated in the test receive a detailed feedback. It contains helpful suggestions on how their personal abilities and talents can be used. Every participant therefore gets good impulses for further professional orientation. If a student is not admitted to the programme, it does not mean that he or she does not have the ability to pursue a university career. It might just mean that there are other applicants who will profit more from the Studienkompass programme.

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