On this very day, the Studierendenwerk Thüringen celebrates its 30th anniversary and has always contributed to the success of studying in Thuringia!
On July 01, 1991, the Studentenwerk Jena was founded, thus creating an economically independent student aid organization that had its origins 100 years ago with the founding of the association "Studentenhilfe Jena". At the same time, the Studentenwerke Erfurt, Ilmenau and Weimar were also founded. After a preparatory and transitional phase lasting eight months, responsibility for the economic and social support of students was transferred from the universities to Studentenwerke.
Since then, the Studentenwerke, which were merged after several mergers in 2007 to form the Studentenwerk Thüringen, have tackled numerous projects to support students in Thuringia. The range of services has constantly evolved over the past 30 years and is geared towards the needs of students. In 2016, the institution was renamed Studierendenwerk Thüringen.
Impressive development in all areas
Memories of the founding phase reveal an impressive development: while shared rooms - i.e. accommodation for several students in just one room, often with double bunk beds - and the use of shared kitchens and sanitary facilities on each floor were still common back then, nowadays students prefer individual apartments in which all living areas are available to them individually. While noodles with tomato sauce and rice pudding with applesauce, sugar and cinnamon are still classics in the refectory, the range of food on offer is becoming increasingly differentiated. Every day, vegan and vegetarian dishes are offered in the dining halls. Three developed and recipe-standardized menu lines, which identify dishes with regional ingredients (mensaRegional), contribute to a healthy and balanced diet (mensaVital) and bring intercultural diversity to the guests' plates (mensaInternational), enrich the menus.
BAföG goes digital
While the existing scholarship system of the GDR gave way to the BAföG in accordance with the Unification Treaty and its implementation had to be understood and learned by the commissioned employees from November 1990, the application documents of many generations of students now fill large archives. Initially, these applications were processed without PCs, but now the BAföG office is also increasingly using digital technology. Applications can be submitted online via www.bafoeg-digital.de since spring 2021.
The Studierendenwerk would like to toast the joint achievements and anniversaries - pandemic situation permitting - at a festive event in the fourth quarter of the year. The managing director of the Studierendenwerk Thüringen, Dr. Ralf Schmidt-Röh, who was commissioned to set up a student union in September 1990 and has successfully dedicated himself to this task to this day:
We are proud to be able to look back on this long success story. Not only for the last 30 years, but also in the future, the Studierendenwerk will continue to be there for the students in Thuringia.
Social services under one roof
All in all, the Studierendenwerk provides economic, social, health and cultural support for about 50,000 students, including about 5,500 students at Ilmenau Technical University, at eight locations on the basis of dedicated support from the Free State of Thuringia and in close cooperation with the universities.The Studierendenwerk unites many services under one roof: the supply in the refectories and cafeterias, the renting of rooms in student residences, the support in financing a study, the offer of general, psychosocial and legal advice, child care as well as the provision of further services for students with children, the cultural promotion of student projects and much more. Under the mission statement attributes social, modern and diverse, the employees of the Studierendenwerk will continue to actively support the students ... so that studying in Thuringia is successful!
Contact
Rebecca Heuschkel
Studierendenwerk Thüringen, Kommunikation und Kultur
