Student Life in Köln part 1

Contents

1.Introduction.

2. Increase in student numbers per year.

2.1 Contingency plans.

2.2 Planned projects.

3. Technical equipment.

3.1 Equipment in the lecture hall

3.2 Student card.

3.3 Online services.

4. Semester fee.

5.Register of Images

1.Introduction

With more than 23000 students, the University of Applied Sciences of Cologne is one of the biggest Universities in Germany. The University of Technology, Arts and Sciences offers a wide range of different courses to study and has locations in Cologne, Leverkusen and Gummersbach.

In April 1970 the opening of the old University of Applied Sciences Cologne-Siegen took place in Gummersbach. This location at the “Steinberg” accommodated till August 2007.From this point the old University complex had its day and the new, modern University at the “Steinmüller” area in the center of Gummersbach was later inaugurated.

The faculty in Gummersbach offers two different fields of study. On the one hand computer sciences and on the other hand engineering sciences, with a lot of different specializations. The strengths of the campus in Gummersbach attract more and more students every year.

2. Increase of the Students per year

Presumably like every other University records the University of Applied Sciences Cologne in Gummersbach shows an average increase of student numbers per year. As mentioned in the introduction, the campus Gummersbach offers two different fields of study. Even if the total number of engineering students (green) abate in the last three years, there is a noticeable increase in the average(red graph). Responsible for this entire continual rise is mainly because of computer siences sector (blue graph).

From an interview with the dean assistant, Mr Duschneit it turned out that the University plans so far ahead with total student numbers from 4200-4800. Today there are barely 5000 students matriculated in Gummersbach.

In August 2007 was the opening of the University of Applied Sciences at the Steinmüller area after a two year construction period. At that time the campus was construed for about 2000 students.

The large amount of beginner students every semester causes crowded lecture halls, a jam-full cafeteria and short study places. To ensure optimal learning conditions the University wants to tackle the space problems while planning and building new facilities.

2.1 Contingency Plans

Image 1: Schwalbe Arena (handball Stadium) Halle 32

To handle the masses of students, the University had to think about new options. For example the introductory meeting in the beginning of the semester for the beginners has been held for the last 2 years in the handball stadium (left side) of the located handball club. This semester nearly 1000 new students began to study in Gummersbach and the university has no lecture hall for this big amount of people. Therefore the Stadium nearby is a perfect solution for those big crowds of people.

Also the building on the right hand side is used by the University. Normally the “Halle 32” was made for events like concerts and parties but during the week you can visit lectures and it is even used for the exams.

Image 2: Picture of the cafeteria container (left), the library (3) and the cafeteria (right)

Another example how the university tries to extend their place capacities is with the cafeteria. Especially in the beginnings of the semesters you have to wait in long queues during the rush hours in front of the cafeteria. Since there were not enough seats at all the University achieved a fast stopgap. They constructed a container building (1) which is separated next to the cafeteria (2) with another 100 seats.

2.2 Planned Projects

A building which is under construction at the moment will be realized in the winter semester in 2016/17. The University will share this building with Ferchau Engineering, a located engineering service business, who will rent the ground floor and the first floor. All together the new building will offer about 1200 square meters for two additional lecture halls and some moderations and meeting rooms. Furthermore the math institute will move to this new building.

As better long term solutions Mr. Duschneit told us in the interview about the Universities future plans. The cafeteria container will be dismantled again, when the real cafeteria is extended. Over the cafeteria is now situated the library (3). In the winter Semester 2018/19 they want to have finished with the new library, that the cafeteria can be extended upwards. The new library will be created at the parking place next to the University.

Image 3: New building for the University

3. Technical Equipment

3.1 Equipment in the lecture hall

Image 4: Lecture hall Image 5: Lecture hall

The largest lecture hall at the University in Gummersbach offers the students over 500 seats. It is equipped with four beamers, which guarantees an optimal view to the canvas from every position. This room and most of all of the other instructions rooms have HDMI and VDA connectors to have many possibilities to easily show presentations with the connected beamer. The presentation table has a touch pad. So the professors can project their lecture notes directly on the canvas and after that upload it to the Ilias platform (explained in 3.3). In addition, the lecture hall is equipped with numerous “Bose” boxes, so the professors can be understood through the microphone everywhere in the big room. Virtually anywhere on the whole campus you have a really good WiFi connection.

3.2 Student Card

With the start of studying at Campus Gummersbach every student receives a student card called Multica.

The Multica has numerous features:

1. Next to the cafeteria and the café bar you can find automates to charge the card with money. With that you can pay your meal or whatever you want in the cafeteria.

2. You are able to use the lockers everywhere at the campus.

3. In the library you find automatic machines to rent books or to give them back. Or you can pay the fees if you forgot to give your book back in time.

[endif]--4. Every semester, if you have paid your semester fee, you have to validate your card. Then you are allowed to drive everywhere in the area of Cologne with the public transport like train or bus.

5. At the University there are three copy stations.

You can pay for your copies by cash or you plug in your Multica and the costs will debited from your card.

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Image 7: Copy Station

3.3 Online Services

The University of Cologne provides different online services for the students.

On the website Ilias.de the students can compile a “personal desk” with all the courses they take in that semester. There you get different information about each course. The professors or their assistants inform about upcoming appointments or any amendments. They upload the lecture notes, exercises or the transcripts from the touch pad. Furthermore the students have the possibility to discuss in a chatroom.

Another online service which is very useful for the students is psso.de. The students are able to register and de-register for individual exams. Moreover you get an overview about all courses you have attended and with which grade you passed the exams.

All student services that have been completed such as internships or additional modules will be listed there. Furthermore you can download your certificate of study and you see if you have paid your student fee correctly.

4. Semester Fee

The semester fee is a general mandatory levy. It is payable by all students from a German university before each semester to the respective student union.

All students of the University of Applied Sciences Cologne, except for some special courses of study, have to pay this fee every semester.

Composition of the semester fee:

• Social contribution for the student union cologne: 68,00 €

• Semesterticket for the public transport: 120,10 €

• SemesterTicket for the federal state „Nordrhein-Westfalen“ : 49,50 €

• AStA-fee (student council): 13,10 €

• Solidarity contribution: 0,20 €

All together the fees for the summer semester 2016 is estimated to 250,90 Euro.

5.Register of Images

[1] http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwalbe-arena.de%2Fwp-content%2Fthemes%2Fschwalbe_arena-

2014%2Fimages%2Frundgang.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwalbe-arena.de%2F2013-07-04%2Feroeffnung-der-schwalbe-

arena%2F&h=400&w=800&tbnid=tq8t4r_UzErp0M%3A&docid=5XA7Vn1H2X97HM&ei=hriRVuPuPMOuswGtnqawAg&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=753&page=1&start=0&ndsp=16&ved=0ahUKEwjjyaevkJ7KAhVD1ywKHS2PCSYQrQMINjAI (Opened on 8.1.2016)

[2] Own admission (8.1.2016)

[3] Own admission (8.1.2016)

[4] Own admission (8.1.2016)

[5] Own admission (8.1.2016)

[6] http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.th-koeln.de%2Fmam%2Fbilder%2Fstudium%2Frund_uns_studium%2Forganisation%2Fmultica_thk.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.th-koeln.de%2Fstudium%2Fstudierendenausweis-

multica_361.php&h=144&w=256&tbnid=lnRhmYfT6jSbCM%3A&docid=3i3AyK5EgEIx4M&ei=sLmRVs-

HM4q6sQH5vamoAg&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=71&page=1&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=0ahUKEwjPn6q9kZ7KAhUKXSwKHfleCiUQrQMIHjAA ( opened 8.1.2016)

[7] Own admission (8.1.2016)