No common Europe of students
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POLITICS POLITICS
No common
Europe of students
PANDEMIC SUPPORT
Thinking in national terms in a global pandemic – that applies in particular to the government
aid which Europe is launching for its students. A comparison between France and Germany
also shows that the French students are much louder.
An analysis by Jeannette Goddar
A
ddressing the President, the French student of politics doesn’t operate, students don’t really profit from that,” Helno Eyriey countered
beat around the bush: “Monsieur le president,” she starts, the President in a radio interview. France’s largest student union is
“I’m 19 years old, and I feel dead (...). All my plans are falling calling for an investment package of 1.5 billion euro containing both
apart, and so is my mental constitution in the same rhythm.” an increase in the “Bourse” – the French equivalent of Germany’s
Signed in a room which is a “study, a bedroom, a restroom, a BAföG – and 100,000 grants for international students as well as 60,000
cinema and a kitchen, all in one”: “Heïdi Soupault – a walking places in student halls of residence under the “Crous” system. In
corpse.” This open let went so viral that President Emmanuel Macron France, the “Centres régionaux des oeuvres universitaires et scolaires”,
replied to the student: “No, it isn’t easy to be 20. But I have to ask you Crous for short, perform similar roles to those of the German student
to keep up your effort. For a few more weeks.” Since the onset of the services organisations. Their umbrella organisation, which is
pandemic, students in France have been keeping politicians on the go. comparable to the National Association for Student Affairs, is the
“Generation Covid” or “Precarité. Inegalité. Fraternité” is written on Cnous, the “Centre National des oeuvres universitaires et scolaires”,
the banners which they display not only in the World Wide Web, but with an “n” standing for “national”. If you ask Cnous President
also in the streets. They have many demands, and returning to the Dominique Marchand, her appraisal of French pandemic support for
lecture halls and financial aid are right at the top of the list. They are students sounds rather more positive. “The Government was very
supported – and this may sound a little cynical – by images one is com- quick to respond,” she explains. For example, students wishing to
pletely unfamiliar with in Germany. Again and again, French camera swap their hall of residence rooms for their parents’ homes already
teams, long joined by others from abroad, show pictures of students had their rent waived in March 2020. Marchand says that the much
queuing in front of soup kitchens for rice and noodles. Protest spear- referred to “precariat” of French students has been addressed in many
headed by France’s traditionally strong student unions does not re- ways too, also with a 1.2 per cent rise in the level of “Bourse” payments.
main without any impact. Education Minister Frédérique Vidal is not
only involved in continuous talks on the situation at universities in Student aid in France is more diversified
the social media; shortly after the letter from Heïdi Soupault, Presi-
dent Macron took a seat in a circle of students. They would now be How does France differ from Germany regarding its pandemic aid
treated like employees, he promised, and were entitled to one day a programmes for students? One thing is certain. There is more
week at the university. And as of now, every student could collect two creativity and diversity in what France is doing; in only two of the past
meals a day at one euro each at the student restaurant. twelve months has there been no additional aid. The repertoire
reaches from a 56-million-euro emergency fund in support of
Student unionist retorts Macron financially week students to free-of-charge menstrual pads, from the
above-mentioned right to move out plus a guarantee to be able to
The Deputy Chairman of UNEF (Union nationale des étudiants) then move in again to 150-euro once-off support – albeit still not paid out by
Foto: 123 RF
demonstrated his rhetorical skills. “When students live at home mid-March 2021. Marchand says that she doesn’t know how much all
again, due to the pandemic, and the university restaurants don’t this adds up to. However, one is “is in close and permanent interaction
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POLITICS POLITICS
(loan) and bridging aid – and which can hardly be plus 600 euro a month in rent for a campus which
called adequate. While eligibility for BAföG has been was only open on a digital basis. The universities,
We are strongly in favour of extended beyond the standard number of semesters, which are both responsible for the hardly established
there has been no increase in its monthly level; so it student housing facilities and recipients of the
greater uniformity in Europe. hardly helps those in need of additional money.
But perhaps more crucial is that Interest on the KfW-Studienkredit, a programme
»UK: The so-called party generation is a house stool
social and national backgrounds which has already existed for some time, is being generation. More than one in five students had not
paid the Federal Ministry of Education and Research left the house within seven days, more than in the
are now even more decisive (BMBF) up to the end of 2021. Which doesn’t sound all
population as a whole.«
Quelle: BMBF
in determining educational that attractive – after all, from 2022 on, around four
per cent interest will once again be due. Students tuition fees, promptly came up with arithmetical
opportunities than before. have nevertheless readily grasped this lifebelt. proof of their hands being tied. According to a survey
Martina Darmanin, President of the European Students Union (ESU)
Already before the winter semester 2020/2021, the commissioned by the Universities and Colleges
Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau recorded five times in part-time jobs. So the European Commission Union, already in April 2020, there was the threat of a
as many applications as at the same point in time in would have been well-advised to come up with a loss of 2.5 billion pounds (almost 3 billion euro), as
with the ministry” over further adequate measures. 2019. strategy paper. “ Unfortunately, some papers on well as of 30,000 jobs. The reason given was that with
“Before corona” – yes, that seems ages ago – the The only really new aspect of the BMBF’s repertoire digitisation are all there is,” states Martina Darmanin, the borders closed, many international students
situation of students on this and the other side of the is the bridging aid, which focuses on students on President of the ESU, which is headquartered in paying not a mere 10,000 but up to 30,000 euro a year
Rhine had been comparable in many respects, with a students in an acute “emergency situation brought Brussels. And so, each country has its own approach, for a place to study wouldn’t be coming. And the
larger group threatened by economic deprivation on about by the pandemic”, is being implemented via which often enough isn’t even in harmony with government? It only responded when the British
the French side. Back then, according to the the 57 student services organisations belonging to regular student financing. The Netherlands, having B-117 coronavirus variant once again brought the
continuous national survey among students the National Association for Student Affairs (DSW), last switched to a model based almost entirely on Emmanuel Macron country to a standstill shortly before Christmas 2020,
“Observatoire de la vie étudiante” (OVE), more than a and has now been extended to the end of the 2021 loans,will now once again be distributing allowances and more and more students resorted to rent strikes
quarter of them (26 per cent) did not dispose of the summer semester, i.e. to the end of September 2021. A amounting to between 800 and 1,500 euro once the »No, it is not easy to be 20. and squatting. Since then, 70 million pounds (81.5
financial means to cover monthly needs; in Germany, glance at the DSW statistics reveals that the number new model has expired. Denmark, having set an million euro) have been allocated to the universities,
this was stated by 18 per cent of students responding of applications received each month appears to have example regarding the award of grants irrespective
But even though I under- above all to be paid out to the neediest students.
Heïdi Soupault
to a similar question in the latest, 21st Social Survey levelled off at between 45,000 and 50,000 applications. of a student’s parental background, is now above all stand your anger, dear Heï- Furthermore,a petition with half a million signatures
by the National Association for Student Affairs (2016). The BMBF bridging aid requirements are that each resorting to loans during the pandemic. The Danish di, I beg you to make an ef- calls for lowering tuition fees from 9,250 to 3,000
However, it has to be borne in mind that students
»Monsieur le Président, month, proof has to be given of an account balance of Ministry of Higher Education states in clear terms fort. For a few more weeks.« pounds – not permanently, but just for this study
here must earn at least part of their living far more I am 19 years old and I feel less than 500 euro as well as the reason for the what this means: “If you are taking out a loan, you year.
Emmanuel Macron in a response
often than those in France; and where there used to dead (..) ich bin 19 Jahre, pandemic-related emergency situation. Only those might wind up paying instalments several years letter to Heïdi Soupault, also in
be more employment, there were more jobs to lose und ich fühle mich tot (...). who have less than 100 euro then receive 500 euro; ahead, and it might affect the amount you for January 2021 “Students’ social and national
during the pandemic. In the survey “Studieren in All my plans fall apart, and anyone with more than 400 gets 100. “The poor stay instance are allowed to borrow at the bank for a new background determines their
Zeiten der Corona-Pandemie” conducted by the at the same rate my mental poor,” Ronja Hesse, member of the Executive residence..” prospects”
German Centre for Higher Education Research and state.« Committee of the European Students’ Union (ESU),
Science Studies (DZHW), four out of ten students and one of the bridging aid recipients, comments Chequered federalism, protest and rent Asked about the present situation, the European
reported difficulty earning a living. More than every Heïdi Soupault , student, in January drily. Nevertheless, it is also true that things can be strikes in the UK Universities Association (EUA), which represents 800
2021 in a letter to the President of
tenth student (11 per cent) could not figure out how the French Republic Emmanuel even tougher. In Austria, which maintains a similar universities across Europe, is straightforward: “One
to go on studying without additional financial Macron; signed “a living dead” “hardship fund”, details have to be given not only of The situation is especially motley in countries with
Fotos: Privat | PHOTO STEPHANE MORTAGNE LA VOIX DU NORD - VDNPQR
support. This means that with almost three million one’s own financial situation but also of both parents’ strong regions, some of which put even German
students in all, around 300,000 young people heading income situation and occupation as well as one’s federalism in the shade. In Belgium, where Flanders
for an academic degree urgently depend on aid. partner. and Wallonia, which couldn’t even agree on a
common standard period of study in the course of
No “European approach” to pandemic the Bologna Reform, the Flemish universities have
»As far as student support is concerned, there was aid for students now established a grading system on their own
clearly no question of a common European path, which more strongly considers study achievement We are very concerned about
However, the comparison between Austria and in previous years. In Italy, all recipients of student whether students will use the
which was often invoked in the fight against the Germany shows something else: similar approaches, grants have received extra points, which in that
pandemic.« which, looking around Europe as a whole, appear to system means more euro per month; in a solo effort, university when it reopens –
be an exception rather than the rule. When it comes Fotos: picture alliance | Privat South Tyrol, the country’s northernmost region, or whether a generation will
The German triple package: BAföG, to supporting students, the common European bordering on Austria, made a once-off payment on
the KfW-loan, and bridging aid approach otherwise pledged so readily does not seem top. The United Kingdom, until recently a member of
emerge that will not learn to use
to have been at issue. And while there may indeed be the EU, has given a textbook example of the the university as it should.
They are entitled to a Federal aid package which, considerable differences between the student prevalence of free market ideology. Hardly had the
already one year into the pandemic, still consists of financing systems in Europe, there are also many pandemic set in as students were already protesting Kevin Olesen, Student Representative at the University of Copenhagen
the three components BAföG, KfW “Studienkredit” similarities, such as, for instance, the massive decline at paying more than 10,000 euro a year in tuition fees
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POLITICS POLITICS
countries; neither does emergency support reach minor interpellation to the Federal Government, FDP
them in many countries. In this respect, German Federal Parliament Member Jens Brandenburg
bridging aid is “unique in international comparison”, wanted to establish what the mental situation of
declares DSW General Secretary Achim auf der students and psychological support for them are like.
Heyde. A glance at the summer 2020 DSW survey Basically, the reply, given on the 15th February 2021,
shows just how important this is. Students without a i.e. in the middle of the shutdown, reveals no One could argue that the Covid 19
German school-leaving degree stated twice as response to the pandemic.“As a rule,the psychological
Studies, academic learning frequently that they required additional support. All counselling centres of the student services crisis has made existing features
– this requires debate, this also affects the mental state of students, as the organisations are funded via the university fees even more visible: Those with
dialogue, exchange. Digital German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) pointed students pay, and without public support,” it states. financial challenges, difficult
out in March 2021. Following a meeting with higher Meanwhile, since 2019, the German National
communication can only education institution heads, its President, Joybrato Association for Student Affairs has urgently been backgrounds or difficulties in
partially do this. In times of Mukherjee, declared: “They report of students calling for “adequate financial support” for social progressing their studies have
suffering from the absence of social contacts, who and psychological counselling. Consequently, all
financial pressure, there is more and more frequently turn up at the student relevant initiatives have been working with resources
suffered the most.
always the risk that human counselling centres and who,with what will probably which are already insufficient. For example, the
encounters are made away be a digital summer semester 2021, see little light at Student Services Organisation in Heidelberg has set
the end of the tunnel.” up a “Department against Loneliness”, the Student
Ronja Hesse, Board Member of the European Students Union
with. Services Organisation in Chemnitz-Zwickau offers
Tia Loukkola, Direktor of Institutional Development,
European Universities Association (EUA)
France: half of the students are psychological counselling “while going for a walk”,
suffering from loneliness and isolation and many other Student Services Organisations run
cannot see a clear trend, besides that of the situation psychological counselling as a video consultation gear. In a survey in the United Kingdom, every third
not having been easy.” However, Tia Loukkola, All students could indeed do with more light and less hour. lecturer stated that he or she would readily carry on
Director for Institutional Development, adds that tunnel. According to a Covid survey by France’s lecturing online; one need not be a visionary to
both “the contexts of students as well as institutions “Observatoire de la vie étudiante” (OVE), “every Heading for the third online semester … picture the savings potential.And in Australia, where
across Europe are very diverse.”” Furthermore, fully second student is suffering from loneliness and financially strong students substantially support
in unison with the European student representations, isolation”. Throughout Europe, numerous smaller Finding out why students feel lonely and depressed higher education funding, the newly appointed
the university association points out that there are surveys arrive at the same result. ETH Zürich has in the pandemic probably goes beyond simply Education Minister came up with entirely new
borders not only between the countries. According to presented a longitudinal study in which students visiting overcrowded lecture halls lacking oxygen – proposals on fundraising in February 2021.
Loukkola, “One could argue that the Covid-19 crisis had already been interviewed in previous years; in to a general lack of age-appropriate togetherness, Joybrato Mukherjee International students “have been great for our
has made existing characteristics even more visible: 2020, it established more depressions, more states of and to what this means in a phase of life which is society, our economy, our diplomacy, and thousands
those with financial challenges,difficult backgrounds anxiety, and more stress. And a survey by the UK important in terms of the development of one’s own »The decline in the number have stayed and become outstanding citizens”, Alan
or with difficulties in progressing in their studies Office for National Statistics (ONS) found out that the identity. What nevertheless cannot be overlooked is of international enrolments Tudge told his audience at the University of
have suffered most.” ESU President Martina alleged party generation is in fact to a worrying that returning to on-campus learning tops the list of is just as much a matter of Melbourne. But now, “bold and ambitious vision” was
Darmanin says: “We adamantly call for more degree a couch potato generation. More than every student priorities. “Studying, academic learning is sought from the universities,with a view to “research
concern to the university
standardisation in Europe. But what is perhaps even fifth student had not been outdoors within seven something that thrives on debate, dialogue and commercialisation”. In a global higher education
more crucial is that both the social and the national days, which was more than in the overall population. exchange. Digital communication can only achieve
management [in Germany], environment, such remarks from “down under”
background determine prospects even more than this partly,” Ronja Hesse confirms. However, all this as is the often poor ought to make one stand up and listen.
they did in the past. This has to be tackled.” Just how Free-of-charge psychological also requires students who know this and are familiar psychological or financial
Dominique Marchand
much distance learning benefits or discriminates counselling in Poland and France with it. Will this still be the case when the third situation of the young
against school pupils has already been discussed for online semester, which starts soon, is over? After all, people who have already
months. The universities as well as the public debate »The government Here, France ought to have successfully taken an this is half a Bachelor’s programme. He is “quite been studying with us in
have tended to keep silent about what is really the responded very quickly. important step by financing 20,000 additional tutor concerned that a generation is emerging which is
the country for some time.«
same topic; although learning in cramped housing As early as March 2020, posts at the universities and 1,200 in the Crous halls not learning how to use the university the way it
conditions, with poor digital facilities and with there was emergency aid, of residence. The residents are “appropiately should be used,” says Kevin Olesen, Student Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee,
President of the German Acade-
many money worries doesn’t work that well there which made it possible for contacted on a daily basis” explains Cnous President Representative at the University of Copenhagen. mic Exchange Service (DAAD),
either. Moreover: “Ait is also more difficult to learn Marchand. The tutors will also “promote sociability” Another even more ominous question is whether in March 2021
the academic habitus online,” as education scientist
students who wanted to and “organise animation actions while respecting governments are going to afford learning as it used to
Anna Traus put it in late 2020 at a conference move back to their families hygiene rules.”. Anyone requiring psychological be in the future. Impressions already seem mixed in
Fotos: EUA | Kay Herschelmann | Ralf Knüfer
organised by the initiative Arbeiterkind.de. to waive the rent in the counselling can visit a psychologist of his or her Germany. In an online talk with students in late
student halls of residence.« choice free of charge, with a voucher. In Poland, January 2021, Federal President Frank-Walter
“German bridging aid unique Dominique Marchand, President
which is not exactly a rich EU country, with the Steinmeier maintained that ideas and motivation
internationally” of Cnous support of the government, the nationwide Student required “people surrounding them; you’ve only got
Parliament (PSRP) set up the “Comfort Zone with this to a limited degree at the moment”. A Rectors’ THE AUTHOR
Once another nationality comes into play, the PSRP” project. “ Every student or member of the Conference (HRK) which waited for the respective Jeannette Goddar works as a freelance journalist in Berlin
situation often gets even more complicated. Given academic community, can, on a monthly basis, meeting of Federal and State representatives to take and Munich, specialising in education and science topics.
During her research for this contribution, the European Higher
entry and quarantine regulations, countless register online for a free-of-charge counselling half place in March 2021 before calling for a return to safe
Fotos: Privat
Education Area appeared to her to be further away than ever
international students across the world have hardly hour with a psychologist,” reports deputy on-campus operations would appear to be less before – hopefully only because of the pandemic.
been able to travel abroad or back to their home spokesperson Jakub Persjanow. In Germany, in a encouraging. And elsewhere, one has long changed www.journalistenetage.de/jeannette-goddar
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