How can students contribute their concerns and positions to universities? Where can they participate in decision-making? What role do their personal attitudes and the framework conditions of the university itself play in this? And what effect does their commitment have? Such questions about the conditions for success and effectiveness of student participation in the higher education system are a focal point of the third call for proposals for science and higher education research (WiHo) by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR). A total of six projects are being supported in this funding line. In order to facilitate networking between them and to bring together the results of the various studies and place them in an overall context, there is also the accompanying project BeNeFiT ESt: “Support, networking, and research transfer in the field of participatory student engagement.”
The aim of the accompanying project is to take on support tasks for the projects, promote networking, and increase joint visibility to the outside world. In addition, the results of the projects are to be bundled and the insights gained from them prepared for knowledge transfer to various target groups. Last but not least, remaining research needs are to be identified and systematized.
To achieve these goals, a project team at the DZHW will be available as a support center, organizing meetings between the participants in various constellations and with an advisory board. The advisory board will consist of approximately five individuals with special knowledge of the field (higher education system) and the topics of participation and democracy promotion. Its members will serve as enablers for contacts in the research field, advisors on content and methodological issues, and critical friends with regard to the validation of results. In addition, they will fulfill a multiplier function for the transfer of the results of the funding line.
In addition, a research field analysis will be carried out as part of the accompanying project, and current developments from all participating projects will be communicated to the outside world through science communication (primarily via the website, press releases, and social media posts). The results from the funded projects will be compiled, classified according to overarching questions, and published for scientific communities on the one hand, and on the other hand, prepared and disseminated in a practice-oriented manner in various transfer-oriented formats such as short presentations, guidelines, toolboxes, or videos for different target groups in universities, science ministries, and non-profit organizations. In addition, a larger closing event will help to publicize the results.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) from March 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026.
