Fears and hopes for the future: What young people really think in 2024!

Fears and hopes for the future: What young people really think in 2024!

On September 3, 2025, an important meeting took place at the University of Vechta, bringing together over 50 representatives of employment agencies from northwest Lower Saxony. The aim of the conference was to exchange ideas about current issues in student advising, particularly with regard to access routes for students without a high school diploma. The event began with a presentation of the university's study profile, with particular attention being paid to teacher training courses.

Discussion topics included the experiences of students with a technical college entrance qualification and the integration of these students into the university environment. The recognition of professionally acquired skills was also discussed - a measure to open up the university to various educational paths. The participants also exchanged information about students’ counseling concerns and discussed the challenges in student counseling.

Insights about Generation Alpha

After lunch together, Malte Hübner, managing director of the coordination office for study information and advice in Lower Saxony, gave a keynote speech about Generation Alpha. The lecture dealt with the challenges and questions that are relevant to counseling practice in employment agencies and universities. Hübner referred to recent studies, including the Shell Youth Study and the Sinus Youth Milieu Study, which provide important insights into the values ​​and expectations of the younger generation.

According to the studies, taking personal skills and specialist interests into account plays an important role when choosing a course of study and a career. The participants also expressed a desire for security, meaningful tasks and a better work-life balance. The need for permanent, reliable contacts is particularly relevant for the digital generation, and there was great interest in offers for orientation and testing in order to further develop the advisory services.

Optimism and challenges according to the Shell youth study

The 19th Shell Youth Study, which was presented on October 15, 2024 by Federal Youth Minister Lisa Paus, shows that the majority of young people in Germany are optimistic about the future, even though they are faced with major challenges. The study documents a variety of concerns that have increased since the last survey in 2019. These include fears of war in Europe (81%), worries about the economic situation (67%) and growing hostility and environmental pollution (64%).

Despite these challenges, 75% of young people have high trust in democracy. Approval of important institutions such as the Federal Constitutional Court and the police is also high, while trust in political parties is lower. It is also noteworthy that there is an increase in support for autocratic-authoritarian positions among young people compared to five years ago.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, 27% of young women and 21% of young men express frequent loneliness. The use of digital media has increased significantly, with 83% of those surveyed largely trusting traditional media. Young people show a clear desire for a more collaborative division of paid work, with 42% of young men and 41% of women favoring a 30-hour week for fathers.

Overall, 56% of young people are optimistic about the future and 76% view Germany's chances of achieving their life goals as positive. Supporting young people is a priority, as the Federal Ministry of Youth Affairs demonstrates with its National Action Plan for Child and Youth Participation and projects to strengthen digital skills.

For more information about the Open University and the access routes to studying without a high school diploma or with professional experience, those interested can visit the University of Vechta website. The application portal is currently open, with deadlines for bachelor's programs until September 30th and for master's programs until October 31st.

Further details on the findings of the Shell youth study can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. The study is carried out every four years and offers valuable insight into the views and needs of the young generation in Germany.