First major exchange of university advisory services in Flensburg!

First major exchange of university advisory services in Flensburg!

On March 7, 2025, the annual working group meeting of the “Society for Information, Counseling and Therapy at Universities e.V. (GIBeT)” took place in Flensburg. Around 110 advisors from Germany and Switzerland met to discuss central topics in student advising. This event marks the first time that the conference was hosted in Flensburg. The organizer Sabine Kröger, who heads the central student advisory service at the European University of Flensburg and is also a board member of GIBeT, emphasized the importance of the exchange.

The conference includes a total of ten working groups in which specialist topics such as classic study advice, the challenges of studying with disabilities and questions about doubts and dropping out of studies were discussed. A central goal of GIBeT is to ensure high quality information and advice for prospective and current students.

Topics and working groups

Another important concern of the conference was to strengthen psychological and psychotherapeutic advice at universities. The University Rectors' Conference had already highlighted the essential role of student advisory services in the student life cycle in 2021. During the final plenary session, the results of the different working groups were shared with all participants.

The topics covered in the working groups include:

• Klassische Studienberatung
• Studieren mit Beeinträchtigung
• Studienzweifel und Studienausstieg
• Psychoanalytische und psychotherapeutische Beratung an Hochschulen

In addition, several specific working groups are active, including the study advisory management working group and the digital student advising working group. These groups focus on the challenges and developments in student advising that are characterized by advancing digitalization and the changing needs of students.

Importance of student advising

The tasks of the student advisory service are diverse. It ranges from information and advice for prospective students to support in various phases of the study process. A psychologically sound counseling approach is just as important in order to meet the demands of academic and student life. The University Rectors' Conference emphasizes that the importance of student advice is growing with the increasing expansion of universities and the increasing heterogeneity of student applicants. One of the central goals is to promote self-active studies.

The structure of the student advisory service is characterized by a decentralized division, which includes specialist advisory centers and central general student advisory centers. This division is intended to improve cooperation between different advisory levels and ensure comprehensive support. Coordinated advisory services are particularly important in critical study phases in order to provide students with the best possible support.

The GIBeT, which was founded in 1994, plays a central role in the networking and professional development of advisors at universities. It formulates quality standards and offers a training curriculum that also includes certifications. The exchange of information and statements on university policy issues are also important activities of this organization.