move! - Finding Your Own Path (Project for students who question their studies)

In Germany, 29 percent of all students drop out of their studies. Dropping out of university is not the result of a spontaneous, short-term decision, but rather the culmination of a longer decision-making process. Over the course of a student's studies, factors that contribute to dropping out accumulate, which are interdependent and reinforcing.

It is therefore important to address those who are hesitant about their studies at an early stage, provide open-ended advice, and offer supportive study assistance. In the event of a student dropping out, prompt support in their future career planning by a network of non-university stakeholders is needed.

The cooperative project "move! – Finding Your Own Path", launched in 2015, aims to support those who are unsure about their studies directly by networking and expanding existing cross-institutional counselling services, and indirectly by removing the taboo surrounding the topic of academic doubt.

The goal is to reduce the overall number of dropouts and to promptly place those who drop out of their studies into appropriate vocational training or employment. First point of contact for students is the university's academic advisory services, which offer, for example, decision-making coaching or study-related counselling.

In 2017, the project was further expanded with its successful participation in the university competition "Establishment and Expansion of Networks for Advising Students Unsure of Their Study Abilities and for Connecting Students with Dropouts to Vocational Training" organized by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Next Career).

The cooperation partners of the "move! – Finding Your Own Path" project:

• Student Services and Career Services of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
• Student Advisory Service of Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences
• Düsseldorf Employment Agency (PES)
• Düsseldorf Chamber of Skilled Crafts
• Düsseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce

The attached compendium (in German) describes the programs offered to students, how they are implemented by the cooperation partners, and how they are received by the target group.