Workflow of Ideas Management
On principle, all relevant data and information from criticism and suggestions are gathered and positive aspects identified, even if proposals can only be realised in part or in a modified form.
Direct Suggestion Scheme
Students can contact the Representative for Academic Quality directly with their suggestions. The most popular way of making contact is e-mail or the contact form provided by the website of Ideas and Complaint Management. But ideas can also be submitted by telephone or at a personal appointment and will then be recorded in writing.
This is followed by a systematic review of the benefits and realistic nature of the idea. This may include being passed on to the appropriate people at the university, discussion meetings, and agreeing possible follow-ups. In order to identify which office has responsibility, the idea may be assessed by a variety of experts. Ideas and suggestions that are accepted may be further developed together with Ideas Management and ideally put into action. If an idea cannot be realised, a clear explanation why will be given by the institutions that would potentially be responsible, together with a brief documentation of the results.
Suggestions for improvement are presented by students voluntarily, so participants’ commitment is therefore above and beyond what is called for in everyday student life. The suggestions contribute mainly to the improvement of academic quality, study conditions and the range of courses at the University, but may also result in cost savings, improvement of image or environmental aspects, and a reduction of bureaucracy and process optimisation.
Ideas Competition for Students
The Ideas Competition for Students was established in the 2007/2008 academic year using tuition fees and is currently funded from Study Quality Funds. The Presidential Board has passed a guideline on its conduct and procedure. Student contributors have the chance of winning an attractive prize (in the form of cash or non-cash prizes) in recognition of their commitment and to promote special suggestions. Suggestions for improvements should be submitted in text form.
Obvious complaints are not deemed to be suggestions as defined by the Ideas Competition, but they are recorded and processed by the Representative for Academic Quality as part of her routine work.
All tasks and their coordination are handled by the Representative for Academic Quality and her team; they play an advisory role at meetings and carry out any necessary preparatory work. A Jury which meets several times a year is in charge of selecting the prize-winning ideas; the Jury’s members – at least half of whom are students – are proposed by the Study Quality Committee and appointed by the member of the Presidential Board responsible for teaching and learning. The Presidential Board also decides what prizes are awarded, based on the proposal of the Jury.
Once a year the members of the Jury assess all suggestions that are received, without discrimination.
The prize-winners are honoured at a celebratory event. As a rule the University likes to implement ideas that are positively evaluated or win prizes in the Ideas Competition. In addition, the projects are overseen by Ideas Management (if necessary over several semesters), to ensure they are established at the University as sustain ably as possible.