Miscellaneous
Annual report 2018
Aachen, 7 August 2019. More customers in the dining halls, a high number of applicants for the residence halls, a decrease of applications for BAföG. This week Studierendenwerk published its annual report of 2018. It presents the balance sheet and economic results, as well as the most important developments of the four service sectors: University dining, housing, finances and childcare.
According to the Studierendenwerksgesetz Nordrhein-Westfalen (Studierendenwerk Act North Rhine-Westphalia) Studierendenwerk takes care of the social funding and support of about 61,000 students in Aachen and Jülich. It runs dining halls, cafeterias and coffee bars at the university buildings and rents dorm rooms. It also runs daycare facilities for the students´ children and processes applications for educational grants (BAföG).
Low rent and food prices and a high number of customers at the dining halls
The annual report 2018 proves Studierendenwerk to have a positive economic result. Rent and food prices as well as the social contribution payable for one semester were still proven to be low in comparison to other university locations in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The dining halls served about 70,000 additional meals compared to 2017. Therefore space at the dining hall was limited. At Mensa Academica the record high of 8,000 customers per day was in October 2018. Its previous peak number was 6,800.
Decreasing numbers of BAföG applications
In 2018 the number of students supported by BAföG as well as the applications decreased. About 8,600 applications were submitted. The years before about 9,450 applications had been made.
Still a very high number of residence hall applicants
The demand for affordable dorm rooms in Aachen is still very high. Again there was a four- figure number of applicants (about 5,200). Studierendenwerk has built three new residence halls in the last four years. In 2018, Studierendenwerk concentrated on renovating and maintaining its existing buildings in order to be able to keep providing students with housing space.
Studierendenwerke demand benefits adjustment
According to CEO Dirk Reitz, there is still need for action from the government. Further capacities regarding housing and dining hall service are missing. There are still not enough affordable dorm rooms for students and the dining halls are working to capacity. On the other hand the BAföG loan was raised and in the future more students might qualify for BAföG. Therefore, Dirk Reitz recommends all students to apply again.