Last updated 17. January 2024 | Oeffentlichkeit
We have already explained in other places on this website that the AStA of the University of Lüneburg is there to stand up for the interests of the students at the university. This means that in addition to the establishment of various societies and service companies etc., it is also important to us to be in constant conversation with the presidium, actively working to improve the conditions for students at Leuphana University.
However, the goal of making student life as pleasant as possible and improving structural conditions at universities cannot always be achieved by political regimentation to represent a necessary change at an individual university…
To improve structural conditions, our AStA is therefore also involved in overarching committees. This is important in order to be able to achieve things at the state and federal level and to be heard there. Only in this way can we come closer to the goal of more student-friendly studies and ensure that our impulses are included in political decision-making processes.
Nationwide: Membership of the LandesAStenKonferenz
As AStA of the University of Lüneburg, we are part of the LandesAStenKonferenz (LAK), which is an association representing the students of Lower Saxony Among other things, the LAK deals with Lower Saxony-wide political events that affect students or the responsibility of science. In addition, the legislation of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act is regularly amended and critically evaluated from the perspective of the students and the non-existent parity between the different status groups. You can find out more about the LAK here and on Instagram.
Are you interested in nationwide university and education policy? Then write to us at:
Nationwide: Membership in fzs e.V.
This is why the AStA, for example, is one of around 90 members of the fzs, which is one of these overarching bodies.
The abbreviation stands for ” freier zusammenschluss von student*innenschaften e.V.”, translating into free association of student organisations, and is the non-partisan umbrella organization of student representations in Germany and represents the social, cultural, political and economic interests of students nationwide vis-à-vis universities, politics and the public.
Through the cooperation between the students’ unions of several universities, the fzs represents about 850,000 students in Germany and tries to bring the jointly developed positions into the political discussion and decision-making processes and thus bring about the implementation of various (university) policy improvements.
The current objectives of the fzs include, for example:
- a legally and financially secured student representation at universities,
- student participation in all higher education policy decisions at the university, state, and national levels,
- free access to education,
- a need-based coverage of students independent of the income of their parents,
- the dismantling of discrimination in the education system and society,
- a critical examination of science and society,
- student solidarity work and international student networking.
Also, the fzs is a member of the European Students’ Union (ESU), to act Europe-wide and thus bring about long-term and comprehensive improvements.
If you would like to find out more about the free association of student bodies, you can register at: www.fzs.de for more information. If you prefer haptically prepared information to digital ones, you will find a selection of flyers in front of the AStA office of our university (building 9, 1st floor).
Also, the membership meetings, as well as the AStA and StuPa meetings, are open to the public. So if you want, you can come and see the whole thing in person. Since they take place alternately at the different universities of the members, it is best to look up the date and place online.
Membership in the AS of the fzs e.V.
TheStudent Body Committee (Ausschuss der Student*innenschaften – short AS) is elected by the General Assembly (MV) of the fzs.
The AS is the highest decision-making body of the fzs between the general meetings and usually meets monthly. The Student Body Committee takes care of the financial issues and the exchange with the Executive Board as well as the delegation to European bodies, furthermore the AS forms a controlling body.
The meetings of the AS are also public and can be attended by students.
Further information about the AS can be found at: https://www.fzs.de/satzung/
Europe-wide: ESU membership
As a member of the fzs, our university is also represented on a European level. As part of the European Students’ Union (ESU).
ESU is the umbrella organization of the European students’ unions and represents more than eleven million students on a European level. As a political body, ESU focuses on the protection of the educational, social, economic, and cultural interests of students. It therefore represents students at the European level and tries to advocate for student issues with European and international institutions such as the Council of Europe, the EU, or UNESCO.
Additionally, ESU organizes seminars and workshops for its members and student representatives and acts as an information and networking platform between the individual member countries (currently 38 are represented in ESU).
Further information about the European Students’ Union can be found at https://www.esu-online.org
Campaigns and alliances
Learning factories …mutiny!
Grassroots democratic alliance for all stakeholders in education. Against economization, against social exclusion, and for the democratization of education.
More at: www.lernfabriken-meutern.de
Initiative Universities for Peace – Yes to the Civil Clause
The initiative “Universities for Peace – Yes to the Civil Clause” was founded in May 2011. n it, trade unions, student and scientific, as well as peace organizations, advocate civilian universities as a place for studies, teaching, and research, where meaningful contributions are made to the peaceful resolution of the world’s problems and conflicts.
The increased distribution of military research and teaching at universities does not contribute to the well-being of the people. The initiative fights for universities that are exclusively dedicated to peace in science, research, and teaching. This requires a broad discussion about the social responsibility of science.
The initiative “Universities for Peace – Yes to the Civil Clause” wants to strengthen the peace movement at universities.
More at: www.zivilklausel.de
Learning for Peace
With this campaign, we oppose the militarization of schools and universities and advocate for civic education and science. We want to encourage everyone to work for an education system and a society characterized by education, solidarity, and argumentation instead of the warlike enforcement of political and economic interests. Through petitions, we call on schools and universities to commit to a strictly civilian orientation. The state governments should enable a civilian orientation of education and science that serves peace.
More at: www.lernenfuerdenfrieden.de
Alliance for Democracy / Network against right-wings
We stand for what they are agitating against:
- Freedom and basic democratic rights
- Institutions of democracy, such as associations, clubs, and trade unions
- People with an immigrant background
- religious and free-thinking people
- social, cultural, and sexual self-determination
- equal opportunities and emancipation
- people with disabilities
We do not allow fascism to be tolerated and recognized in public and support all those who stand with us against neo-Nazis and their criminal ideology.
More at: www.netzwerk-gegen-rechts.net
Action alliance against tuition fees
We demand fundamental individual freedom from costs for all secondary education. This refers not only to the rejection of the direct levying of tuition fees but also to all models of education vouchers and private education savings.
More at: www.abs-bund.de
Lüneburger Aktionsbündnis gegen Atom (LAgA)
How dramatic the real result of a more critical and fundamental safety assessment can be is shown by an already existing report from the IPPNW It concludes that all German nuclear power plants do not meet the safety requirements under numerous criteria. It does not matter whether 6, 7, or 8 nuclear power plants are taken off the grid. The fact remains that the residual risk of even a single nuclear power plant remaining in operation, and thus of a possible super shutdown, is no longer justifiable from an ethical point of view. There is no need for an ethics committee to recognize this. The human suffering in Chernobyl and Fukushima shows us what this residual risk means for the people living there and for our actions.
From an ethical point of view, only the immediate and final decommissioning of all nuclear power plants brings complete safety for mankind! We can’t wait until 2021, we have to act now.
More at: www.lagatom.de
Further memberships
Verein für stud. Belange und Studienplatztausch
DJH – Verband Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk
