Performance report of Studierendenwerke NRW 2023

Cologne, December 19, 2024: The 2023 performance report (LB 23) of Studierendenwerke NRW offers an exciting insight into the important work of the Studierendenwerke.

The twelve Studierendenwerke in North Rhine-Westphalia are publishing their performance report for 2023 today, providing an overview of the wide range of services provided by the Studierendenwerke. For the Studierendenwerke, 2023 was once again characterized by major challenges, which represented a continuation and in some cases an intensification of the crises of the previous year.

Year of the “polycrises”
The aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine and the associated economic impact continued to shape the day-to-day life of Studierendenwerk institutions. The energy crisis, high inflation and supply chain problems persisted and presented us with complex tasks. At the same time, the climate crisis came more into focus and required sustainable solutions.

Students still under pressure
The results of the 22nd Social Survey from the previous year remain alarmingly topical. The financial situation of many students continued to worsen over the course of 2023, particularly due to persistently high inflation. Mental stress among students also increased, which was reflected in an increased demand for counseling services.

A reliable pillar for students
Despite these multiple crises, the Studierendenwerke were able to further consolidate their role as a reliable pillar of the social infrastructure for students. The approximately 4,500 employees of the 12 Studierendenwerke in NRW worked tirelessly to provide students with the best possible support in these difficult times. In 2023, it became clearer than ever that the Studierendenwerke play a key role in overcoming these challenges. Their support services in the areas of university catering, housing, student financing, counseling and childcare made a significant contribution to preventing students from dropping out and promoting academic success.

Investing in the future
The digitalization of services continued in 2023. The Studierendenwerke invested in innovative solutions to make their services more efficient and accessible. At the same time, intensive work is being done on concepts for sustainability and energy efficiency in order to make our own contribution to climate protection. In particular, the focus here was on energy and technical upgrades to student residences and sustainable purchasing for university catering.

Studierendenwerke part of the NRW crisis management law
Dr. Christoph Holtwisch, spokesperson for the NRW Student Services Association and Managing Director of Studierendenwerk Münster:

“The financial support from the state of NRW also proved to be essential in 2023. The special grants from the NRW Crisis Management Act helped to curb price increases in the dining halls and increases in social security contributions. Furthermore, thanks to the special grants for the psychosocial counseling services offered by the Studierendenwerke, existing services were increased and in some cases completely new ones were created.

Continuous support from the state government still necessary
Falling student numbers combined with rising costs are increasingly restricting the financial scope of the Studierendenwerke. This is where Dr. Christoph Holtwisch appeals to the state government:

“The scheduled 3 percent increase in the general state subsidy in 2023 according to the coalition agreement between the CDU and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen must be made permanent so that the Studierendenwerke can achieve financial planning security in these challenging times for society as a whole. Only with sufficient financial resources can the Studierendenwerke implement necessary reforms and modernizations in order to meet the changing needs of students”.

The performance report is published annually on behalf of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Studierendenwerke NRW, c/o Kölner Studierendenwerk AöR.