Studierendenwerk publishes 2021 annual report

Studierendenwerk has published its business figures for the year 2021. What was the significance of the second Corona year in economic terms? A look at the figures gives an insight into the impact on operating results in another difficult year.

GASTRONOMY

Working in the gastronomic sector in 2021 was again associated with many restrictions, the fulfillment of which once again demanded organizational and improvisational skills. The 3G rule, for example, required elaborate entry controls and new guidance systems. Employees from logistics, the cafeterias, the catering service and the cleaning service changed their work locations and became inspectors at the entrances. And the health and safety protection at the workplace under Corona conditions also created new internal organizational needs.

Loss of sales

Due to the severely restricted operations, Studierendenwerk once again served significantly less food in the dining halls in 2021 than in the previous year, because the absence of face-to-face events at the universities meant that the open dining halls were less frequented throughout the year. The total number of meals served fell by around 232,000 to 684,000 (2020: 916,000), a loss of around a quarter. Sales revenue fell dramatically, dropping by around a third from 3 million euros in 2020 to 2.1 million euros. Although business picked up again in October for the winter semester, particularly at Mensa Academica, visitor numbers remained low for a long time in other facilities. Another factor was that, in accordance with the Corona Protection Ordinance, guests from outside the university were at times not allowed at all, and later only as recovered or vaccinated persons.

LIVING

High occupancy rate

Already at the beginning of the year, there were far fewer room cancellations due to Corona than in the months before. Apparently, many students were expecting to return to face-to-face classes at the universities soon. Nevertheless, there were still some spontaneous cancellations. With great effort, we always succeeded in finding new residents at the right time, so that there were rarely any Corona-related vacancies. The reason for rent losses was mainly the non-letting of accommodation in need of refurbishment. Rent losses amounted to around 150,000 euros out of total rental income of 13.3 million euros.

Number of applicants at a high level

By mid-year, the situation had largely eased, with the number of applicants quickly returning to its former level of around 4,700 (WS 21/22). This development was related, among other things, to the relaxed entry regulations for students from abroad, but also to the prospect of face-to-face classes and sufficient vaccination offers the university for the winter semester.

Constant rents

Rents remained constant. The average rent in the dormitories of Studierendenwerk remained unchanged at 233 euros, which is still among the lowest in comparison with the other student unions in NRW. Students lived most cheaply in the hallway rooms with shared kitchen and bathroom, which cost less than 200 euros a month including all utilities.

BAFÖG

The number of applications for BAföG decreased: A total of 8,434 students submitted an application, 120 fewer than in 2020. 7,667 of these applications were approved (2020: 7,781). 2,509 of these were initial applications (2020: 2,859), and 5,158 were repeat applications (2020: 4,922). The number of actual recipients - students who received funding in the reporting year - was 6,901 (2020: 7,003). This results in a funding rate of 11.9 percent. In the previous year, this was still 12.1 percent. Overall, an approximate decrease in applications of around 1.5 percent can be assumed.

CHILDCARE

Studierendenwerk provided 174 places in its five childcare centers. The centers Pusteblume, Sonnenstrahl and Königshügel, as well as the Piccolino childcare center, provided a total of 162 places for the children of Aachen students and university employees. The Wolkennest childcare center looked after twelve under three year olds on the FH campus in Jülich.

Additional group

At the beginning of the year, it became apparent at the Pusteblume childcare center that not all of the children in the “U3“ (younger than three) group would have a place in the “Ü3“ (older than three) group in the summer. After intensive cooperation between the parents' council and the department management, the Youth Welfare Office finally granted permission for a second Ü3 group with 20 children. This was temporarily accommodated in the gym of the Pusteblume childcare center from August 2021. New rooms were to be built in the neighboring Mattschö-Moll-Weg student dormitory.

OUTLOOK

Studierendenwerk expects the economic situation to remain tense, as it is assumed that there will continue to be major price increases, but it will hardly be possible to assess the developments. Nevertheless, the overall economic situation of Studierendenwerk can be assessed as stable for the future, both in the short and long term. The management report included in the annual report provides interested parties with a detailed overview of Studierendenwerk's financial and asset situation.

The annual report for 2021 has been published as a digital version.
To the report