Nationwide study quality monitor: excellent study conditions at the KU

Seen in a national comparison, KU students are significantly more satisfied with their studies than fellow students at other universities. They particularly praise teaching commitment, close contact among the students, an excellent practical focus in courses and that the KU also conveys an ethical sense of responsibility and teaches the ability to work in a team. This is confirmed by the current evaluation of the study quality monitor which is issued annually by the German Center for Higher Education Research in collaboration with the Research Group on Higher Education at the University of Konstanz since 2007. This representative survey reveals students’ views on how study conditions and quality of studies evolve over time. A focus of the survey is placed on the supervision and support provided for students, the teaching offer, links to research and practice, structure of the degree programs as well as advice and services offered. Over 1,100 KU students participated in the survey which was conducted last summer – a very high participation rate of approx. 25%.

The statement “I like studying at my university much or very much” was confirmed by 84 per cent of KU participants in the survey – the nationwide average only amounted to 74 per cent. Supervision and support provided by the lecturers were praised by 75 per cent of questioned students while only 60 per cent of students at other universities voted the same. In this context, KU students particularly appreciate the possibility to have face-to-face meetings with lecturers outside of regular office hours: 82 percent of participants confirmed this experience for the KU while the figure was significantly lower for the rest of Germany with only 64 per cent. The same applies to the general commitment and engagement of lecturers. The KU also performed well above average in the area of advice provided by lecturers, students of higher semesters and the central student advisory service.

In the category of everyday university life, students were in particular satisfied that it was so easy to make contact with their fellow students (82 per cent of KU students compared to the national average of 61 per cent). Similar results were achieved when it came to the size and accessibility of classes and courses. Against the backdrop of these framework conditions, around 70 per cent of KU students do not have the feeling of being behind schedule in their studies – the German average is only 40 per cent. This means that KU students are also more satisfied with their study achievements than the national average.

In relation to the range of courses offered, the quality monitor revealed that KU students benefit from better fine-tuning possibilities for their course content and increased opportunities for acquiring interdisciplinary skills along with enough time to be able to fulfill all standards. Furthermore, 70 per cent of KU students questioned praised that lecturers in the curriculum offered ample opportunity for discussion – a fact which was only confirmed by 54 per cent of their fellow students at other universities.

KU students have high expectations when it comes to the university imparting values such as an ethical sense of responsibility and the ability for critical, interdisciplinary thinking. At the same time, KU students feel that their university places greater importance on promoting such values than other universities in the national average. 70 per cent of KU participants in the survey felt that their university was particularly committed to encourage autonomous action and independence while only 58 per cent at other universities thought so. In addition, KU students said they were very satisfied with the way in which the KU promoted students’ ability to work in a team; the national average in this section only amounted to 40 per cent.

Students of the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt also stated that they were satisfied above average with the practical focus of the courses and the possibility to gather practical experience already during their course of study – a fact which is closely connected to the KU’s comprehensive service offer for internship placements.

The results of the current study quality monitor paint a strong general picture of the KU which is regularly confirmed by other rankings and surveys, such as, for example the CHE ranking, the Bavarian graduate survey carried out by the Bavarian State Institute for Higher Education Research and Planning or the most recent ranking at studycheck.de in which the KU was voted among the top ten most popular universities in Germany.

Interested prospective students can convince themselves of the excellent study conditions at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt at this year’s KU Open Day on Saturday, May 11, 2019, at the University’s Eichstätt and Ingolstadt campuses.