Why was “Be strong!” set up?
Anna Karin: Up until now, support services for students have focused heavily on their first few days and weeks. Over the years, however, people have kept telling us that students’ needs don’t simply disappear once they’ve got started—far from it, in fact. They crop up at different times and manifest themselves in what are sometimes very different ways. Colleagues from across the University of Bonn came together in workshops and discussions to think about how we could meet these needs. And “Be strong!” was the result. It’s designed to strengthen students throughout their time at the University, right up to their successful graduation, while also helping them to develop as individuals.
In other words, the program is resting on the shoulders of the whole University?
Anna Karin: Absolutely. It’s always been a participatory project involving a University-wide dialogue. “Be strong!” is a joint project by University management, its faculties, the Bonn Center for Teacher Education and central service units such as the Central Study Advisory and Counseling Service, the Career Service and Healthy Campus Bonn as well as the University Gender Equality Commissioner. A great many people at our University have put time and effort into devising this program and getting it off the ground. They’re showing so much commitment and enthusiasm because they feel it’s bringing students clear added value.
Anna Stelter: And the students themselves are playing a key role too, of course. They’ve been closely involved from the start. For example, we discussed our plans and ideas with the General Students’ Committee and the student council conference, and both were really interested. And the students are also heavily involved in the bodies making the decisions about “Be strong!”—the operations committee and the steering committee—and are providing critical scrutiny and valuable input. It’s a highly positive dialogue conducted in the spirit of appreciation, which is absolutely essential for us.
What’s the structure of the program?
Anna Karin: It’s made up of three blocks. The first one, “Well-guided!”, is designed for students who aren’t sure whether they’ve picked the right course—this is regardless of what semester they’re currently in, because doubts about your studies can bubble up both at the start of your degree program and during it. The second block, “Fit for your subject!”, teaches the actual study skills, by which I mean: how does academic working work? How do I give a presentation? How can I talk to someone and bring them on board with what I’m saying? The third block is called “Be empowered!”. It’s about strengthening students’ personal resources and covers things like time and self-management, learning strategies and preparing for exams. We’re also hoping to add career guidance at some point and are in discussions with the Career Service about that.
Anna Stelter: Some of the topics are geared toward specific subjects. Take learning strategies, for example. We offer a general course, but there’s also a dedicated one for the natural sciences and another for the humanities, because the two have different requirements—in some cases significantly so.
Anna Karin: Plus, some of the courses that make up “Fit for your subject!” are completely new. For instance, the Faculty of Medicine has introduced training to get students ready for their dissection courses, which is their first encounter with donated organs. Developed by colleagues working in anatomy, it trains students as tutors who go on to provide easy-to-access peer support to their fellow students, listening to their worries and preparing them for these dissection courses.
What’s so special about “Be strong!”? What makes it different from other support services?
Anna Stelter: The fact that it accompanies students throughout their whole degree program. Students at different points along their study journey face some very different challenges. They’re also a varied mix of personalities with greatly varying needs. “Be strong!” responds flexibly to this and really does provide support precisely where it’s needed.
What do students mainly need support with nowadays?
Anna Karin: One challenge that everyone faces is digital distraction. Looking at your phone every five minutes eats up a staggering amount of your attention. Getting back to learning, sticking to a task without any interruptions, working on something with concentration and focus is a huge challenge for many students these days. This is why we also offer a digital detox course as part of “Be strong!”. It’s proving extremely popular among the students, just like all our time and self-management courses.
The pilot for “Be strong!” got under way in the 2025/26 winter semester. What’s the initial feedback been like?
Anna Stelter: Very positive. To develop a few of the courses, we worked with external coaches, some of whom are also involved at other universities. One or two of them said, “Fantastic! We need a program like this where we are.” And there’s been great interest on the part of the students; many of the courses filled up quickly. The nicest feedback we’ve had came from a student who joined one of the “Be strong!” committees. She said that she didn’t really have any time for committee work but was desperate to be part of this project because she felt it was so important. Having the sense that the students want this program just as much as we do serves as important affirmation for us. The complete roll-out of “Be strong!” is slated for the 2026/27 winter semester.
Dr. Anna Karin and Anna-Katharina Stelter were speaking to Miriam Wagner.
Link: https://www.uni-bonn.de/de/studium/studienverlauf/bonner-studienbegleitprogramm-be-strong/bonner-studienbegleitprogramm-be-strong