For students: Good advice is a collaborative effort Ten years of BeratungsNetzwerk at TU Braunschweig

Ten years ago, a group of people gathered around a table at Technische Universität Braunschweig. Although they all shared the same goal – to provide students with good advice – they often worked side by side without much interaction in their day-to-day work. Responsibilities were not always clear, knowledge was shared rather haphazardly, and there was as yet no shared understanding of what constituted good advice. That is why the BeratungsNetzwerk (BeN) (Counselling Network) was established in 2016. It was initiated under the leadership of the then Vice-President for Student Affairs, Professor Susanne Robra-Bissantz, in collaboration with the Central Student Advisory Service and the Central Human Resources Development department.

Active members at a meeting of the BeratungsNetzwerk (BeN) in the old building. Photo credits: Yvonne Henze/TU Braunschweig

The idea was simple: to bring people from a wide variety of counselling fields together to discuss issues, share knowledge and work together to ensure that those seeking advice can find the support they need more quickly.

Today, ten years after its foundation, the network includes central counselling services as well as the faculties’ subject-specific counselling services and student services provided by the AStA. Members meet four times a year to discuss current developments and learn from one another. Specific issues are explored in greater depth in smaller working groups, known as ‘BeN Lives’. In addition, there are professional development courses – most recently, for example, on self-care in counselling and on working with students with ADHD.

Quality standards and emergency procedures

Over the past ten years, this exchange has resulted in far more than just regular meetings. BeN has developed a shared understanding of counselling and 24 quality standards for ‘Good Counselling at TU Braunschweig’. A university-wide emergency procedure for situations involving self-harm has been established to deal with difficult situations. Guidelines, information materials and digital resources now help counsellors and students find their bearings more quickly, even in complex situations.

Across departmental boundaries

Perhaps the most important change, however, is less visible. Anyone providing counselling at the TU today no longer has to know everything on their own. Colleagues know one another, expertise is utilised across departmental boundaries, and challenges are tackled together. What began as many individual counselling services has evolved into a network.

This model has also attracted attention beyond TU Braunschweig. BeN demonstrates what can be achieved when knowledge is not confined by departmental boundaries but is shared.

“When we founded BeN ten years ago, we could not have imagined how much good would come of it,” says Dr. Yvonne A. Henze, one of the founders and still responsible for the network today. “I am particularly pleased that a culture of collaboration has developed – one of shared learning and the conviction that good advice arises where people share their knowledge and take joint responsibility.”

On 26 August, BeN will be celebrating its tenth anniversary from 10 am to 12 noon in the courtyard of the Haus der Wissenschaft. Anyone wishing to find out more about the network is warmly invited to attend.

You can find more information about BeN here: https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/ben