Counselling In German Universities Research Illustrated By The Case Of Counselling In Tuebingen University

The degree system and credit system of German universities have suffered enormous challenges in the Bologna Process.During this reform,58%of the population between 19 to 24 in Germany study in higher education in 2015,the largest percent in history.And drop-out percent had declined from 33 in 2008 to 28 in 2012.Academic counselling has contributed a lot for these.Based on Ernest T.Pascarella’s General Causal Model,this research studies how academic counselling may promote the interaction between students and the major socializing agents on campus,improve the instituitional environment,develop the quality of students’ efforts in study,thus improve student learning and cognitive development and quality of universities’ personnel training.With the current research,this thesis studies the status of academic counselling in Germany universities through participant observation method,textual method,comparative approach and case study method.It uses Pascarella’s General Causal Model to deeply analyze the situation of implementation of academic counselling in Tuebingen University,and compares the development of academic counselling between Chinese and German universities.It finds that,(1)Germany academic advising has been extended over the nation through experiments with the background of stead economy,fast universities expansion and sound law basis.(2)Counselling in German universities had entered the specialization stage under the guidance of the Germany Association for Information,counselling und Therapy in Higher Education(GIBeT),Journal of German Study and Counselling and Germany Association for Counselling and German National Guidance Forum.(3)German National Guidance Forum and the University of Heidelberg have developed quality standards,practitioner competences and a quality development framework for guidance and counselling in Germany.And GIBeT provides training certificates for guidance practitioners in Higher Education.(4)The practitioners are from the central counselling office,career counselling center,faculty counselling,the office for International Students,Student Union,faculty senior student associations,Student Administration,Examinations Offices,University Libraries,Learning and Teaching Department,Psychological Advisory Center,Equality and Diversity Office,University hospitals and private clinics.(5)Generally,counselling in Germany universities includes central counselling office,info-desk,nightline,faculty counselling,exam office,distance-learning center,lifelong learning certification programs,services for students with disabilities and psychological counselling.The counselling service is delivered mainly by the central counselling office.And student organizations are widely involved in enforcing the counselling service,which helps a lot for newcomers.Moreover,libraries and the writing center provide many kinds of counselling for scientific writing.(6)The aim of counselling system in Tuebingen University is to provide various information and service for student study.And the model of Tuebingen University is the Split Model.(7)With rich resources and technologies,Tuebingen University enables students get various resources and technique-related favors.(8)Centered on student success and lifelong learning,Tuebingen University provides high-standard and Characteristic academic advising on engagement in educationally purposeful activities,persistence and acquisition of desired skills.Recently,the academic guidance of universities in China has developed rapidly in recent years,entering the specialization stage.Many research universities have achieved the primary success in academic advising,like Tsinghua University.However,there are four suggestions for the academic counselling in Chinese research universities after this study:(1)Form the general regulations on academic advising;(2)Improve the quality of counselling brochures;(3)Standardize the training of counselling workers;(4)Found the Association of Chinese Academic Advising.