Feedback possibilities for students

The grading of examinations is a form of feedback from examiners to students.

If the grading of your examination performance is not enough for you and you would like more feedback for further development, the lecturers of the respective course usually offer consultation appointments. There you have the opportunity to have a feedback discussion with the lecturer about your performance in the semester or specifically about an examination, e.g. a term paper. 

Within the scope of regular evaluations, you can anonymously express your criticism, comments and desires concerning courses, degree programmes or how your studies are progressing overall.

Why should I participate in the evaluations?

Consider this form of feedback as one of the first steps available to you should you have problems with the way a course is designed, for example. Teaching staff refer to this feedback when further developing their teaching formats.

What evaluations are there?

Evaluations in which you can participate are listed below.

• Incoming student survey
• Course survey
• Survey on study conditions and concepts
• Graduate survey

You will receive an invitation to participate, usually in the form of an e-mail from the University Strategic Development Office. You can find more detailed information about the surveys here.

Where will my feedback be analysed?

Surveys are analysed in anonymised form by the University Strategic Development Office and subsequently sent to responsible persons in the relevant departments. Implementation of this procedure requires that at least five people take part in the evaluation. Your participation is therefore especially important in smaller courses and degree programmes. In addition, qualitative evaluations in the form of student-moderated rounds are also possible; these can be coordinated by the University Strategic Development Office on request. The exact regulations have been resolved by the Senate of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar in the Evaluation Regulations. 

What happens after analysis?

Results are sent to the relevant departments by the University Strategic Development Office. For example, results of course surveys are passed on to the faculties once the required number of completed surveys has been reached. The results are typically discussed between teaching staff and course participants. Any potential criticisms can be discussed and resolved together at this initial stage. The Evaluation Regulations also provide for regular meetings at degree programme level between teachers and students. The faculties are subsequently able to derive development measures.

What can I do if there is no change?

Sometimes when a problem is resolved, it can take somewhat longer before change becomes visible. For example, some issues must be discussed in committees or within the scope of internal talks. Such processes can be time-consuming. Check with the teaching staff concerned whether steps must be taken to find a joint solution, and if so, what these steps might entail. This is often akin to a kind of intergenerational contract, whereby you contribute to the implementation of improvements for the benefit of future matriculates in the same way that you benefit from similar engagement of your predecessors.

Further questions regarding evaluations?

If you have any further questions or ideas concerning evaluations please contact the Center for Institutional Development of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: zue[at]uni-weimar.de

The semester conference/semester review is generally organised after each semester at degree programme level and takes place between students and teaching staff of the degree programme. The corresponding head of degree programme has overall responsibility and the Coordinator of Student and Academic Affairs is responsible for coordination. The purpose of the conference is to reflect on the past semester within the scope of a dialogue, to stimulate ideas and improvements as well as to resolve any problems.

If you have any further questions about the semester conference, please contact the relevant Coordinator of Student and Academic Affairs for your degree programme (you can find this person on your faculty’s website under »Dean’s Office«).

If you have any complaints about structural issues in studying and teaching, please contact the University Complaints Office for Student and Academic Affairs.

If you have suggestions for structural improvements to the degree programme, please contact the head of degree programme or the dean of studies.

If you have any ideas, please contact the Presidium of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: wir[at]uni-weimar.de or use the office hours of the Vice President of Student & Academic Affairs.