AStA of the h_da

Is it called "der, die or das AStA"? The abbreviation stands for "der Allgemeine Studierendenausschuss".

AStA_Bild

General Information

The AStA is the representation of student interests for all students at the university - vis-à-vis the university management and administrative institutions as well as teachers, but also vis-à-vis the Studierendenwerk (student union) and other organizations that deal with student issues in the broadest sense.

The tasks of the AStA as representation of the student body result from the Hessian Higher Education Act (§ 84 HessHG):

Tasks of the student body:

  1. The student body manages its own affairs. It participates in the self-administration of the university.
  2. The student body has the following tasks:
    1. Representation of the entirety of its members within the scope of its legal powers,
    2. To represent the political interests of its members at the university,
    3. To look after the economic and social interests of the students, insofar as these are not transferred to the Studentenwerk or other institutions,
    4. Fostering of supra-regional and international student relations,
    5. Promoting political education and a sense of civic responsibility among students,
    6. Support of cultural and musical interests of students,
    7. Promotion of voluntary student sports, insofar as the university is not responsible for this.

AStA Meetings and Information for Applicants

During lecture hours: The public meetings of the AStA take place weekly on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. - however, if a StuPa meeting is scheduled once a month, the AStA meeting is cancelled. When and where exactly the individual dates are can be found in the calendar.

During the semester break the AStA meetings take place irregularly! It is best to inquire briefly beforehand.

Guests are always welcome!

Note for external applicants (i.e. non-AStA): (Financial) applications for an AStA meeting must be sent by e-mail to the AStA office (info@asta-hda.de) by 12 noon the day before the AStA meeting. In exceptional cases (e.g. due to urgency) an exception to the rule can be decided at the AStA meeting. Applications will only be processed at the meeting if the applicant is present.

Digital & Data Protection Department

Head: Sebastian Schlegel

Core Tasks:

  • Design of the digital h_da AStA (with a focus on data protection)
  • Improving the digital infrastructures at h_da and bundling existing infrastructures
  • Induction and support of the new AStA, StuPa & FSRe with the digital AStA software
  • Co-support and maintenance of the AStA website and digital support of AStA
  • projects Promoting/carrying out events on digital media literacy, AI and data protection

Contact:

Finance Department

Head: Joschah Fetsch

Core Tasks:

  • Development of a budget for the student body at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
  • Transparent presentation of finances to the AStA, StuPa and the student councils
  • Close cooperation with other AStA departments, the financial representatives of the student councils and the audit committee
  • Support and advice for potential applicants

Contact:

Useful links:

Internal Higher Education Policy Department

Head: Lukas Kebeiks

Core Tasks:

  • Support for student employees AStA (h_da student body)
  • Representation of interests in the academic h_da committees
  • Good cooperation with the student councils, coordination of the student council conferences (FSK)
  • Promote student-friendly campus development (e.g. learning, laboratory and work spaces)
  • Development of ideas to increase student participation in the committees
  • Increasing the transparency of university bodies for students (administration, committees, etc.)

Contact:

  • by appointment by email
  • Email: hopo-intern@asta-hda.de

Mobility & Culture Ticket Department

Head: Benjamin Priemer

Core Tasks:

  • Negotiation with transport companies/associations about existing semester ticket conditions and direct connections and better timing between h_da Campus Darmstadt and Dieburg
  • Networking/collaboration with other AStA mobility departments (Traffic LAK)
  • Development of new sustainable mobility offerings, e.g. cargo bikes or repair stations
  • Expansion of the Call-A-Bike offering, especially to the design department and Dieburg
  • Expansion of the cultural space or cultural offerings for students in analogue and possibly digital form (including culture ticket)

Contact:

  • by appointment by email
  • Email on the subject of mobility: mobilitaet@asta-hda.de
  • Email on the subject of culture ticket: kulturticket@asta-hda.de

Sustainability Department

Head: Aron Fingerhut, Fabian Janowitz

Core Tasks:

  • Contribute to the sustainable restructuring of the h_da and the Darmstadt student union
  • Advancing sustainability-related study topics
  • Raising awareness about current conflicts in areas such as climate and nutrition

Contact:

Social Policy Department

Head: Rebekka Carlow

Core Tasks:

  • Contact point, mediation and support for students in all social policy matters
  • Structural improvement of the living conditions of students, especially for disadvantaged students
  • Active networking and collaboration with social interest groups (e.g. students with children, students in precarious housing situations, financially disadvantaged students) & social AStA presentations
  • Organization/implementation of offers and events on social policy issues and political education

Contact:

AG Public Relations & Design

Head: Amelie Horn

Core Tasks:

  • Regular active support and evaluation of the AStA communication channels (social media, AStA newsletter, AStA website)
  • provide public information about university policy and make current issues visible
  • Collaboration on AStA statements/press releases and publications
  • Coordination of internal/external student inquiries/statements
  • Close cooperation with AStA departments, FS councils and university communications graphic design for the AStA and its projects (e.g. banners, posters, flyers, graphics)
  • Organization and creation of meaningful, sustainable AStA materials
  • Graphic design of the h_da university election campaign (application phase & elections)

Contact:

AG Technology & Infrastructure

Head: Philipp Klemstein

Core tasks:

  • Support, maintenance & regular inventories of AStA technology in Darmstadt and Dieburg
  • Contact person for the rental of AStA technology
  • Support of events in the glass box & period in terms of technology
  • Development of a current inventory list of technology available for rent from the h_da student body
  • Implementation of (sustainable) measures for the technical improvement of the AStA
  • Contact point for AStA departments & working groups for technical problems and questions

Contact:

  • by appointment by email
  • Email: tech-support@asta-hda.de

Representation of the h_da student body on the EUt+ Student Board

Heads: Elias Wenz, Tilmann Eckert

This unit must consist of at least two persons (double staffing, preferably gender parity), because the statutes of the EUt+ Student Board stipulate that there must be at least 2 student representatives per Alliance member.

Core tasks:

  • Mandatory active participation in the EUt+ Student Board (student body in our alliance)
  • Regular reporting and committed participation in various meetings (Student Board Meeting, Physical Meetings, JourFix, etc.)
  • Nationwide and Europe-wide networking on the topic of European University
  • Initiatives/European University Alliances

Contact:

Commercial Units of the AStA

In addition to the voting AStA units and the working groups that support the ASA by providing infrastructure or consulting work, there are three commercial units of the AStA:

Structure of the AStA at the h_da

There are different models nationwide of how a student representation can be structured - with or without a board of directors, with or without employed officers, with or without direct election of the student representation.

At the h_da, the AStA is elected by the student parliament and currently consists of equal and voting units as well as non-voting working groups and three commercial units.