It is not only the Abitur that opens the door to higher education: this year’s Diversity Day at the University of Oldenburg focused on alternative routes to higher education and the diversity of educational backgrounds. An event entitled ‘Pathways to an Open University – marking the anniversary of the Z-exam at the University of Oldenburg’ took place in the library hall at the end of May.
Since the University of Oldenburg was founded, more than 5,000 students have gained entry to the university via a so-called entrance examination (‘Z-Prüfung’). The examination enables those interested who do not have an Abitur or other traditional university entrance qualification to demonstrate their ability to study through various written and oral examinations. It has thus played a key role in opening up higher education institutions and thereby contributed to the diversity of students’ educational pathways. Diversity also encompasses diversity in educational pathways and access – university is for everyone.
Participants were first welcomed by Prof. Dr Katharina Al-Shamery, Vice-President for Academic Career Paths, Equal Opportunities and International Affairs. This was followed by Prof. Dr Olaf Zawacki-Richter and Dr Frank Kotterer from the Institute of Educational Sciences, who provided an insight into their DFG research project on the Z-exam. The third item on the agenda was an open discussion on the topic ‘The Z-exam and what next? Challenges for the sustainable opening up of higher education institutions with a view to study conditions tailored to specific target groups’.
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