It's not just the Abitur that opens the door to higher education: this year's Diversity Day at the University of Oldenburg focussed on alternative routes to higher education and the diversity of educational biographies. An event entitled "Pathways to an open university - on 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 been admitted to the university via a so-called admission test ("Z-Prüfung"). The exam enables prospective students without an Abitur or other traditional university entrance qualification to prove their ability to study through various written and oral examinations. It has thus played a key role in opening up universities and contributing to the diversity of educational pathways for students. Diversity is also a diversity of 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. Prof Dr Olaf Zawacki-Richter and Dr Frank Kotterer from the Institute of Educational Sciences then gave an insight into their DFG research project on the Z exam. The third item on the programme was an open discussion round on the topic "Z-examination and then what? Challenges for a sustainable opening of universities with a view to target group-orientated study conditions".
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