Heads: Prof. Dr Karin Flaake, Prof. Dr Heike Fleßner

Student research assistants: Juliane Pegel, Petra Schmalz

The centre of a study focusing on the University of Oldenburg was the situation of a specific group of students: young women and men with children. Based on quantitative and qualitative surveys, the study identified key challenges in the living and study circumstances of student parents, the positive aspects of studying whilst raising a child, the significantly different coping strategies for this situation depending on gender, and university-specific requests for improved opportunities to successfully complete their studies. The study was conducted in the context of implementing the objectives of the ‘Family-Friendly University’ audit, which was awarded to the University of Oldenburg in 2004. The findings, which were presented at the nationwide conference ‘Studying with a Child’ in the winter semester of 2006, were accompanied by specific recommendations for action for the University of Oldenburg.

Key publications:

Schmalz, Petra (2006): Studying with a Child. Results of an empirical study at the University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg