Participation in the meaning of the active involvement and contribution of different stakeholder groups is a topical issue in the context of higher education. The establishment of a living culture and practice of participation is promoted through a spirit of innovation and research here, while on the other hand, hierarchical structures, fully packed study structures, or a very pronounced culture of evaluation may act as obstacles to successful participation.

The objective of this one-year project, in which eleven students and two teachers were involved, was to investigate the current participation practice more closely. The focus was on the participation experiences of students and staff in higher education.

Common Starting Point

The project was based on the definition by Straßburger and Rieger who referred to participation as the possibility to play a part in decision-making and to influence results. The model of the participation pyramid by Straßburger and Rieger served as the theoretical background for many bachelor theses.

The joint empirical basis consisted of an online survey conducted in the first half of the project, a group discussion, and the analysis of relevant artefacts such as the statutes of the concerned higher education institution.

In the second half of the project, a total of seven bachelor theses were written: two group works and five individual works. Five of the theses addressed the topic of participation in the context of higher education.