Student decline in PH Schwäbisch Gmünd: alarming development!

Student decline in PH Schwäbisch Gmünd: alarming development!

The University of Education (PH) Schwäbisch Gmünd is faced with a worrying development: Currently only around 2500 students are registered - a decline of about 500 compared to five years ago, when the number was around 3000. This continuous decrease in the number of registration contains existential challenges for the university, as Rector Kim-Patrick Sabla-Dimitrov emphasizes. It is a problem that affects not only the PH in Gmünd, but also other universities in Baden-Württemberg.

according to Remszeitung are the reasons for the decline. The number of new registers has dropped between 2016 and 2021, although a slight increase has been observed since 2022. Nevertheless, the number of registration does not reach the level of 2014 when 74,826 students were reported in Baden-Württemberg. In 2023 there were only 68.106. The demographic change, especially the low -birth vintages, which now reach the study age, is mentioned as the main cause. In addition, pandemic and changed study strikes have tightened the Situation.

courses concern numerous specialties

The falling figures are particularly affected by the falling figures in the engineering and humanities. The attractiveness of the teaching courses, especially for secondary level I, has also decreased. Smaller subjects suffer from a special pressure because the effort for events, regardless of the number of participants, remains the same. In order to avoid delays in the course of study, the PH plans to have events take place even with low registrations. The lecturers are given the opportunity to flexibly adapt their duties to avoid overtime.

Rector Sabla-Dimitrov emphasizes that the university needs staying power until the early 2030s. He expects an increase in study -able years in the coming years. In the future, a rethinking of cross -location offers will also be necessary to use resources efficiently. At the same time, he sees opportunities to sharpen the profile of the pH and differentiate himself from larger universities.

the view of the university statistics

The current situation is not only an issue in Schwäbisch Gmünd, but is also reflected in data from university statistics. As Destatis , current statistics offer comprehensive key figures on the success of the study, in particular success and demolition quotas. This data is crucial to get an overview of the development of the students and their successes or failures during their studies.

The challenges of the PH Schwäbisch Gmünd are therefore part of a larger trend in university formation in Germany. The coming years will be decisive to deal with the demographic changes and the associated declines in the request for study.