From your point of view, what is the remarkable thing about the use of tutors in your course?

Prof. Dr. Markus O. Weber:

"Tutors illuminate an aspect from a different point of view and explain facts in different words. In doing so, their perspective and proximity to the students help."

Field of teaching: Textile Technology, esp. Technology of Knitting and Warp Knitting in the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology (FB 07)

Prof. Dr. Katrin Nihalani, MBA (USA):

"Tutors often have recently graduated from the subject themselves. This proximity to the subject and to the students enables them to explain issues from a different perspective. In this way, they make a significant contribution to learning success."

Field of teaching: Economics with specialisation in Health Care, Faculty of Health Care (FB10), tutorial support in the course Business Mathematics

Heike Koß-Hülsen:

"As a tutoring representative of FB 10, I have worked with many first semester tutors and specialist tutors for many years. I have always been particularly impressed by the high level of motivation and commitment that the tutors show towards their fellow students. This makes it very easy for first-year students to get started at the university, and in subject tutorials they explain subject content (in other words and methods) and give learning tips with a lot of patience and ideas. The students have a contact person at eye level, which makes it possible to ask questions that might not be asked in a large group or by university teachers / lecturers.

Research assistant, Faculty of Health Care (FB 10) from 2010-2019 responsible for the introductory phase and tutorial work.

"The work of us tutors is a really beautiful and important one, which is changing rapidly, especially in the field of online teaching education, and which presents us with new challenges again and again, especially in these times. [...] Through the opportunity to ask questions, the focus on individual topics, the exchange with other tutors and the presentation of new ideas, I was able to take away a lot from the tutor training. This makes me feel much more confident in my role as an e-tutor, especially knowing that if something does go wrong, I have plenty of good contacts. [...]"

Laura Heynen, eTutor FB 06 Applied Social Sciences

"Due to the Corona epidemic, not only the lectures, exercises and partly also the internships were held online in the summer semester 2020, but also the tutorials had to be rethought. In my first semester as a tutor, this was of course a challenge. [...] In the process, I made the experience that, despite the many tools, the direct exchange with professors and students for short re-registrations, questions or a "nudge in the right direction" is missing. Tutorials can support in getting to know other perspectives and contacts who are in the same situation. [...] The tutor training courses and the contacts of the tutoring program were a great support: from aids, tips and tricks to small tasks for learning new skills in a playful way to online seminars and practical advice on questions and difficulties. Not only are you prepared for your tasks as a tutor, but you can also take away a lot for yourself and your further (professional) life."

Malena Köpke, eTutor FB 04 Mechanical and Process Engineering

"This semester was very special! On the one hand, I was able to work as a subject tutor for Empirical Social Research for the first time, and on the other hand, it quickly became clear that this would probably only be possible online! The offers of the tutoring program, such as the online blended learning seminar 'Successful lecturing and presenting' as well as the Moodle course 'Fit around tutoring' and the Zoom presentation events 'short and crisp' were able to clear many of my open questions and concerns regarding the implementation of online teaching education out of the way! [...] Especially the 'in a nutshell' sessions helped me structure my Zoom sessions and try new things to activate students, [...] like creating online Kahoot quizzes or using breakout rooms and Padlet. Additionally, I worked with a Moodle room. [...] Without the guidance of the tutoring program, I may not have discovered these things! A bonus for future applications is, of course, receiving the tutoring certificate, which will certainly go down well with potential employers as an additional qualification."

Pauline Daubenspeck, Subject Tutor FB 06 Applied Social Sciences

I can only recommend participation in the tutoring program! In addition to the professional benefits, I was particularly impressed by the seminar instructors. [...] The individual consultation made it possible to deal with scheduling difficulties sufficiently, so that participation in a career-Integrated Degree Programme was also possible. [...] The seminars, which were tailored to my own work, were able to help me in the long term, which also looks very good on my CV thanks to the certification.

Miriam Gelbke, eTutor in FB 10, Health Care

A motley bunch
had to get together.
We got a lot done
and laughed even more!
Statistics, math or chemistry -
we never got bored!
Problems were discussed,
so that nothing bad would happen again.
We take a lot with us,
are fit for the next tutorials!
Three days here together,
time passed quickly.
The inquisitiveness was satisfied,
we all found it great here.
The surnames are now also present,
that is what you call progress.
Now we pack the things
and go home happily.

Tutors at a weekend seminar of the tutoring program, mixed subject areas

The Hochschule Niederrhein has launched an initiative with the tutoring program that I have always found positive and absolutely supportive from a student perspective. The selection of seminars is precisely tailored to the respective tasks of the tutors. Personally, with the tips and tricks of the tutorial program, I was now able to prepare my tutorial from a different perspective, with more structure and overview, as well as handle tasks and also problems with greater confidence. It is also a very reassuring feeling not to be left alone, but to always have very nice and helpful contacts who are there to support you with good advice in any situation. I attended the seminars with great pleasure and enthusiasm and I believe that I learned a lot as a lecturer but also about myself as a person. So I can recommend the tutoring program to anyone who wants to build on their own strengths and identify and improve their weaknesses!

Andrea Volkamer, FB 07 Textile and Clothing Technology

From brave climbers

Without too many expectations I went to the compact seminar youth hostel. Returned home with lots of nice acquaintances and even friendships!!! One gets to know many nice tutors and can exchange ideas about different approaches. In addition, the seminars improve the soft skills. It was a super interesting, although exhausting weekend (and that was not only because of the seminars ;-)).

Aaron Breuer, FB 09 Industrial Engineering and Management

Dear Students,
first of all I would like to say that it is a great opportunity to get active in University life and do something useful and with purpose.
To become a coach (Repetitor) you don't need special qualifications. Nevertheless, a sense of responsibility and reliability is required as you have to be prepared properly and in time. You should be ready to act independently and able to manage yourself and structure courses.
The University offers a wide range of seminars assisting you to deal with the basics. These seminars give you a very good start. In my opinion they are extremely helpful, especially the topic how to communicate in an appropriate way with your participants.
In conclusion I would like to point out that we students do not have to be perfect teachers from the beginning but there must be the good will and the passion to communicate course contents. Being coach (Repetitor) gave me a lot of satisfaction because I felt I was doing something positive by helping fellow students with their studies.
I would suggest you to take this great opportunity for developing your personnel growth.

Egon Dalponte, FB 07 Textile and Clothing Technology

Tutors, repetitors who have given a tutorial/repetitorium for at least two semesters can either propose themselves or be proposed by professors, university teachers / lecturers, study advisors or their tutors. Please submit the recommendations to Dipl.-Päd. Heike Kröpke with the corresponding e-mail address. The candidates will then be contacted and motivated to apply. They can only apply for one category. The indication of the chosen category must be used throughout the letter of motivation.

Candidates must submit the following documents in detail and in full, either in writing or online:

• Letter of motivation
• Letter of recommendation from the supervising professor(s)
• 2-3 evaluation letters from students who have attended the tutorial/repetitorium (with original signature)
• Evaluation results from the tutorial
• "Certificate for tutors or repetitors".

All documents are available for download on this page!

The award winners are selected by a jury. It is currently composed of:

• Vice President for Studies and Teaching Education, Prof. Dr. Berthold Stegemerten
• Head of the tutoring program of the Hochschule Niederrhein, Dipl.-Päd. Heike Kröpke
• 2 professors: Prof. Dr. Kerstin Plüm (Faculty of Design) and Prof. Dr. Siegfried Kirsch (Faculty of Business Administration and Economics)
• Student Degree Programme Counselling: Anthony Efonemchi, M.Sc. (Faculty of Business Administration and Economics)
• Tutors/Repetitors:
  • Marc Küperkoch (Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology).
  • Annete Repp (Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences)
  • Cedrik Dauenheimer (Faculty of Chemistry)
  • Jennifer Liesen (Faculty of Business Administration and Economics)
  • Ruben Lamers (Faculty of Business Administration and Economics)

The current award winners will automatically become members of the jury next year.

Aim of the tutoring award
Appreciation and appreciation of the tutorial and revision activities at the Hochschule Niederrhein.

First semester tutors, including: globe tutors, study mentors, trust tutors, orientation tutors, tutors of the study workshop.

Subject tutors, including laboratory tutors.

Repetiteurs

team tutors/team repetitors

eTutors

The ceremonial awarding of the tutoring prizes takes place during a reception for tutors, repetitors and tutors by the Vice President for Studies and Teaching Education. In addition to a certificate, all award winners receive a non-cash prize.

Also the Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany is also aware of the Tutoring Award. The Hochschule Niederrhein and its Tutoring Award are listed here among many other renowned universities.