Between the Lecture Hall and Higher Education Policy
At the University of Siegen, Pascal Auer is one of the students who, in addition to attending lectures and seminars, wants to play an active role in shaping the university. The 27-year-old was selected as one of 15 students nationwide for the DigitalChangeMaker program in 2026. As part of this initiative by the Higher Education Forum on Digitalization, he is working with other students to develop ideas for the future of higher education. Above all, the team wants to advance one issue: greater visibility for the participation of international students.
Since February, the current cohort of the program has been working in three thematic areas centered on artificial intelligence, learning, and social responsibility. Pascal Auer is active in the “Shaping Society” track. This track focuses on how universities can become more deeply rooted in society and how students can experience greater participation. His team has deliberately narrowed its focus: “We want to better understand how international students perceive opportunities for participation, what experiences they have, and what challenges exist,” says the Siegen student. To this end, he and his team from the track have developed a digital survey that asks about international students’ engagement, representation, barriers, and areas for improvement. The survey is now available at:https://s2survey.net/DCM-Befragung-Internationals/. The results will later be used to develop a guide and workshops for university stakeholders. The goal is to raise greater awareness of the issue among universities, Schools, university administrations, and other stakeholders. They also aim to strengthen their connections with initiatives such as the Erasmus Student Network and student communities.
The group meets two to three times in Berlin and Munich; the rest of the activities take place digitally. Throughout the program, participants are supported by subject matter experts with practical experience as well as by former DigitalChangeMakers serving as mentors. One highlight is the “University:Future Festival,” which Pascal Auer and his team attended. It took place in a hybrid format at various locations, including Berlin, Graz, and Hamburg. Numerous higher education stakeholders from all fields gathered there for workshops and presentations. “I highly recommend the DigitalChangeMaker program. I’ve met new people and discovered exciting perspectives, greatly broadened my horizons, and can now actively help shape the university as a place of learning,” he says.
Higher Education Policy as a Catalyst
Pascal Auer is pursuing two master’s programs simultaneously: Economics & Business Information Systems with a teaching certification for vocational colleges, and Pluralistic Economics. He began his studies in 2019, and the COVID-19 restrictions began shortly thereafter. A native of Cologne, he made a conscious decision not to commute for his studies and instead moved into an apartment in Siegen. “By now, I can say that I’ve settled down in Siegen. I really appreciate the city,” he reports.
The 27-year-old has been active in a political student group since his first semester. “I entered this world right at the start of my studies and learned a lot about what was being discussed, for example, in terms of higher education policy. That was especially interesting during the pandemic.” For just under a year, he served as the digitalization representative on the General Student Committee (AStA). Since 2021, he has been a member of the Teacher Education Student Council. This membership served as a catalyst. He has since completed a term as a student member of the University of Siegen Senate. In addition, he is active on the Senate Commission for Education and on the Council of the Center for Teacher Education and Educational Research (ZLB). “This allows me to make a real difference. For example, my efforts regarding the revised COVID-19 retake policy or the retake policy—the Siegen Model—have paid off.” At the same time, he admits that his commitment sometimes pushes him to his limits, but that committee work is certainly compatible with his studies.
In addition to his involvement in higher education policy, he is also active in local politics. In his free time, he’s often out and about. He enjoys cycling through the forests and mountains of the Siegerland region. He also occasionally attends games played by Sportfreunde Siegen. Nevertheless, he remains connected to his Cologne roots—among other things, as a member of 1. FC Köln and a carnival club.
His call to all Siegen students: “Get involved! The university thrives on your engagement and wants to be shaped by you.” His experience has been consistently positive. Students are taken seriously, and their perspectives carry weight. “You can really make a difference and bring about change, working as a team alongside all the other committed students.” His advice: Join your own student council to learn about the world of academic and student self-governance and to advocate for your fellow students. Applications for the next round of the DigitalChangeMaker program are now being accepted:https://hochschulforumdigitalisierung.de/call-for-digitalchangemaker-2027/
