Surveys and evaluations at the Faculty of Social Sciences

The employer survey was carried out once in 2015 as an exploratory study to investigate the skills expected of social science graduates in the labour market. Potential employers were surveyed, both qualitatively and quantitatively, on the core competencies that candidates with a degree in social sciences should bring to their field of work.

The student survey focuses on the aspirations, goals and expectations of students in the Faculty of Social Sciences. The survey is carried out at various stages of their studies.

Surveys at the University of Göttingen

Cross-faculty graduate survey

Course evaluation

• The course evaluation is a tool for measuring the perceived quality of courses. At the end of each semester, students provide feedback on the courses they have attended, thereby helping to ensure the quality of study programmes and teaching. An overview of the current results for social sciences courses in the 2021/22 winter semester can be found here. If you wish to calculate the quality score for your course, please use this table: Select the data sheet for the relevant course type and enter the average scores for the items from your teaching evaluation into the corresponding cells marked in yellow. The formulas in the last column of the table should not be altered. The cell at the bottom right of the table will display the quality score for your course. Courses that are particularly impressive from a teaching perspective may be nominated for the Teaching Award of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Further information, the methodology used for teaching evaluations and the results from other faculties can be found on the central information page on course evaluations.

Every semester, a range of interesting field trips are organised for students at Georg-August University of Göttingen, for example to provide insights into professional practice. If you would like to organise an excursion yourself, you can find the university guidelines here (only available in German). Further resources to assist with organising an excursion will follow.

The Study Commission deals with all matters relating to teaching, degree programmes, examinations and the quality of studies. To take account of the special role students play in addressing these areas, half of the committee’s members are students, who thus have an equal say in decision-making. In total, the committee comprises 4 students, 2 staff members and 2 professors. The Commission is chaired by the Dean of Studies. Here you will find the meeting dates for the respective semester and the current membership.

The Faculty Council comprises representatives of the various staff categories (professors, mid-level academic staff, students, MTV) at the Faculty of Social Sciences and decides on the allocation of resources and the direction of research and teaching. Here you will find the current membership, invitations and records of past meetings.

The Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Team offers workshops and certificate programmes for lecturers who are interested in further developing their teaching skills.

Here you will find a testimonial from a research assistant at the Faculty of Social Sciences (only available in German).

On the Writing Advice Service’s website, you will find a range of resources to support you with writing-related issues in your teaching, including, for example:

• Visits to the writing advisory service during modules on topics of your choice relating to the academic writing process
• Access to the StudIP group ‘Writing-intensive teaching’
• Handout and further links on the topic of plagiarism prevention
• Subject-specific guides to academic writing and subject-specific assessment criteria for academic work
• Tips for writing (not only) during the coronavirus pandemic / Physical distancing

With the abolition of tuition fees, the Study Quality Funds were introduced in the 2014/15 winter semester. These funds ensure that the quality of teaching and study conditions is maintained and improved.