Jan Schiffer M. Sc. has been the new Head of the Central Student Advisory Service (ZSB) at Ostfalia since 1 January. In this interview, he talks about his new role at the university and the ZSB's current projects.
Vera Huber, Ostfalia editorial team: How long have you been part of the Ostfalia team and how did you come to work at the Central Student Advisory Service?
Jan Schiffer : I've been working at the university for over ten years. I originally came to the Central Student Advisory Service via the Career Service.
Ostfalia editorial team: How did you experience your first time as the new head of the Central Student Advisory Service and what is particularly important to you in this job?
Jan Schiffer : The start of my new role was above all exciting and motivating. Incidentally, what made it really easy to get started was the great support from both the team and colleagues from other areas.
A well-functioning team that supports each other and in which decisions can be discussed and implemented openly and transparently is particularly important to me.
Good advice
Ostfalia editorial team: What makes good student counselling for you?
Jan Schiffer : For us, good student counselling primarily means offering confidential, open-ended and objective advice. We support those seeking advice in making a good, well-founded decision on their own, regardless of what this decision looks like.
Ostfalia editorial team: What do you enjoy most about your work?
Jan Schiffer: We help people of all ages, backgrounds, origins and family situations to take the next big step. Student counselling is therefore incredibly varied and exciting.
Current events and programmes at the ZSB
Ostfalia editorial team: What events and projects for prospective students are the ZSB focussing on this year?
Jan Schiffer: The Future Day is coming up in April, followed by our university information days "Studying under the magnifying glass" in November. Both formats are particularly good opportunities to gain an insight into the university. We are also represented again at numerous study and career guidance fairs and welcome school classes who come to the university. At the same time, we are currently working on further counselling formats. And, of course, we will continue to offer our regular counselling sessions at all Ostfalia locations. So we have a lot planned.
