Federal Student Union Conference on Biology
The Bundesfachschaftentagung Biologie , BuFaTa Biologie for short , is the amalgamation of all biology student councils and student body initiatives in Germany. It usually meets once per semester , with the conference always being hosted by a different hosting student body. At the BuFaTa, current supraregional issues are discussed and joint expressions of opinion are written in order to give students more say in the national context. Participants are the members of biology faculties from different universities, but the conference is open to all (prospective) biologists and speakers or guests are often present.
Goal setting
The guiding principle of BuFaTa Biology is the joint exchange of biology students all over Germany, the writing of statements and the continuous further training of the conference attendees and the biological study in general. The BuFaTa aims to present results at the end of each conference and to represent a common public mouthpiece for student and educational issues of all biology students. Furthermore, it also enables the participants to get to know other universities, people and perspectives and in this way to make new contacts.
history
BuFaTa Biology was founded in 1979 based on the model of already existing federal student council meetings in other departments and has met more than 70 times since then. On average, students from 15 to 25 different universities are represented. In the early years, special separate conferences were often held on socio-political issues such as ecology and genetic engineering. Another milestone is the founding of SymBioSE at the BuFaTa in Karlsruhe in 1996, which has brought together biology students from all European nations every year since then. BuFaTa Biology is the largest association of German biology students today.
Topics and activities
At the BuFaTa conferences, problems of the biological degree programs are addressed in so-called working groups and possible solutions are discussed. In addition, one deals critically with social problems in which biology plays a role. In the final plenary session, statements are drawn up based on the results of the working groups and further measures are agreed.
In the evenings and during breaks, the focus is on getting to know the other student councils, the host city and the host university. Above all, the experiences and advice that the participants take with them from the conference and implement in their university are important. With its ideas and the exchange of views, BuFaTa Biology makes an important contribution to promoting student culture and initiatives.
Couchsurfing
At the BuFaTa in the winter semester 2014/2015 the student council couch surfing was launched. Members of all biology student councils can offer free accommodation in their city so that they can get to know or meet other student representatives from all over Germany. Couchsurfing is intended to encourage further exchange between the student councils and to provide support for study-related or private trips within Germany.
Working groups (AKs)
In the run-up to each BuFaTa, the organizing student council determines the working groups (AKs) that take place. The recommendations of the previous conference are taken into account and participants can suggest topics or working groups to be discussed. Typical working groups of the BuFaTa are:
Accreditation
The accreditation system at German universities is discussed critically and an opinion is drawn up for specific problem cases.
Finances
The financial systems of the different student councils / universities / federal states are discussed. The AK is primarily intended to exchange experiences and clarify any problems or ambiguities.
Self-image of the student council work
Here, too, it's about exchanging ideas and experiences and gathering inspiration for your own student council work. Everyday life and various projects of the student councils are discussed.
Legal framework
The legal basis of the student councils and university policy is explained in the exchange between the participants. The main purpose of this AK is to gain more knowledge about the legal basis and possibilities of student council work through the exchange with other student councils, so that problems or questions can be clarified in the group.
protest
Current problems of biology students (e.g. NC, housing situation, tuition fees, ...) are discussed and protest actions (letters of position etc.) are voted on.
Dust
The StAuB (Standing Committee of the Biology Faculties) reports on its activities and holds a public meeting in which all BuFaTa participants can take part.
International students
Problems of international students at German universities are discussed and together we look for ways to support and improve your situation.
Teaching position
Problems of student teachers are discussed and ways to improve their situation are sought together.
Teaching evaluation
By exchanging ideas about the teaching evaluation systems among the student councils, new ideas for improving the evaluation are developed.
Administrative matters
StAuB (Standing Committee of the Biology Schools)
The StAuB was founded at the BuFaTa in the summer semester 2014 as a “control body for decisions and information exchange between the federal student councils for biology (BuFaTa)”. It serves to coordinate and network the student councils in the time between the BuFaTa and also takes care of the archiving of resolutions and minutes. The StAuB consists of 5 members who are elected at a BuFaTa during the final plenum for 2 semesters. Within the StAuB there are various areas of responsibility that are distributed internally.
elections
In voting and elections within the working groups or the final plenary session, the student councils are generally entitled to vote with one vote per student council. In rare cases there may be conscience votes. In such a vote, each participant has one vote.
See also
Web links
- Homepage of BuFaTa Biology
- BuFaTa Biology Facebook page