The General Student Committee of the TU Braunschweig, AStA for short, is part of the legally established self-administration of the TU Braunschweig student body. The AStA is committed to a varied program of events, offers and activities that benefit students in addition to their actual studies. There you will also receive information about everyday student life, help and advice (legal and social counseling) in case of problems, as well as support with your own ideas.
Together with the AStA departments (AStA Service, Finance Department, Social Department, Cultural Department, etc.) and the 4 full-time employees, the Executive Board forms the entire AStA. The Executive Board and the officers are elected by the Student Parliament (StuPa) at the beginning of each semester.
At best, the board consists of five to seven students. It represents the students of TU Braunschweig vis-à-vis the university, society and politics, and bears the main responsibility for the business of the student body. The main task is – to put it bluntly – the administration of the student semester fees. Among other things, this money is used to pay for the semester and culture ticket, support the university policy work of the AStA, student parliament and specialist group members, finance advisory services, organize projects and manage many small things that run in the background.
The AStA departments organize events, workshops and lectures on a wide range of topics, offer advice, give speeches, network with other university groups and help with the day-to-day business of the AStA. Without the speakers, the diversity of the AStA's work would be unthinkable. Working in a department offers good opportunities to get involved and gain a comprehensive overview of what the AStA has to offer. One very important department, for example, is the AStA Service, which helps you with semester ticket refunds, job and housing offers, laptop lending and many other matters.
The autonomous departments are a special form. They represent groups at TU Braunschweig that need their own representation due to social disadvantage or exclusion. These departments are therefore elected by a general assembly of the relevant group and not by the StuPa.
So if the shoe pinches somewhere, do not hesitate to contact the AStA or your departmental group or student council. If the AStA cannot help you directly, they (almost) always know who you can turn to with your concerns!