SUnStAR

Project lead 
Prof. Dr. Clinton Enoch

Project staff 
Lena Holder (M. Sc. Wirtschaftspädagogik (business education))

Third-party funding providers  
European Union Erasmus+ Programme

Project duration
September 2017 – December 2020

Coordinating institution
Institute of Applied Psychology, Portugal

Project partners

• Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
• ZAB Consult GmbH
• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
• University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy, Serbia
• University of Minho, Portugal

The starting point of this project is the still extremely high percentage of students dropping out of university in Europe. According to the OECD, only about 70% of students on average completed their degree in the year 2016. The reason for this are often social inequalities and excessive demand, as well as a lack of support from the universities. This is because, among other things, universities often realise the risks too late. The project SUnStAR (Supporting UNiversity STudents At Risk of dropping out) would like to develop measures to support students in their career paths, create an opportunity forfeedbackbetween them and their institution to attempt to lower the dropout rate.
Part of these measures is the self-reflection tool for students, the establishing of services and an informative platform that creates a connection between the university and those at risk of dropping out, guaranteeing support.
Here, disadvantages that come about due to lack of information and social inequality are accounted for and the risk of dropping out subsequently reduced. This guarantees better long-term success.</p