The fzs (freier zusammenschluss von studentInnenschaften, free association of student bodies) is the national union of student associations in Germany, which has currently about 90 member student associations and represents around one million students (August 2013). We strive for an equal and just higher education system and solidarity among students.
In order to reach that goal, seven content committees continuously work on different fields: Study Reform, Women and Gender Politics, Finances, Structure and Financing of Higher Education, International Affairs, Social Affairs, Legal Constitution of Student Bodies and Political Mandate.
History
fzs was founded in 1993 as party political independent umbrella organisation of the students’ unions in the federal republic of Germany as a successor organisation of the FKS (free conference of students’ unions from universities of applied science). FKS and fzs were founded as a consequence that the former national union of students VDS, which was founded in 1949, split up.
Mission and vission
fzs is a voluntary association of the students’ unions in the federal republic of Germany. As laid down in the statutes the association has the purpose of the encouragement of science and research, as well as education and to support disadvantaged people.
These should be promoted by:
a) Enforcement of scientific events and research
b) Encouraging discussions and cooperations between the students’ union in the federal republic of Germany
c) Ensuring the communication flow between the students’ union in the federal republic of Germany, the Lander associations of the students’ unions and other associations
d) Support the national and international cooperation of students
e) Promoting students’ unions as legal entity, including a mandatory membership and a financial and statutory autonomy, as well as a general political mandate
f) Presenting the student voice with in the higher education area as well as in the over all society
g) Public relation regarding all above named points
The association is a non-profit, democratic, worldview open and political party independent organisation.
The association does not have a specific document portraying its vision, although the organisation has a large range of position and statement papers. On principle, fzs promotes open access to education for everyone and stands against educational fees of any kind.
