Preparing for Emergencies: Studi-PUK Qualifies Students for Civil Protection Magazin

Support becomes particularly urgent when crises affect care services, may it be a flood, an evacuation or any kind of crisis. People requiring care are among the most vulnerable groups. Deployments in crisis situations repeatedly show that every additional helping hand is especially valuable to the people needing care.

The project “Student Care Support Personnel in Civil Protection” (Studi-PUK) developed by Münster University of Applied Sciences (FH Münster) is an approach specifically for this purpose. It teaches students so that they can support nursing staff during deployments. The project received the Helping Hand award in the category “Support for Volunteering” in 2025.

 

 

 

 

A Project That Fills a Specific Gap

The Helping Hand award of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior is regarded as the most important state award for voluntary engagement in civil protection. It recognises projects that break new ground. Studi-PUK is distinguished less by a technical solution and above all by a clear idea: The project brings together the need for help, training and students. During deployments, students take on care-related tasks and thereby relieve qualified emergency personnel.

In civil and disaster protection, supporting people in need of care presents particular challenges. This is precisely where the project comes in: It qualifies students for specific support tasks and thereby creates additional help for crisis and emergency situations.

The idea emerged from the long-standing cooperation between Münster University of Applied Sciences and the German Red Cross DRK Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe. Prof. Dr Christopher Niehues, project lead at FH Münster, explains: “When we heard about the DRK funding programme for Care Support Personnel (PUK), the idea for a joint project quickly emerged – the qualification of students as Care Support Personnel.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, it already became apparent how great the willingness to get involved was. “Many students would like to engage in voluntary and social work but often do not have a suitable connection to care facilities,” says Niehues. Studi-PUK provides a concrete response to this challenge: The project enables engagement – structured and well-prepared.

 

Training Between Professional Expertise and Experience

The project centres on a compact, practice-oriented training programme. Over the course of 30 teaching units, students acquire the fundamental skills needed to support nursing staff.

Melanie Plath, project manager at Münster University of Applied Sciences, emphasises: “Students learn all the relevant content required to provide qualified nursing staff with sound support in their work with patients. For example, students learn how to mobilise and assist people in need of care, how to communicate appropriately even when dealing with impairments, as well as how to assist with eating or with basic care tasks.” There is a particular focus on practical elements: exercises, role-plays and hands-on experience impart knowledge and build confidence – even in unfamiliar situations. The aim is to prepare students so that, in an emergency, they can quickly integrate into existing operational structures.

The participants’ experiences demonstrate just how much this practical focus shapes their learning. Student Marieke describes it as follows: “Coordination with other colleagues on site is essential”, because in the stress of an emergency, smooth cooperation between many people involved is crucial. “I now have a better understanding of which tasks I can take on and where my limits lie,” says student Josefine. She emphasises that she has gained greater confidence in dealing with stressful situations.

Another important aspect is the change of perspective. “The exercises enabled us to put ourselves in the shoes of people in need. That was particularly valuable,” says student Lara. This experience complements the specialist knowledge with a deeper understanding of the situation faced by those affected.

 

A Change of Perspective Through Practical Experience

For many participants, this also changes their perspective on civil protection. What was previously abstract becomes tangible and is experienced as a meaningful task. “The project really brought home to me once again just how important volunteering is,” says Marieke.

At the same time, it becomes clear that volunteering isn’t just about large-scale operations. Supportive activities in care and nursing homes also make a difference in everyday life. “I’ve seen that even small tasks can have a big impact,” says Josefine.

Studi-PUK takes up this idea and offers a programme that fits in well with students’ everyday lives. “Students are particularly well placed to provide support during major and prolonged crises. Unlike employees […] they can often more easily take a break from their studies for one or two weeks. That is why we wanted to create a separate training programme for care support workers aimed specifically at students,” explains Niehues. Looking ahead to the project’s future development, he adds: “We want to establish a kind of PUK university group that can take part in longer-term disaster relief operations alongside the German Red Cross units.”

 

A Boost for the Further Development of Civil Protection

Winning the Helping Hand award has brought additional attention to the project and given it fresh impetus. Plath emphasises: “The award is a great honour and provides us with significant encouragement in our efforts to expand Studi-PUK and continue offering the training programme in the future. The prize has brought the project to the attention of institutions and decision-makers and provides us with a solid foundation for continuing the project, both financially and in terms of resources. The hope is to create long-term opportunities to fund the project and ensure its continued sustainability.” At the same time, an area that has received little attention to date is coming more into focus: people requiring care have specific needs during crises, and Studi-PUK can help to provide them with better care in an emergency.

The award raises the profile of both the project and the need behind it. At the same time, the focus extends beyond the current location. “Our model can be adapted for use at other universities. It is likely to work best at universities offering degree programmes in social work, education or food and nutrition science. These fields often have close links to health and care. In addition, an aid organisation is needed as a partner, and ideally, students should be able to have their PUK training recognised as credit points,” says Niehues.

 

A Model That Brings Things Together

The Studi-PUK project demonstrates that academic study, practical experience and community engagement can be meaningfully combined. It brings higher education and civil protection together and links theoretical knowledge with practical experience. In this way, students learn how they can provide concrete assistance during operations.

Particularly in light of the growing challenges facing civil protection, it is clear just how important such projects are. They complement existing structures, appeal to new target groups and strengthen civil protection where it is most needed – amongst the people who rely on support during crises.

Studi-PUK thus exemplifies how innovative ideas can strengthen civil protection: through training, practical relevance and commitment, a new generation of volunteers is emerging. The Helping Hand award raises the profile of such projects – and highlights how important it is to take volunteering to the next level.