Student participation is in vogue: this postulate can be found in many papers on university development with the aim of improving the quality of the university as an educational institution. But what is the underlying understanding of universities, university management and university development? What is the current understanding of student participation in universities? How does participation manifest itself, for example, in the development of curricula or the organisation of courses? The articles in this issue discuss selected aspects of student participation and thus implicitly negotiate images and ideas of students and higher education. They offer insights into practices and suggestions on how student participation can be strengthened.
