Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg

The Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg, almost universally known as HaDiKo, is a student residence in Karlsruhe, Germany, and describes itself as the largest self-managed student dormitory in the country. It provides affordable housing for students and, more distinctively, a community in which residents actively shape and run dormitory life themselves. According to its official website, the HaDiKo is "the largest self-managed student residence in Germany," offering not only low-cost student accommodation but a genuine community where residents can help shape and advance life in the residence. The residence is named after Hans Dickmann (1909–1957), a professor at the Technical University of Karlsruhe who was well regarded for his work on behalf of students. After his death, at the students' request, the residence then known as "Wohnheim im Parkring" was renamed "Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg." When that residence was sold to the city in 1964, the name was carried over to the new buildings at Klosterweg 28, where the HaDiKo is located today. The shorter form "HaDiKo" is now the common name. What sets the HaDiKo apart from most student residences in Karlsruhe is its ownership and governance. It does not belong to the Studentenwerk (the student services administration), but to the Trägerverein Studentenwohnheim der Universität Karlsruhe e.V., the student housing association of the University of Karlsruhe. Residents decide for themselves on construction and rental matters, and they operate the residence's computer network ("HaDiNet") and telephone system ("HaDiFon"). A house code governs the establishment of the administration and of each residence's parliament, voting procedures, and related matters. Around 150 residents take part in the self-management of the residence, and through their commitment they help ensure that the HaDiKo is not merely a place to sleep but a site of international cultural exchange where every student can put what they study into practice. The HaDiKo comprises 1,102 rooms, making it the largest self-managed student residence in Germany. Its identity is thus both practical — affordable rooms for students in Karlsruhe — and organizational: a self-governing community with its own association, infrastructure, and internal democratic structures.

The institution that became the Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg is named after Hans Dickmann (1909–1957), a professor at the Technical University of Karlsruhe who earned a strong reputation through his work on behalf of students. After his death, at the request of the students, the residence then called "Wohnheim im Parkring" was renamed "Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg" in his honor. In 1964 the residence was sold to the city, and the name was transferred to the new buildings at Klosterweg 28, which is where the HaDiKo is located today. Over time the shorter, informal name "HaDiKo" became the common way of referring to the residence. A defining feature of the HaDiKo is that it does not belong to the Studentenwerk, the usual student services administration for German student housing. Instead it is owned by the Trägerverein Studentenwohnheim der Universität Karlsruhe e.V., the student housing association of the University of Karlsruhe. This ownership structure underpins the residence's self-management model: residents themselves decide on construction and rental matters and operate the residence's technical infrastructure, including the computer network known as "HaDiNet" and the telephone system known as "HaDiFon." The residence operates under a house code (règlement intérieur) that sets out how the administration and the parliament of each residence are constituted, how votes are held, and related procedures. Around 150 residents participate in the self-management of the residence. Through this engagement, the HaDiKo aims to be more than a dormitory: it presents itself as a place of international cultural exchange where each student can put into practice what they are studying. Today the HaDiKo is described as the largest self-managed student residence in Germany, with 1,102 rooms, and it continues to combine affordable student housing with a participatory community in Karlsruhe.

• 1964

  The residence is sold to the city; the name Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg is carried over to the new buildings at Klosterweg 28.

• 1957

  Hans Dickmann (1909–1957), a professor at the Technical University of Karlsruhe known for his work for students, dies.

• At the students' request, the residence "Wohnheim im Parkring" is renamed "Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg" in Dickmann's honor.

• The HaDiKo grows into Germany's largest self-managed student residence, with 1,102 rooms.

Germany's largest self-managed student residence, offering affordable student housing and a participatory, internationally oriented community in Karlsruhe.

• Student rooms (1,102 rooms)

  Affordable housing for students in Karlsruhe.

• HaDiNet

  The residence's computer network, operated by residents.

• HaDiFon

  The residence's telephone system, operated by residents.

• Self-management structures

  Residence administration and parliaments governed by a house code, with around 150 residents participating.

1. 1HaDiKo official websitehadiko.de
2. 2Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg — Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hans-Dickmann-Kolleg — Wikipédia (fr)fr.wikipedia.org