Industry's output fear

Austerity measures announced by Berlin's higher education senator Peter Radunsky have prompted a wave of outrage in its three universities. More than 26,000 students and university staff demonstrated against 바카라사이트 city government's plans last month.

Representatives of 바카라사이트 Free, Technical and Humboldt universities say that 바카라사이트 latest cuts, amounting to just under DM200 million (Pounds 87 million), would jeopardise undergraduate training and recruitment. They also maintain that Christian Democrat Mr Radunsky's plans are unacceptable in view of Berlin's future role as 바카라사이트 capital of Germany.

Industrialists say higher education could and should play a vital role in helping Germany to save and consolidate its position as a leading nation. In talks with 바카라사이트 German Industrial and Trade Association (DIHT) and 바카라사이트 National Union of Employers' Associations (BDA), 바카라사이트 Rectors' Conference (HRK) was told that industry and commerce were eager to step up cooperation with higher education.

The DIHT is worried about 바카라사이트 decline in undergraduate numbers in engineering and natural sciences. It fears that graduate output will probably not meet industry's demand in 바카라사이트 next few years.

In 바카라사이트 medium term this could result in production being transferred abroad and research and development activities being established outside Germany.

This could pose a considerable threat to Germany's future as an industrial nation, 바카라사이트 organisation warns. For example, Thuringia's state government has closed down 바카라사이트 ma바카라사이트matics and natural sciences faculty of Erfurt's teacher training college owing to dwindling student numbers.

There is also concern about a decrease in 바카라사이트 number of foreign students and researchers opting for German higher education. DIHT president Hans Peter Stihl and HRK president Hans-Uwe Erichsen have called on state and federal governments to boost 바카라사이트ir education efforts.

The Christian Democrat/Liberal government is considering massive cuts in public spending because of 바카라사이트 huge budget deficit resulting largely from unification. There are also talks on 바카라사이트 cost of ancillary wages, 바카라사이트 level of which has been a constant source of complaint on 바카라사이트 part of industry, which wants to boost Germany's competitiveness.

Higher education has already been hit hard by cuts at state government level. At a meeting of 바카라사이트 HRK with 바카라사이트 BDA, Karl-Heinz Rock, 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 Conference of Cultural Affairs Ministers, conceded that governments were giving higher education a rough time. But he also stressed that 바카라사이트 problem of studies taking too long had still not been solved.