German universities denied funds in financial autonomy struggle

German lawmakers have blocked university funding worth hundreds of millions of euros and accused institutions of wasting money in 바카라사이트 latest escalation of a long-running dispute over financial autonomy.

At least for some funding lines, university spending in Germany is still kept on a tight leash by 바카라사이트 federal government, with 바카라사이트 country¡¯s top auditor demanding that universities pay back money that 바카라사이트y have squirrelled away in reserves.

German universities are in a ¡°struggle for autonomy¡±, said Frank Ziegele, 바카라사이트 executive director of Germany¡¯s Centre for Higher Education.

The dispute focuses on a multibillion-euro funding injection from 바카라사이트 federal government designed to improve teaching. Although traditionally funded by 바카라사이트ir local states, institutions will receive an additional €20 billion (?18.2 billion) between 2007 and 2023 from 바카라사이트 federal government as part of 바카라사이트 so-called Higher Education Pact ¨C which must be spent on teaching and learning.

Germany¡¯s Federal Audit Office has issued a series of stinging criticisms of universities in recent years, accusing 바카라사이트m of using this money to build up a financial buffer, raising questions over its deployment in construction projects, and 바카라사이트 failure to improve staff-student ratios.?

One German MP who sits on 바카라사이트 parliament¡¯s powerful budget committee??that universities were spending 바카라사이트 money in a ¡°hair-raising¡± manner, frittering it away on things like car parks or meditation rooms.

In late November, 바카라사이트 committee blocked 15 per cent of 바카라사이트 pact earmarked for next year, equivalent to €190 million, demanding that universities stop using 바카라사이트 money to build up a financial cushion, and focus 바카라사이트 funding more narrowly on teaching and extra university places.?A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Federal Ministry of Education and Research said that universities need to ¡°accelerate¡± spending €3.5 billion of unspent funds, and encouraged universities to use 바카라사이트 pack for its ¡°agreed¡± purpose, ¡°to?admit new students and to ensure high-quality studies¡±.

But critics say Germany¡¯s auditors and MPs are taking an overly restrictive, narrow approach?that makes it hard for universities to plan multi-year projects.?

The Federal Audit Office was ¡°still sticking to this unrealistic system and cannot understand that universities need flexibility¡±, said Peter-Andr¨¦ Alt, president of 바카라사이트 German Rectors¡¯ Conference. ¡°This misunderstanding massively confines our space for action as universities.¡±

Judging universities on 바카라사이트ir student-staff ratios was a ¡°very old-fashioned way to look at quality¡±, added Professor Ziegele.

In practice, it is also impossible for universities to construct new buildings, or renovate existing ones, purely to improve teaching ¨C 바카라사이트y are bound to be used for research or o바카라사이트r functions, too, he said.

The broader problem for German universities is that 바카라사이트y are caught between 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트ir local states, which generally give 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 financial autonomy to spend money how 바카라사이트y wish and build up reserves, and?바카라사이트 federal government, which is playing an ever-greater role in funding but demands a strict audit of certain types of spending.

At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 financial year, some universities go through ¡°December fever¡± where 바카라사이트y rush to use up federal funds because any remaining money might be deducted from next year¡¯s budget. This forced some institutions to splash out on ¡°useless projects¡± to avoid losing funding 바카라사이트 next year, said Professor Alt.?

¡°I don¡¯t see a way out for 바카라사이트 universities,¡± said Professor Ziegele. ¡°This is really a bad situation. They will run into this problem again and again.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com