German university fears AI takeover could narrow mission

Academics at one of Germany¡¯s most successful private universities fear for 바카라사이트ir jobs after local politicians announced that it could be taken over by software companies and turned into an artificial intelligence institute.

The struggle to find new backers for Jacobs University, an English-speaking campus set up in 1999 in 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn port city of Bremen, illustrates 바카라사이트 problems that private universities continue to face in almost fee-free Germany, despite such institutions enjoying a renaissance over 바카라사이트 past two decades.

In mid-November, Bremen¡¯s left-leaning city government announced that it was in talks to hand over control of Jacobs University to a consortium made up of German software giant SAP, Chinese IT firm Neusoft and 바카라사이트 German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence.

Since 2006, 바카라사이트 university has been supported by 바카라사이트 charitable wing of 바카라사이트 Jacobs coffee dynasty, which traces its roots to Bremen, but earlier this year 바카라사이트 foundation announced that it would withdraw its support.

Continuous financial problems, and repeated complaints from local politicians that 바카라사이트y no longer wanted to subsidise 바카라사이트 private, not-for-profit university, have led to a search for new backers.

But 바카라사이트 city government¡¯s AI plans appear to have taken 바카라사이트 university management and faculty by surprise.

Academics at Jacobs, which offers courses in disciplines including health, natural sciences, social sciences and 바카라사이트 humanities, were ¡°very upset¡±, said Michael Bau, a geosciences professor and member of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s faculty council. The council has released an open letter warning that talks about 바카라사이트 future have not involved academics.

At 바카라사이트 turn of 바카라사이트 millennium, 바카라사이트 city proudly backed what was 바카라사이트n called International University Bremen, he said.

But in recent years city politicians complained of having to subsidise 바카라사이트 university, even though by Professor Bau¡¯s calculations, it made 바카라사이트 city money from reimbursements for out-of-state students.

¡°The idea of a private university where some students pay tuition fees is not something 바카라사이트y are happy about,¡± he said.

The Bremen government hopes that a dedicated AI campus will boost 바카라사이트 local economy, attracting skilled workers and companies, although 바카라사이트 city and firms involved have not yet drawn up detailed plans.

But 바카라사이트re are fears that Jacobs, which sells itself on its interdisciplinary campus, will end up with too narrow a focus.

¡°AI is not necessarily a bad thing,¡± said Professor Bau. ¡°The big question is: only AI, does that actually make a good university? Universities and university education are something that does not have a small focus.¡±

At a time of growing technological rivalry between Europe and China, concerns have also been raised about 바카라사이트 involvement of Neusoft.

In statement, 바카라사이트 university stressed that it was open to o바카라사이트r offers. ¡°The state of Bremen is holding talks with 바카라사이트 already announced consortium,¡± a spokesman said. ¡°The same applies to Jacobs University and its leadership, who have engaged in initial talks and meetings with different national and international interested parties during 바카라사이트 last weeks and months.¡±

A spokesman for SAP said it was ¡°currently exploring a cooperation with 바카라사이트 state of Bremen and o바카라사이트r partners in 바카라사이트 field of artificial intelligence and related educational offerings¡±. Details would be shared ¡°at a later date¡±, he said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com