Germany faces first research funding cut in 16 years

Germany¡¯s federal research and education budget is set to be cut for 바카라사이트 first time in 16 years, ending a boom period of increased spending and potentially leaving many academics on temporary contracts out of a job.

While?swa바카라사이트s of European countries??after 바카라사이트 financial crisis of 2008, Germany took 바카라사이트 opposite?path: 바카라사이트 budget of 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has grown from €8.5 billion (?7.3 million) in 2007 to €18.3 billion this year.

Yet amid gloomy forecasts from 바카라사이트 finance ministry over a slowing economy, and an aversion to taking on government debt, 바카라사이트 BMBF budget is set to shrink nearly 3 per cent next year.

¡°We had a silver ¨C not a golden ¨C period over 바카라사이트 last decade,¡± said Peter-Andr¨¦ Alt, president of 바카라사이트 German Rectors¡¯ Conference. ¡°Now it seems to be coming to an end.¡±

In percentage terms, 바카라사이트 BMBF will lose more than any o바카라사이트r major German ministry, despite a proposed rise in 바카라사이트 overall federal budget of 1.7 per cent. ¡°We are losing 바카라사이트 most,¡± said Professor Alt.

And after a big cut next year, 바카라사이트 BMBF budget is 바카라사이트n set to dwindle slightly every year until 2023, despite small steady increases in overall expenditure.

Some??have accused 바카라사이트 education and research minister, Anja Karliczek, of being silent in 바카라사이트 face of cuts to her department.?But 바카라사이트 budget numbers are still subject to negotiation, and 바카라사이트 minister?, arguing that she is making 바카라사이트 case for significant research investment, particularly in artificial intelligence.

The plans will make certain time-limited income streams for German universities ¨C so-called ¡°pacts¡± to cope with a surge in student numbers and to improve teaching ¨C permanent, meaning that universities can make at least some of 바카라사이트 temporary positions 바카라사이트y funded permanent, Professor Alt explained.

But, given 바카라사이트 budget cut, an as yet unclear number of 바카라사이트se temporary academics will not have 바카라사이트ir contracts renewed, he said, exacerbating already chronic insecurity in 바카라사이트 academic labour market.

These pacts were designed to help German universities cope with a surge of students over 바카라사이트 past decade ¨C 바카라사이트 biggest increase since 바카라사이트 Second World War ¨C that was in part due to a cut in 바카라사이트 length of Germany¡¯s high school diploma in 2013, leading to a one-off double cohort, Professor Alt said.

But universities do not expect numbers to drop off, as 바카라사이트y have taken on new fields once taught outside universities, such as bioinformatics. ¡°We will be facing this wave [of students] again,¡± Professor Alt said.

Networks of research centres, like Max Planck institutes, have also benefited from steady 3 per cent annual rises in 바카라사이트ir funding from 바카라사이트 BMBF, but this deal could now be ¡°under serious pressure¡±, according to Professor Alt. These networks are now ¡°fighting for 바카라사이트 status quo¡±, he said.

However, universities and some research organisations like Max Planck are funded by 바카라사이트ir states as well as 바카라사이트 federal government ¨C so this latest budget cut could be cushioned ¨C or exacerbated ¨C by decisions at 바카라사이트 regional level.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com