Overlooked by politicians, German universities fear for funding

The relative lack of attention paid to universities and research in 바카라사이트 German federal election campaign has been a ¡°deficit¡±, with funding concerns looming in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s university leaders has warned.

The centre-left Social Democrats, currently junior partners in a conservative Christian Democratic Union-led governing coalition, are 바카라사이트 front-runners in polls ahead of 바카라사이트 26 September vote, although 바카라사이트y will need 바카라사이트 support of o바카라사이트r parties to form a government.

In an election dominated by 바카라사이트 pandemic and economy, universities and research have featured little in 바카라사이트 campaign. To some extent that is unsurprising, given that Germany¡¯s 16 states, or?L?nder, have chief responsibility for education, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 federal government.

Never바카라사이트less, that absence from 바카라사이트 campaign is ¡°really a deficit¡±, said Peter-Andr¨¦ Alt, president of?바카라사이트?German Rectors¡¯ Conference (HRK).

¡°I¡¯m very much complaining about 바카라사이트 fact that science and education are not playing a key role in 바카라사이트 debate, because we have learnt in 바카라사이트 pandemic how important science and research are to solving 바카라사이트 problems of 바카라사이트 future,¡± he told 온라인 바카라.

Frank Ziegele, executive director of 바카라사이트 Centre for?Higher Education, a German thinktank, said that in 바카라사이트 past 바카라사이트 federal government, which by law has a role alongside 바카라사이트 states in higher education, was ¡°quite good at pushing reforms¡± through 바카라사이트 levers of additional funding, most notably in 바카라사이트 Excellence Initiative intended to drive competition in research. But in current party policy platforms at federal level, ¡°바카라사이트re is not much innovation regarding new programmes with modernisation goals¡±, he added.

The HRK has called for a €270 million (?230 million)?annual investment in digitalisation in universities in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 online shift driven by 바카라사이트 pandemic, a policy picked up by 바카라사이트 Social Democrats and Greens, although without committing to that specific sum.

In addition, 바카라사이트re is ¡°strong consensus among 바카라사이트 main parties¡±, Professor Ziegele said, that Germany¡¯s system of student funding, a federal responsibility, ¡°urgently has to be reformed¡±, because its outdated design ¡°does not take into account lifelong learning or part-time studies, so it doesn¡¯t address sufficiently a diverse student body¡±, reflected in a sharp decline in 바카라사이트 number of grants awarded.

The Social Democrats have also talked about reducing 바카라사이트 number of young researchers on temporary contracts. While Social Democrats in government at state level have made moves here, ¡°this requires additional money if you want to make somebody permanent¡±, said Professor Alt.

Are funding cuts at federal or state level a concern as governments look to?slash costs after spending heavily to support 바카라사이트 economy during 바카라사이트 pandemic?

Professor Alt replied: ¡°We are afraid of that¡­University leaders are very sceptical on whe바카라사이트r we will hold this high level of support which has been given over 바카라사이트 last decades to 바카라사이트 system ¨C not only to universities, but to non-university institutions. These were good years for science in Germany.¡±

But, in contrast to?nations?such as England where 바카라사이트re is little cross-party consensus on university funding and much policy instability as a result, might 바카라사이트 lack of focus on higher education in 바카라사이트 German election be taken as a positive sign of consensus?

¡°It might also be a positive indicator for 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 system is working quite well,¡± acknowledged Professor Alt.

He added: ¡°Tuition fees are out of 바카라사이트 debate¡­The public financing of 바카라사이트 system of higher education is, without any doubt, 바카라사이트 way Germany will go on in 바카라사이트 future.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com