Universities are at the centre of the German higher education and science system due to their internationally visible research strength, the number of students and the breadth of their subject focus. They organise and network disciplinary and interdisciplinary research across the entire spectrum from basic to application-oriented research and transfer. They train personalities and qualify specialists for almost all appointments and fields of activity in society. These university achievements are based on academic freedom, university autonomy, particularly in terms of the autonomy of university decision-making processes, and the liberal democratic constitution as a whole.
Multiple crises and global threats have a concrete impact on our society, the economy and public budgets. In this situation, investment in university education and research ensures that universities make an indispensable contribution to overcoming the major challenges facing society. They generate a return on investment for the future through a massive increase in economic, social and cultural added value – to a much greater extent than in other policy areas.
An investment initiative in education and research is therefore required for the coming legislative period. Against this backdrop, the universities expect a new federal government, in cooperation with the federal states, to set a forward-looking course to promote and strengthen study, teaching, research and transfer activities:
Securing universities as future infrastructures
The construction and climate-friendly renovation of university infrastructures are essential for performance and must also become a core component of a sustainability turnaround in public institutions.
Permanent positions for permanent tasks in addition to professorships must be fully funded in order to strengthen and maintain the attractiveness of university career paths.
Universities require research-friendly legal framework conditions (e.g. Research Data Act, reduction of bureaucracy, simplification of the project management organisation system, VAT exemption).
Strengthening studies and teaching
The “Future Contract for Studies and Teaching” is a highly effective investment programme. It must be secured for quality development to ensure the future viability of the German education system and democracy.
A structural reform of BAföG is necessary as a contribution to educational equality and equal opportunities.
Universities are the place for science-based and research-orientated teacher training. In order to further develop quality standards for research and teaching and a coherent professional orientation of teachers for the transformative times, the “Teacher Education Quality Campaign” must be renewed.
Funding for cutting-edge university research
The “Excellence Strategy” must be further developed in a reliable and quality-assuring manner to strengthen top university performance and profile building as well as cooperation in the science system.
Federal research funding structures must be ensured in a science-led manner across the entire spectrum of basic research and application orientation.
A programme lump sum that adequately reflects real expenditure must be established in all externally funded projects.