What’s new in German higher education and science politics this week?

In an election year, higher education and science come more and more into the focus of public discussion. I value this highly; nonetheless I find that a lot of international article about German higher education and science focus only on certain aspects. In my blog, I want to give a regularly update on what’s really important in Germany’s higher education and science politics.

Failure of Project DEAL?

Project DEAL - a project to regulate license agreements of science publishers using E-Journals - lurks to fail. Why? After five negotiation meetings the German Rector’s Conference (HRK) doubts that the publisher ‘Elsevier’ is seriously interested in an agreement. The president of the HRK, Prof. Dr. Horst Hippler, claims that it occurs like Elsevier doesn’t want to close the deal on basis of the so called ‘Golden Open Access’. Nevertheless the DEAL Project hasn’t failed yet - still both parties are open for further negotiations. This topic troubles quite a few of my clients. If there’s no deal soon, higher education and research at universities might suffer and many scientists and students might be excluded from the access to magazines and books.

It’s hard to say whose the “bad guy” in this. There’s a lot of financial pressure on universities in Germany, due to the high amount of students (more every year) and the pressure of delivering valuable scientific results. Paying more and more money for publications is a burden that weights tough on the management’s shoulders.

Federal Research program affects innovation in Germany – the good, the bad and the rest

The ‘Monitoring Report of the Federal Act for Research and Innovation’ shows effects of the federal research program on the innovation level in Germany. Since 2005 Germany has become (so the government claims) one the most innovative national economies and receives nearly 30% of the money the European Union invests in research and development.

However, it is no secret that only a handful of universities really have gained a lot through this program. Others seem to struggle more and more to get the equal access especially to the Horizon2020-program. Not every university can become what is commonly called a “Exzellenzuniversit?t” (excellence-university) – and I work with clients who are quite excellent in their research and education without being a big beneficiary of the program.

I find it’s time to focus on other aspects. One that I encounter personally quite often is the matter or regulation preventing research and science in Germany from taking off. The national procurement policies are in some aspects stricter than the European law – with the result that some of my clients are struggling in larger research programs to be efficient, due to an over-regulation. Legislation must consider the effects of new laws on higher education and science carefully and work with further exceptions, where possible, to boost it – this can be done without special funding and initiatives but with careful legislation procedures.

Sustainability program implemented

The ‘National Program on Sustainable Consumption’ shows first progress in research projects and the awareness for sustainable consumption in public. Referring to the answers of the federal government on the parliamentary question of the fraction ‘Bündnis 90/Die Grünen’ more than 170 provided measures are part of the program which already showed impact. Including new research projects, funding of initiatives and institutions as well as portals to support sustainable consumption. Previously the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen criticized that the responsibility for taking care of sustainable consumption is (still) mostly up to the consumers.

Hearing of upcoming data privacy act

The new ‘Data Privacy Act’ will be heard soon. In order to implement and complement European law the actual draft law will be discussed on the 27th of march. Main goal of the European regulations is the creation of an equal level of protection in all member states of the European Union. Therefore especially - among other legislational changes - the national ‘Datenschutzgesetz’ will be renewed. Precise information about the planned content is not available yet. I’ll let you know, but my clients are already worried on the effects (see the point above – more bureaucracy to stop higher education and science in Germany?).

More Money for the BIM = Immigration and integration as a new field of science?

Relating to the weekly newspaper ‘Die Zeit’, the time for an investment in the BIM (Berlin Institute for Integration and Immigration research) has - finally - come. In times of high numbers of refugees in Germany the discussion about integration and immigration becomes bigger and bigger - so do the costs for serious research. Therefore the state of Berlin plans to increase the investment in the BIM to ensure that long-term strategies and research will be implemented soon. All together the BIM will be funded in the amount of 3.8 Mio. EURO during the upcoming years - up to four new jobs for professors will be provided. Despite the BIM: is immigration and integration research the new ‘big thing’ in science? Maybe complete new degree courses in higher education? More research institutes? We don’t know yet. But what we know is that Germany as well as the European Union has immigration and integration issues on their agenda.

More next week,

Dennis