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Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > FY2003 White Paper on Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology >Part1 Chapter4 Section5.2

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Part 1   Higher Education to Support a Knowledge-Based Society Full of Creative Vitality - New Developments in Higher Education Reform
Chapter 4   Higher Education Reform in Other Countries
Section 5   Germany
2   Expanding Discretion of Institutions of Higher Education and Instituting Achievement-Oriented Principles


The federal government is promoting reforms based on an expansion of the discretion of institutions of higher education and instituting achievement-oriented principles as a measure to vitalize higher education and strengthen international competitiveness.

Expanding discretion has made it possible, in reforming the degree system, for each higher education institution to initiate bachelor 's courses (standard term of study: three to four years) and master's courses (standard term of study: one to two years) recommended for introduction as part of a common EU framework at its own discretion. The bachelor's and master's courses of study have exhibited rapid expansion, exceeding 16 percent of all courses of study by August 2003. Behind this expansion was the concern that the standard term of study needed to acquire the traditional German first educational degrees (Magister and Diplom) was relatively long at four to four and a half years, and that degrees which are inherently German degrees are not well-circulated internationally and therefore disadvantageous to getting employment in other countries.

The main building of Humbolt University, Berlin On the left is a statue of the tounder of the university, Wilhelm von Humbolt

In addition, the legal status of institutions of higher education was improved through recognition of a higher degree of independence. Germany's state higher education institutions possess a dual nature of being organizations under public law, while simultaneously being institutions of the country or state. In 2003, the State of Niedersachsen eliminated the country (state) nature of five state higher education institutions and recognized their legal status as including greater discretionary power over financial aspects, including administration of their own assets, acquisition of unique financial resources, and internal budget allocations. In this case, a legal status different from that normally recognized by the Higher Education Principles was recognized.

In addition to an expansion of discretionary power, mechanisms to assure new quality are being put into place. In 1999, each state and the Council of University Presidents introduced an accreditation system that approves universities meeting a set of educational standards. Accreditation of bachelor's and master's degree courses began at that time. Since then, accreditation has been expanded to some Magister and Diplom courses, as well as new private universities, etc.

Along with accreditation, state-performed evaluations whose results are reflected in budget allocations were also stipulated in the Higher Education Principles. Such evaluations are now being carried out in some states. In 2001, the State of Baden-Wu¨rttemberg announced it would allocate an amount equal to 14 percent of the overall institutional budget to each higher education institution based on evaluation results using 13 different indicators. The City of Berlin is also allocating its internal budget based on performance.

Achievement-oriented principles were also introduced for teachers. In 2002, the federal government reformed the salary system that was based on the number of years of service, incorporating portions of salary based on existence of special duties, and achievement in research and education.

In 2002, towards improving the quality of education and research, the federal government created a new position for teaching staff other than the professors who become tenured around the age of 40. These teachers had heretofore only been "assistants," but the new system recognizes independent research activities with the creation of a new term-appointed "associate professor" position. In this way, the government is promoting measures to cultivate young researchers.


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