Fachhochschulen, short-term institutions of higher education specializing in the provision of practical education, are expected to play an increasingly important role in producing high-quality workers and reducing surplus student numbers at universities.
At present Fachhochshulen account for over 30% of enrollment in institutions of higher education, and in October 1992 conferences of state ministers of education and finance agreed that this ratio should be raised to 40%. Efforts are now being made to expand Fachhochschulen.
