Future of the JLU: Historical coalition brings opportunities and questions!

Future of the JLU: Historical coalition brings opportunities and questions!

The Gießen University President Prof. Katharina Lorenz used the first meeting of the Senate of the Justus Liebig University (JLU) in the summer semester to comment on the recently adopted coalition agreement between the CDU and the SPD. The new political situation offers universities opportunities, but also accuses various concerns. Above all, the structure of the new Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, which is led by Dorothee Bär (CSU), has caused discussion. This restructuring could have potentially far -reaching consequences for the German universities, especially with regard to financing.

The coalition agreement provides for an increase in the DFG program flat rate by 30 percent and confirms the commitment to university medicine. Despite these positive aspects, Lorenz expressed concerns about financing. She emphasized that the origin of the planned means remains unclear, which leads to uncertainties among universities. There is also concern that the university pact negotiations in the state of Hesse could threaten cuts. Specific figures for this are only expected at the end of June, which leads to increased nervousness in academic circles.

university pact and target agreements

In her speech, Lorenz announced that it does not want to sign a target agreement with the Hessian Ministry of Science and Art as long as the university pact has not yet been signed. This shows how important the clarification of the financial framework for the JLU is. In the background, however, there are more comprehensive questions about the financing of universities in Germany, which are addressed by the University Rectors Conference (HRK)

Accordingly, almost 90 percent of the funds for universities come from the public sector, with about 75 percent of the federal states and 15 percent coming from the federal government. The financial challenges for the universities are immense because the countries have difficulty maintaining the necessary basic financing. This problem is reinforced by the fact that the demand for university studies is continuously increasing.

International collaborations and students

Another important topic for JLU is international cooperation. In the context of political developments in the USA, especially under the Trump administration, new decrees on minority promotion were discussed. The JLU is now maintaining partnerships with nine US universities and plans to further expand these transatlantic relationships. Recently, a high -ranking delegation from Wisconsin, led by governor Tony Evers, was a guest at JLU. These initiatives show how much international cooperation is important for the JLU.

In addition to the international dimension, the start of the new summer semester is imminent. The preliminary number of students is estimated at around 23,749, a sign of the continuing attractiveness of the university. A new branch for nature and life sciences was also opened on this occasion. This project not only serves to strengthen the university infrastructure, but also promotes the close relationship between the university and the city of Gießen.

The developments related to the coalition agreement and the challenges in university financing remain decisive topics for the JLU and the entire university landscape in Germany. The dialogue between Hagen and the universities must be made more clearly and more specifically, especially in times when the financial means are decisive for the future of education.