Science

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  topic Education

  Higher Education Pact

  The institutions of higher education are facing great challenges in Germany: On the one hand, higher education must be modernized within the framework of the Bologna reform, on the other hand, the number of persons qualified to enter higher education will rise considerably until 2020. In order to maintain the performance of institutions of higher education and to keep them open for a larger number of new entrants, the Federal Government and the Länder agreed to basic elements of a Higher Education Pact. more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/6142.php)
   
  
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  topic Science

  Ensuring Equal Opportunities by Means of BAföG

  How can I finance my study course? An answer to this question is given by the Federal Training Assistance Act (BAföG). The 22. BAföG Amendment allows further improvements: BAföG rates are raised, the monthly limits on additional earnings are extended to 400 Euros. Students with children are supported with a special bonus. The first parts of the amendment became effective at the beginning of 2008. BAföG support is therefore an important element in encouraging more young people to take up studies and undergo qualified training. more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/892.php)
   
  
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  topic Science

  Initiative for Excellence

  By promoting top-class university research within the framework of the Initiative for Excellence, the Federal Government is aiming to establish internationally visible research beacons in Germany. 1.9 billion Euro will be made available to the institutions of higher education within the framework of the Initiative for Excellence. The Federal Government will contribute 75% of this sum. The evaluations will be implemented by the German Research Association and the Science Council. The final decisions for the first round of funding were published on 13 October 2006. In a second round the drafts for the last phase have meanwhile also been named. more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/1321.php)
   
  
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  topic Science

  The Bologna Process

  Students and researchers are more mobile, more flexible and more international than ever before. Knowledge knows no national frontiers. Internationalization is a pacemaker for reform and for the development and modernization of the higher education system. The institutions of higher education must assert themselves in the international competition for the best brains. At their meeting in Bologna in 1999, Germany and its European neighbours set themselves the goal of establishing a common European higher education area by the year 2010. The Bologna Process is probably the most far-reaching university reform in recent times. more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/3336.php)
   
  
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  topic Science

  Research at Universities of Applied Sciences

  Together the BMBF supports within the framework of the FH3 programme, application-oriented research of universities of applied sciences in collaboration with industry. A new round of funding has started. Applications can be made until the end of January 2006. more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/864.php)
   
  
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  topic Science

  Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation

  German research now has a tail wind for better opportunities in international competition and is to become even more competitive in order to master the global challenges. On 23 June 2005, the Federal Government and the Länder have therefore adopted the Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation. The major science and research organizations will as a result receive more money from 2006 onwards for enhancing their performance, for stronger cooperation and better support of young scientists. New and unconventional topics will also receive funding. more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/3215.php)
   
  
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  topic Research

  The Reform of Higher Education Admission

  Institutions of higher education in Germany are in future to participate more actively in the selection of their students. The new regulation of admission to higher education institutions provides them with a responsibility they had demanded for a long time. The reform of admission to higher education, which was passed in July, regulates in a new way the allocation of study places in study courses with national restriction. more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/2570.php)
   
  
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  topic Ministry

  Maps of Research Institutions

  Where does research in Germany happen? Where are regional clusters? What kind of references can be found? The BMBF research maps are maintained and improved to answer questions like these. more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/5355.php)