topic Science

Higher Education

The Federal Government supports institutions of higher education in preparing for the new requirements resulting from the internationalization of higher education and the growing competition.

In Germany, there are 383 institutions of higher education (in 2006/2007), including 103 universities and comprehensive universities, six colleges of education, 15 colleges of theology, 53 colleges of art, 176 general universities of applied sciences and 30 colleges of public administration. According to data of the Federal Statistical Office, there were 1.974 million students in 2006/2007, including over 47.8% women. About 68.3% of all students were enrolled at universities, 27.4% at universities of applied sciences. The number of new entrants in the study year 2006/2007 amounted  to 344,000. In Germany, the new entrants account thus for 35.5% of an age-group in 2006. Compared to its peak in 2003 (38,9%), this rate fell by about three percentage points.

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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 Education

  International exchanges in vocational education and training

  How about going abroad during training? Bilateral exchange programmes of the BMBF support apprentices in crossing borders and acquiring international qualifications.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/894.php)
   
  
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  topic Education

  Internationalization of Higher Education

  The Federal Government is supporting German institutions of higher education in their efforts to assert themselves in growing international competition. Higher education marketing is to attract students, young scientists and researchers worldwide to studies and research at German institutions of higher education. The institutions of higher education are moving towards a European Higher Education Area.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/908.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 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

  Junior Professorship

  The introduction of the junior professorship established a new career path which provides young scientists with another avenue towards a professorship. The objective was and still is to provide young scientists with an opportunity for independent research and teaching already in their early 30s.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/820.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

  Continuing education at institutions of higher education

  Continuing education provides institutions of higher education with an opportunity to develop programmes which are interesting and useful for both industry and science. Because even for academics, qualification no longer ends when the doctor's cap has been earned. And the knowledge of higher education teachers is also in demand among specialists in companies.
  more (URL: http://www.bmbf.de/en/349.php)