Berlin's HU elects administration with slim margin, facing potential disputes on controversial decisions
In a significant development, the Humboldt University, Berlin's first major university, has decided to sign the revised university agreement. This move comes amidst expectations of significant cuts to universities in the coming years, as the Senate has stated that they can no longer finance the university agreements, which have only been valid since 2024.
The revised agreements provide for significantly lower subsidies, as previously mentioned, but universities will receive more support for wage insurance and pension burdens. This support is intended to alleviate the financial burden on institutions during these challenging times.
The decision to sign the revised agreement was made in the Academic Senate of Humboldt University, where 13 members voted in favour, 9 against, and 3 abstained. Notably, HU President Julia von Blumenthal, who previously acted as the lead negotiator for Berlin's universities in talks with the Senate, had threatened to resign if the motion was rejected.
However, the university leadership is not willing to use all means to defend the universities against the cuts, according to Verdi, the union representing university employees. Verdi, headed by Jana Seppelt, the head of the science and higher education department, has extended its hand to the university leadership to jointly fight against the cuts.
Verdi expects that 10 to 14 percent of study places will have to be cut at universities. Individual degree programs may be completely discontinued, according to Verdi. Students at Humboldt University have also called for a lawsuit to ensure the original university agreements continue to apply. However, the Senate has not filed a lawsuit to ensure the original agreements remain in effect.
The Humboldt University has extended ongoing contracts, now to be cemented with a signature. This move signals a commitment to maintaining the university's operations, despite the challenging financial landscape. It remains to be seen how other universities will respond to the revised agreements and the anticipated budget cuts.
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