Lower Saxony rehabilitates former Göttingen university chief!

Lower Saxony rehabilitates former Göttingen university chief!

Göttingen, Deutschland - In Lower Saxony, a recent decision by the Ministry of Science causes a stir. The ex-President of the University of Göttingen, Wolfgang-Uwe Friedrich, is rehabilitated after he was charged in a procedure for inadmissible use of budget funds. This reports SPIEGEL . The accusation that was raised against him was found in the files of the ministry, but ultimately the examination of the case showed that the allegations are not durable.

This decision comes at a time when discussions about autonomy and self -administration of German universities are louder. The history of the universities in Germany goes back to the Middle Ages when they received the right to give academic degrees and to regulate their internal affairs independently, such as an analysis on BPB impressively represent. The focus is not only on teaching quality, but also on the indispensable freedom of science that Wilhelm von Humboldt explained with his memorandum on the founding of the University of Berlin in 1810.

a step to clarity

Wolfgang-Uwe Friedrich was in office from 2011 to 2018. The decision on rehabilitation is also a signal to the universities that have to rely on self -government and responsibility. This falls into a context in which reforms for the introduction of more autonomy and flexibility at German universities are becoming increasingly important. The return to an open and trusting relationship between university management and ministerial control is of central importance.

look into the future

The universities must adapt to the changes in the knowledge society. In 2000, 46% of students were women and 12% came from abroad. The 1999 Bologna declaration continues to create the creation of a European university area in order to promote quality and international exchange. In this regard, every step towards more responsibility and less distrust is of great importance to meet the challenges of the international education system.

The debates about universities in Germany, both with regard to their historical roots and future developments, show that education is a dynamic force that must be reinvented again and again. With the rehabilitation of Wolfgang-Uwe Friedrich, Lower Saxony has set a sign that extends far beyond the borders of universities.