Reported from the source

Quick summary: Germany is set to decide tonight which universities will initially be designated as “Excellence Universities,” a program aiming for 15 such institutions by 2027. The strategy, which allocates 687 million euros annually, faces ongoing criticism regarding its application process and funding model, with some arguing it fails to foster world-class research, while others laud its success in national and international competitions.

Germany’s “Excellence Strategy” for universities is at a critical juncture, with initial decisions expected tonight on which institutions will join the ranks of “Excellence Universities.” The program aims to have 15 such universities by 2027, with annual funding of 687 million euros, 75% of which is covered by the federal government. The strategy comprises two funding lines: Excellence Universities and Excellence Clusters, which are research networks involving multiple higher education institutions. However, the initiative has long been a subject of debate. Tilman Reitz, a Professor of Sociology at Jena University and member of the “Network Sustainable Science,” expresses skepticism. He argues that the competition encourages superficial research, stating, “Money is thrown into the ring, and then people come up with research topics,” which he believes “does not necessarily produce original or solid research projects.” Reitz also criticizes the funding levels, asserting that the German science system’s financial resources are insufficient to compete internationally with top US universities like Harvard, whose budgets are many times higher. He concludes, “The money is not enough to produce world-class universities; we produce high-gloss facades but remain in the midfield.” Reitz advocates for increased basic funding for universities, many of which face tight financial situations. Conversely, Wolfgang Wick, Chairman of the Science Council, which implements the strategy alongside the German Research Foundation, views it as a success. He notes that “Excellence Universities show greater success in national and international competitions” and highlights good interdisciplinary collaboration and benefits for early-career scientists. While acknowledging concerns about the elaborate application process, Wick confirms that an internal and external evaluation of the Excellence Strategy will take place. He also clarifies that the allocated funds cannot simply be redirected to basic university funding without changes to federal-state agreements. The current selection process involves nine universities and one consortium vying for continued or new funding. The University of Konstanz is no longer eligible, having failed to impress in the Excellence Clusters funding line. The number of new universities to be funded will be determined in the autumn, based on their concepts, while tonight’s decision will confirm which existing institutions remain in the program. The funding for selected universities will run until the end of 2033. The debate over the strategy’s purpose and effectiveness is expected to continue alongside the celebrations of those who secure further funding.

Source: www.tagesschau.de