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The campus of the Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg in Senftenberg.
© Patrick Pleul/dpa
There has been a long struggle for a new higher education law in Brandenburg.
Now it's done.
The coalition praises itself, but not everyone is satisfied.
Potsdam - Better working conditions for university employees, more co-determination for students and more personal responsibility for the institutions: six months before the state elections, the red-black-green coalition in Brandenburg wants to finalize an important project with the new higher education law.
On Wednesday, the coalition factions in Potsdam presented their changes to the draft that Science Minister Manja Schüle (SPD) presented last year.
According to the new law, which is to be passed in the state parliament next week, student employees will in future receive contracts that run for at least twelve months.
Universities are also required to create more permanent positions for academic employees instead of temporary positions.
So-called unfounded time limits for professorships will be abolished and relief for lecturers will also be introduced.
Student vice-presidents are planned at the universities - from the perspective of the SPD, CDU and the Greens, this should strengthen participation.
The coalition expects a number of other detailed changes to bring more autonomy and thus responsibility for the universities.
The three parliamentary groups have also readjusted regulations in the draft law, for example on climate and animal protection.
This means that students should be able to apply for a “right to study without animal testing” easily without having to prove that they have a conscience.
The student unions are obliged to protect the climate in dormitories or cafeterias.
The new law specifies when students can be expelled after acts of violence or other serious violations: the prerequisite is a legally binding conviction by a court.
In the future, regulatory measures up to and including exmatriculation will also be possible in the event of serious acts committed by students against fellow students or teachers that occur outside of the universities - if a concrete threat to study operations is to be expected.
What is also important to the coalition partners: The law paves the way for the Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) to develop into a so-called full university with more opportunities in teaching and research.
The science policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Erik Stohn, was convinced by the law that had now been formulated: “The future will be made in Brandenburg.” His CDU colleague Michael Schierack pointed out, among other things, that the Science Council sees the current state of the BTU as a hindrance for the further scientific development of the university.
“That’s why I’m glad that we’re starting the process towards a full university now.” The Green science politician Sahra Damus praised progress in climate protection and “good work”.
The left called the law “disheartening and disappointing.”
“After almost three years of dialogue, demonstrations and strikes, expectations of the new higher education law were high,” explained the Left Party’s university policy spokeswoman, Isabelle Vandre.
What is now happening is disappointing for everyone who has pushed for real improvements in the social situation of students and working conditions in science.
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“Although many paragraphs will be changed, little of it will be noticeable,” said Vandre.
The law does not contain a quota for permanent positions.
“New job categories that should enable secure career planning away from the professorship have been gutted and hardly differ from previous precarious employment relationships in mid-level positions.”
Science Minister Schüle was pleased about the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg: "The decision to offer a uniform university course offering without application-related courses strengthens the BTU's ability to compete and cooperate, promotes research and development and secures the career paths of its employees." BTU- President Gesine Grande explained that the amended law is a very important basis for her university in order to support the further development of the university that has been initiated in recent years and, in her view, is very dynamic.
dpa