According to Bavaria’s Minister of Science, Markus Blume (CSU), the Free State is investing more than ever in its higher education institutions. Yet, in the lecture halls, this investment seems to have had no effect. Here are two examples from Eastern Bavaria.
While first-semester students in Passau are still wandering somewhat lost across campus, more senior students in the student union (AStA) office are already planning demonstrations and vigils. “Do we have any fabric? We definitely need to paint some banners,” says Maximilian Wimmer from the Student Committee. He and his fellow activists are worried about research and teaching.
Right at the start of the semester, they noticed that several tutorials and seminars were no longer being offered; they were cut for cost reasons. “This eliminates the chance to deepen knowledge or ask questions. We are concerned about the quality of our education,” say the student representatives.
The cost-cutting measures also have consequences for professors: some have had their student assistants taken away. This inevitably forces them to focus only on the essentials in their teaching.
According to Minister of Science Markus Blume (CSU), the Free State of Bavaria recently invested 7.2 billion euros per year in its universities—more than ever before. The situation seems contradictory.
In a written response to BR, Blume stated: “The budgets of recent years represent a powerful commitment to science. Since 2018, we have increased funding for the higher education sector by 37.5 percent. Overall, we are operating at an investment level that is unmatched nationwide.”
So, on one hand, there is multi-billion-euro support from the state—primarily for AI and high-tech projects—while on the other, universities seem to be struggling to maintain old buildings and keep their teaching offerings running.
A look at the University of Regensburg: when it rains, buckets are placed in some corridors and the law library because water leaks through the roof. Students describe this and provide photographic evidence. The University of Regensburg explains the financial situation as follows: “Rising energy and personnel costs are straining the budget, while state core funding has not grown at the same rate in recent years.”
Other university presidents confirm this. In a joint statement, they said: “The financial situation of Bavarian universities is currently very strained. There are numerous successful projects funded by the Free State, but the core funding has long failed to keep pace with increased costs—due to inflation, energy prices, and collective bargaining agreements.”
When asked by BR, the universities did not provide specific figures on internal savings targets or deficits. They described the consequences in rather general terms, speaking of internal cuts, reallocations, and prioritizations.
Students are more forthright. Annika Wintersberger names the problems concretely. She studies at the University of Regensburg and, as a spokesperson for the Bavarian State Student Council, represents 400,000 students in the Free State. “Where courses are cut, it is sometimes difficult to get a spot,” she says.
Some universities have waiting times of up to a year. During this time, some students cannot continue their studies fully because they need that specific course as a prerequisite for others. In the worst case, this extends the duration of their studies, which is a problem for those receiving BAföG student financial aid. “Because they have to complete their studies within a certain time, otherwise they won’t receive any more money,” explains the student representative.
With an eye on ongoing negotiations for the next two-year budget between universities and the ministry, the State Student Council appeals: the situation must not be allowed to worsen. “When the ceiling crumbles in the lecture hall, trust in education policy crumbles too,” says Annika Wintersberger.
Bavaria’s university presidents are jointly calling for a sustainable increase in core funding. They emphasize that project funding remains an important driver of innovation, but without sufficient core funding, it will not take hold and is doomed to fail.
Source: BR24
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