Today in Berlin, shortly before the possible start of coalition negotiations in the federal government, HRK-President Peter André Alt reiterated the demands that universities place on the future federal government and pointed out the special importance of the higher education system for research and society.

Around a week after the Bundestag elections, the Senate of the HRK has emphatically reminded the future coalition leaders of the most pressing tasks in higher education policy. During its online meeting today, the HRK Senate listed the most important points for which it holds the federal government responsible.

One month before the election for the 20th legislative period, the HRK has documented the higher education policy positions of the parties for the Bundestag election on its website. The answers to eight election touchstone questions have been placed side by side to enable direction comparison between them. The HRK surveyed all parties that are currently represented in the Bundestag and, according to election forecasts, have a realistic chance of entering the next Bundestag.

On the occasion of the "Measures for Coping with the Coronavirus Pandemic" adopted by the Federal Government and the states, HRK President Peter-André Alt said the following today: "All measures to control and manage the coronavirus situation will be based on the 3G rule from the autumn onwards, as the universities have already included in their plans for the winter semester. This is the only way to ensure a broader return to face-to-face study in a responsible manner."

With a view to the end of the lecture period, HRK President Peter-André Alt spoke about the prospects for the next semester: "Once again, I want to explicitly acknowledge the great achievements of the universities in coping with the pandemic. Their goal now is to enable on-campus study again in the coming winter semester 2021/22, as far as the framework conditions allow."

At today's strategy talk of university leaders with the EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, the HRK President Peter-André Alt underlined the importance of the European University Networks for German universities: "There is enormous potential for universities in cross-border cooperation. It helps to strengthen the international competitiveness of German universities, secure academic freedoms in Europe and develop a European identity."