• New HRK brochure: "German Rectors' Conference: The Voice of the Universities"

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  • New folder "German Universities: Excellence in Education, Research and Innovation"

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  • New: leaflet "Right of residence for researchers from non-EU countries in Germany" available in English

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News

HRK President reiterates Bundesrat statement on professional titles

HRK President reiterates Bundesrat statement on professional titles

Following the statement of the Bundesrat on the draft of the amendment to the Vocational Training Act (BBiG), HRK-President Peter-André Alt, made the following comments: "I'm delighted that the Bundesrat has requested in the legislative process that professional titles are developed that cannot be confused with academic qualifications. Its statement strengthens our conviction that new titles such as Bachelor Professional and Vocational Master would be counterproductive."More

HRK President on European higher education alliances: a success for Germany, a win for Europe and a major feat for the universities

HRK President on European higher education alliances: a success for Germany, a win for Europe and a major feat for the universities

Following the announcement of the first 17 European higher education alliances funded by the EU, HRK-President Peter-André Alt commented: “German universities are represented in 14 of the 17 European networks chosen. This is an impressive achievement. It bears testament to the fact that German universities see themselves as engines of the European ideal and are collaborating creatively to develop new forms of partnership. A great variety of approaches has been selected in order to bring the idea of the European higher education alliances to life.”More

Rare, diverse, vital: Rare Disciplines weeks at German universities

Rare, diverse, vital: Rare Disciplines weeks at German universities

The “Rare Disciplines Weeks” were officially launched by the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Seventeen projects are being funded to showcase and network their Rare Disciplines in the coming winter semester. “The joint initiative is designed to strengthen these disciplines, which play an important role in the German higher education landscape but seldom receive the attention they deserve. The goal is to raise the profile of scientific achievements in the Rare Disciplines, provide information about courses of study and career prospects, and give a real taste of the relevance of these disciplines to our everyday lives,” said HRK President Peter-André Alt. More

Growing need for the social engagement of universities

Growing need for the social engagement of universities

Rising expectations and pressure to legitimise: at the third Global University Leaders Council Hamburg, 45 university leaders from 23 countries gathered from 5 to 7 June to discuss the rela-tionship between universities and society. It is marked by increasing, some-times conflicting expectations placed on universities to contribute to social development on top of their core commitment to research and teaching. As a result of their exchange, the participants of the Council jointly organ-ised by the HRK, the Körber Foundation and the University of Hamburg, adopted the "Rebuilding University – Socie-ty Relationships" declaration.More

Presidents of DFG and HRK recognise the agreement between federal and state governments on university funding

Presidents of DFG and HRK recognise the agreement between federal and state governments on university funding

After the 'Future Contract' and the 'Joint Initiative for Research and Innovation' was signed by the Federal Chancellor and the heads of the federal states, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK, Hochschulrektorenkonferenz) thanked those responsible for their joint effort for universities. HRK President Peter-André Alt: "The fact that both pacts have been signed at the highest level by the federal and state governments highlights their importance."More

Amendment of the Vocational Training Act: HRK President warns of confusion over terms

Amendment of the Vocational Training Act: HRK President warns of confusion over terms

The President of the HRK, Prof Dr Peter-André Alt, said the following after the Federal Cabinet adopted the draft amendment to the Vocational Training Act: "The new terms for vocational qualifications set out in the amendment ought to be revised. Changing the designations from ‘Berufsbachelor’ (as previously suggested by the Ministry of Education and Research) to 'Bachelor Professional' (as currently set out in the draft), or from 'Berufsmaster' to 'Master Professional' does nothing to reduce the confusion caused, even if they are intended as 'additional designations'. More