The HRK has strongly criticised the sweeping and unfit regulations for teaching and courses of study at universities in the draft amendment to the Infection Protection Act currently being discussed by the CDU/CSU and SPD coalition fractions for a second and third reading in the Bundestag. HRK President Peter-André Alt has stated his views on this: “The recent news from the committees of the Bundestag is very unsettling for universities."

HRK-President Peter-André Alt has criticised the draft amendment to the Infection Protection Act tabled by CDU/CSU and SPD coalition fractions for initial deliberations in the Bundestag. It is encouraging to see that the universities have been considered in the draft. However, the wording of the law does not take adequate account of the previous achievements of universities, their wide range of duties and characteristics and the greatest possible protection of the specific study pathways of young people.

Human rights experts at the United Nations are on high alert and have voiced their concerns at the worsening, life-threatening situation of the Swedish-Iranian scientist Dr Ahmadreza Djalali, who has been arbitrarily arrested and detained in Iran. Against this backdrop, the Chair of the Board of the Swedish Association of Higher Education Institutions (SUHF), Astrid Söderbergh Widding, and HRK-President Peter-André Alt, in a joint open letter are urgently calling for Iran's leaders to lift the death penalty and release the scientist from prison immediately.

The experience of the Corona pandemic once again makes it clear that ensuring the future viability of studying and teaching requires a series of political decisions and considerable public investment. In a digital meeting on Tuesday, the Senate of the HRK named necessary measures to be taken by the Federal Government and the Länder for both the current and the coming legislatures.

During an online meeting, the Senate of the HRK expressed its shock at the escalating violence in Myanmar and the serious implications for the country’s universities and their members. Since the military seized power at the start of February, it has been coming down increasingly hard on protesters, many of whom are university members. Since the military seized power at the start of February, it has been coming down increasingly hard on protesters.

It is still not possible to return to normal face-to-face contact at universities due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate of the HRK reiterated this point at its online meeting on Tuesday. “During our in-depth discussion on the current situation across the various federal states, universities and disciplines, it soon became clear that offering a tailored blend of digital and face-to-face teaching is still the only sensible approach,” explained HRK President Peter-André Alt after the meeting.