University of Bremen: AS demands compliance with the science plan
The Academic Senate of the University of Bremen demands that the Science Plan 2025 be adhered to. With the announced savings, the state government is endangering Bremen’s education and innovative strength. The university trains the specialists and teachers who are urgently needed in the region.
The university’s parliament met for an unscheduled special session on March 15 in view of the threat of cuts to the science budget. The committee unanimously decided to appeal to the citizens of Bremen to implement the Science Plan 2025. The members of the Academic Senate particularly emphasize the role of the university in economic development and education in the state of Bremen. Over 3,500 skilled workers are available to the job market every year after they graduate from the university. “We train on the basis of the latest scientific findings,” says Professor Rita Groß-Hardt, who, together with her colleague Professor Matthis Kepser, initiated the appeal. “We are thus making a decisive contribution to the development of Bremen as a technology location and its economic innovative strength.”
Not to be forgotten is the training of teachers. Matthis Kepser adds: “At the University of Bremen 3,000 young people are studying to become teachers. 300 complete their studies every year and then take on responsibility for the education of our children in schools. ”“ In addition, ”says Rita Groß-Hardt,“ that our and future generations have to face great challenges. With its research in the field of climate change, digitization and health care, the university contributes to finding answers to pressing questions about the future. “
The state government’s intention to cut the science budget is not only endangering the substance of the University of Bremen. The people in Bremen would feel the effects directly. “In the meantime it has become clear how badly there is a shortage of teachers from the fields of disabled education and sport in the country. These courses fell victim to the savings made in 2007, ”reports Matthis Kepser. With an exit from the Science Plan 2025, there is a risk that such an uncontrolled reduction in study programs will repeat itself. “The importance of the university for education and for economic and innovative strength in the state is underestimated,” said Rita Groß-Hardt. “If Bremen cannot afford something, then it has to be sawed on this branch.”
Almost two weeks ago it became known that the state government is planning significantly less money for the science sector than originally decided in the Science Plan 2025. As a result, university management and staff council turned together in an open letter to the mayor Dr . Andreas Bovenschulte. University lecturers collected more than 8,500 signatures against the withdrawal from the Science Plan 2025. Students, lecturers, university management and unions demonstrated together on the market square against the plans of the Senate.