German Universities Excellence Initiative
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The Excellence Initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Research Foundation aims to promote both cutting-edge research and the quality of higher education at German universities, to encourage the scientific community, and to enhance the international visibility of German universities. It is the result of lengthy negotiations between the federal government and the German states.[1]
Altogether 1.9 billion euros of additional funds will be distributed over the coming five years, most of this coming from the federal government. Nine designated flagship universities have been promoted to the status of a University of Excellence:
- Free University of Berlin
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- RWTH Aachen University
- Technical University of Munich
- University of Constance
- University of Freiburg
- University of Göttingen
- University of Heidelberg
- University of Karlsruhe
Federal Education Minister Annette Schavan said following the awards ceremony, "The excellence initiative is writing scientific history. Research at German universities finds itself on a successful, international course." The winning universities had already exhibited their research strengths at national and international competitions. Smaller universities like the one in Constance were also awarded for their outstanding humanities program.[2]
In addition to funding whole universities, more than 40 research schools for young scientists and PhD candidates will receive one million euros each, and thirty so-called Excellence Clusters will be created connecting universities with leading German research institutes and businesses. These clusters will receive around 6.5 million euros each to fund their work.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ German Science Council: The Excellence Initiative.
- ^ Comment of Anette Schavan on the results of the Excellence Initiative
- ^ German Science Council: The Excellence Initiative.
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