More German dropouts after Bologna

Nieuws | de redactie

31 mei 2012 | Bachelor dropout rates at German universities increased from 25% to 35% within four years, Fachhochschulen show the opposite trend. A government report attributes this to “implementation issues” surrounding Bologna reforms. Merkel responds with more funding and demands more influence.

In 2010, 35% of all German Bachelor students at universitiesstopped their studies which compares to 25% four years earlier.With 19% this number is much lower at universities of appliedsciences (“Fachhochschulen”, UAS), less than half of what it usedto be in 2006 (39%).

“It is most likely that the difference in study success ratesbetween these two types of HE institutes is due to implementationissues of the Bachelor/Master system at universities,” a recentgovernment report states. UAS institutes were quicker toadapt to Bologna reforms, while universities debated the issueheatedly.

The government tries to cope with this trend and a flood of incoming applicants. Until, 2025enrolment numbers are expected to stay considerably elevated around400.000. This is accompanied by a financial boost of €26,000 perstudent agreed upon in the “Hochschulpakt“.

Cabinet supports constitution change

Right now, education Minister Annette Schavan is busy withanother project of hers: removing the so-called”Kooperationsverbot” from the constitution. Ever since majorreforms of the federal system in 2006, the national government isprohibited from directly funding education institutes.

Schavan wants to change this law and allow for a greater role ofBerlin in higher education. Today, her proposal was approved by Merkel’s cabinet. This reform mayface significant opposition, however, as opponents demand that thiswould apply to all forms of education, including primary andsecondary education.