German Universities Excellence Initiative
The Excellence Initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the German Research Foundation aims to promote cutting-edge research and to create outstanding conditions for young scientists at universities, to deepen cooperation between disciplines and institutions, to strengthen international cooperation of research, and to enhance the international appeal of excellent German universities. It is the result of lengthy negotiations between the federal government and the German states.[1]
Since almost all German universities are public (most private universities do not have the official German "Universitätsstatus"), and therefore mainly paid by taxes and generally egalitarian, there is no German Ivy League of institutions of higher education. However, the Excellence Initiative aims to strengthen some selected universities more than others in order to raise their international visibility. The initiative is conducted by the German Research Foundation (DFG) together with the German Council of Science and Humanities (WR). More than 30 universities in total received funding. It includes three lines of funding:
1st line of funding: The establishment of more than 40 research schools for young scientists and PhD candidates, which will receive one million euros each per year.
2nd line of funding: The creation of thirty so-called Clusters of Excellence, that connect universities with leading German research institutes and businesses. Annually, these clusters will receive around 6.5 million euros each to fund their work.
3rd line of funding: The selection of 11 Universities of Excellence, which will be funded highly for their "future concepts", i.e., institutional strategies to promote top-level university research.[1] Particularly this third line of funding has drawn appreciable international attention, both in academia and media.[2]
Altogether 2.7 billion euros (1.9 billion for 2007-2012) of additional funds will be distributed over the coming five years, most of this coming from the federal government. The German Council of Science and Humanities is responsible for the third line of funding, and the German Research Foundation is responsible for the first and second lines of funding. These funds are to be available in the first instance for the universities and their partner institutions until 2017.[1]
Results
Winners: Future Concept 2012
Out of the 140 universities[3] in Germany 11 universities were chosen, among them five new winners (HU Berlin, University of Bremen, University of Cologne, TU Dresden, University of Tübingen) and six title holders: RWTH Aachen, FU Berlin, University of Heidelberg, University of Konstanz, LMU Munich, and Technical University of Munich. These universities are commonly referred to by the media as "elite universities".[2][4] As in 2006 and 2007, also other universities were awarded for special clusters of excellence and renowned graduate schools.
| University | Title | Year of Award |
|---|---|---|
| RWTH Aachen University | RWTH 2020: Meeting Global Challenges | 2007 |
| Free University of Berlin | International Network University | 2007 |
| Humboldt University of Berlin | Education through science | 2012 |
| University of Bremen | AMBITIOUS AND AGILE | 2012 |
| University of Cologne | Meeting the Challenge of Change and Complexity | 2012 |
| Dresden University of Technology | The synergetic university | 2012 |
| University of Heidelberg | Heidelberg: Realizing the Potential of a Comprehensive University | 2007 |
| University of Konstanz | Model Konstanz - towards a culture of creativity | 2007 |
| Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | LMUexcellent: Working brains – Networking minds – Living knowledge | 2006 |
| Technical University of Munich | TUM. The Entrepreneurial University | 2006 |
| University of Tübingen | Research − Relevance − Responsibility | 2012 |
Winners: Future Concept 2006/2007
| University | Title | Year of Award |
|---|---|---|
| Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | LMUexcellent: Working brains – Networking minds – Living knowledge | 2006 |
| Technical University of Munich | TUM. The Entrepreneurial University | 2006 |
| University of Karlsruhe | A Concept for the Future of the University of Karlsruhe. The Foundation of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) | 2006 |
| RWTH Aachen University | RWTH 2020: Meeting Global Challenges | 2007 |
| Free University of Berlin | International Network University | 2007 |
| University of Freiburg | Windows for Research, New Universitas | 2007 |
| University of Göttingen | Göttingen. Tradition – Innovation – Autonomie | 2007 |
| University of Heidelberg | Heidelberg: Realizing the Potential of a Comprehensive University | 2007 |
| University of Konstanz | Model Konstanz - towards a culture of creativity | 2007 |
The funding for a future concept does often, but not necessarily result in a superior overall budget compared to other German universities. For example, due to its small size, the University of Constance is despite this additional means, not included in the top 20 funded universities in Germany.[citation needed]
Current international standing
According to the Third European Report on Science & Technology Indicators, an official document compiled by the European Commission, four of the Universities of Excellence are among Europe's top 10 universities: Technical University of Munich (joint 3rd), Freiburg (joint 6th), Karlsruhe (joint 6th), and Heidelberg (joint 9th).[5][6]
In the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2012, Technical University of Munich (53), LMU Munich (60), Heidelberg (62), and Freiburg (99) are included in the global top 100, heading the field of German universities by those criteria.[7]
Eight of the eleven Universities of Excellence are included in the world's top 250 universities, according to the QS World University Ranking 2012: Technical University of Munich (53); Heidelberg (55); LMU Munich (60); Free University of Berlin (87); Humboldt University of Berlin (130); Tübingen (144); RWTH Aachen (150); Cologne (247). The Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2012 ranks 8 of these 11 Universities of Excellence among the world's 250 top universities: LMU Munich (45); Heidelberg (73); Technical University of Munich (88); Humboldt University of Berlin (109); Free University of Berlin (151); RWTH Aachen (168); Tübingen (187); Konstanz (194).
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."[8]
Winners: Graduate Schools
Source: Federal Ministry of Education[9]
| (coordinating) University | Graduate School | Year of Award |
|---|---|---|
| RWTH Aachen University | Aachen Institute for Advanced Study in Computational Engineering Science | 2006 |
| Free University Berlin | Graduate School of North American Studies (John F. Kennedy-Institute for North American Studies) | 2006 |
| Humboldt University of Berlin | Berlin School of Mind and Brain | 2006 |
| Berlin Institute of Technology | Berlin Mathematical School | 2006 |
| Ruhr University Bochum | Ruhr University Research School | 2006 |
| University of Bonn | Bonn Graduate School of Economics | 2006 |
| University of Bremen | Global Change in the Marine Realm | 2006 |
| Dresden University of Technology | Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering | 2006 |
| University of Erlangen-Nuremberg | Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies | 2006 |
| University of Freiburg | Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine | 2006 |
| University of Gießen | International Graduate Centre for the Study of Culture | 2006 |
| Hannover Medical School | Hannover Biomedical Research School | 2006 |
| University of Heidelberg | Heidelberg Graduate School of Fundamental Physics | |
| University of Karlsruhe (TH) | Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics | 2006 |
| University of Mannheim | Empirical and Quantitative Methods in the Economic and Social Sciences | 2006 |
| Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences | 2006 |
| Technical University of Munich | International Graduate School of Science and Engineering | 2006 |
| Saarland University | Multimodal Computing and Interaction | 2006 |
| University of Würzburg | Graduate School for Life Sciences | 2006 |
| University of Bayreuth | Bayreuth International Graduate School of African Studies | 2007 |
| Free University of Berlin | Muslim Cultures and Societies: Unity and Diversity | 2007 |
| Free University of Berlin | Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School of Literary Studies | 2007 |
| Humboldt University of Berlin | Berlin-Brandenburg School for Regenerative Therapies | 2007 |
| Humboldt University of Berlin | Berlin Graduate School of Social Sciences | 2007 |
| University of Bielefeld | Bielefeld Graduate School in History and Sociology | 2007 |
| University of Bonn | Bonn-Cologne Graduate School of Physics and Astronomy | 2007 |
| University of Bremen | Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences | 2007 |
| Darmstadt University of Technology | Graduate School of Computational Engineering “Beyond Traditional Sciences” | 2007 |
| University of Göttingen | Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences | 2007 |
| University of Heidelberg | Heidelberg Graduate School of Mathematical and Computational Methods for the Sciences | 2007 |
| University of Heidelberg | The Hartmut Hoffmann-Berling International Graduate School of Molecular and Cellular Biology | 2007 |
| University of Jena | Jena School for Microbial Communication | 2007 |
| University of Kiel | Graduate School for Integrated Studies of Human Development in Landscapes | 2007 |
| University of Konstanz | Konstanz Research School “Chemical Biology” | 2007 |
| University of Leipzig | Building with Molecules and Nano-Objects | 2007 |
| University of Lübeck | Graduate School for Computing in Medicine and Life Sciences | 2007 |
| University of Mainz | Materials Science in Mainz | 2007 |
| Saarland University | Saarbrücken Graduate School of Computer Science | 2007 |
| University of Stuttgart | Graduate School for advanced Manufacturing Engineering in Stuttgart (GSaME) | 2007 |
| University of Ulm | International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm | 2007 |
Winners: Clusters of Excellence
| (coordinating) University | Clusters of Excellence | Year of Award |
|---|---|---|
| RWTH Aachen University | Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries | 2006 |
| RWTH Aachen University | Ultra High-Speed Mobile Information and Communication (UMIC) | 2006 |
| Free University of Berlin / Humboldt University of Berlin | Topoi. The Formation and Transformation of Space and Knowledge in Ancient Civilizations | 2006 |
| University of Bonn | Mathematics: Foundations, Models, Applications | 2006 |
| Dresden University of Technology | From Cells to Tissues to Therapies: Engineering the Cellular Basis of Regeneration | 2006 |
| Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main | Macromolecular Complexes | 2006 |
| University of Gießen | Cardio-Pulmonary System | 2006 |
| University of Göttingen | Microscopy at the Nanometer Range | 2006 |
| Hannover Medical School | From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy | 2006 |
| University of Heidelberg | Cellular Networks: From Analysis of Molecular Mechanisms to a Quantitative Understanding of Complex Functions | 2006 |
| University of Karlsruhe (TH) (Technische Hochschule) | Center for Functional Nanostructures | 2006 |
| University of Kiel | The Future Ocean | 2006 |
| University of Konstanz | Cultural Foundations of Social Integration | 2006 |
| Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich | 2006 |
| Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | Munich Center for Advanced Photonics | 2006 |
| Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | Nanosystems Initiative Munich | 2006 |
| Technical University of Munich | Cognition for Technical Systems | 2006 |
| Technical University of Munich | Origin and Structure of the Universe – The Cluster of Excellence for Fundamental Physics | 2006 |
| RWTH Aachen University | Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass | 2007 |
| Free University of Berlin | Languages of Emotion | 2007 |
| Humboldt-Universität Berlin | NeuroCure: Towards a Better Outcome of Neurological Disorders | 2007 |
| Technical University of Berlin | Unifying Concepts in Catalysis | 2007 |
| University of Bielefeld | Cognitive Interaction Technology | 2007 |
| University of Bremen | The Ocean in the Earth System | 2007 |
| Darmstadt University of Technology | Smart Interfaces: Understanding and Designing Fluid Boundaries | 2007 |
| University of Erlangen-Nuremberg | Engineering of Advanced Materials – Hierarchical Structure Formation for Functional Devices | 2007 |
| Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main | Formation of Normative Orders | 2007 |
| University of Freiburg | Centre for Biological Signalling Studies – From Analysis to Synthesis | 2007 |
| University of Hamburg | Integrated Climate System Analysis and Prediction | 2007 |
| University of Hannover | Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Research (QUEST) | 2007 |
| University of Heidelberg | Asia and Europe in a Global Context: Shifting Asymmetries in Cultural Flows (EXC270) | 2007 |
| University of Kiel | Inflammation at Interfaces | 2007 |
| University of Cologne | Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases | 2007 |
| University of Münster | Religion and Politics in Pre-Modern and Modern Cultures | 2007 |
| Saarland University | Multimodal Computing and Interaction | 2007 |
| University of Stuttgart | Simulation Technology | 2007 |
| University of Tübingen | CIN – Centre for Integrative Neuroscience | 2007 |
Debate regarding success of program
Whether the Excellence Initiative has had a positive effect is currently a matter of disagreement. A report by the Social Science Research Center in Berlin indicates that the program failed to create more diverse education options and produced little in the way of lasting change. Alternatively, presidents of Ludwig Maximillian University and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology believe that the program has been quite successful.[10]
References
- ^ a b c German Science Council: The Excellence Initiative.
- ^ a b "A German Ivy League Takes Shape". SCIENCE / AAAS. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ "Liste deutscher Universitäten". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
- ^ "Elite-Unis: Jubel in den Südstaaten". Spiegel Online. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ "CORDIS: Science and Technology Indicators: Snapshots" (pdf). Third European Report on Science and Technology Indicators. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ "CORDIS: Science and Technology Indicators: full version". Third European Report on Science and Technology Indicators. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
- ^ "ARWU 2012". Academic Ranking of World Universities 2012 ("Shanghai Ranking"). Retrieved 2012-10-21.
- ^ Comment of Anette Schavan on the results of the Excellence Initiative
- ^ Bundesbildungsministerium: „Exzellenzinitiative“, Abschnitt Graduiertenschulen
- ^ "Multibillion-Dollar Program Has Had Little Effect at German Universities, Report Says". The Chronicle of Higher Education.