The Cabinet advises on the Bavarian-Bavaria Higher Education Act

On Tuesday, the cabinet will take up the long-awaited bill. The law is part of a high-tech agenda aimed at promoting science, research and technology in Bavaria.

Nearly two and a half years after announcing a comprehensive university reform, the corresponding bill is scheduled to be discussed in the Cabinet on Tuesday. This was announced on Monday by the constituencies of the state parliament. The so-called Higher Education Innovation Act is part of the High-Tech Agenda, a prestigious project worth billions by Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), which aims to advance science, research and technology in Bavaria. Sodder promised universities and colleges more freedom, autonomy, and competition — but reform is controversial.

Early on there was criticism that the plans were too geared towards business interests. Bernd Sibler, who was replaced by Marcus Blum (both from CSU) as science minister in February, had always dismissed this impression and tried to build consensus among students, professors, and university management. As a result, the repair was delayed, now for at least a year. Sibler could not calm the suspicion all around. It is now hoped that the Higher Education Act will not “continue to insist on neoliberal ideas from mothballs,” said Verena Oskian, a green party higher education spokeswoman in the state parliament. On Monday, she spoke of a “completely unsuccessful attempt to reform the university”. The FDP also complained about the difficult process. Science policy spokesman Wolfgang Heubisch, himself a former science minister, said it could not explain why a new law would need two and a half years. In a position paper, the FDP calls for free classes, an expansion of hybrid teaching and innovation managers at universities.

Indeed, reform is unlikely to lead only to the pure liberalization of higher education. Details such as spin-offs from startups and the right to award PhDs at universities of applied sciences (HAWs) are specific. At the same time, contentious issues such as the power structure within universities should be excluded as much as possible, and the role of women and students should be strengthened.