Hamburg's future needs strong universities
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Financial constraints and pressure to consolidate must not jeopardize the quality of education, research, and innovation in Hamburg
The Hamburg State Higher Education Conference (LHK) has issued a recent press release on the future of Hamburg as a center of science:
“Hamburg’s public universities have achieved a great deal in recent years in collaboration with the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: They train urgently needed skilled workers, strengthen research and innovation, and promote the transfer of knowledge to society and the economy. Against this backdrop, the Hamburg State Higher Education Conference (LHK) views the planned financial framework for higher education institutions in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg’s 2027–2028 biennial budget with great concern. The Science Committee of the Hamburg Parliament today addressed, among other things, the draft budget of the Authority for Science, Research, and Equality (BWFG).”
The Hamburg University of Music and Drama (HfMT) is a member of the LHK Hamburg and fully supports the joint position of Hamburg’s state universities.
“The target and performance agreements for 2027/2028 recently agreed upon between the universities and the BWFG are the result of intensive negotiations and a compromise. The universities stand by the commitments agreed upon therein. From the LHK’s perspective, however, there is still a risk of a gap emerging between these obligations and the financial resources available to meet them. Due to their differing structures and starting points, the universities are affected to varying degrees by the financial framework conditions. For some universities, the effects are already jeopardizing the continuation of degree programs and the implementation of planned developments.
“Hamburg has a strong and high-performing academic system and thus a significant locational advantage. To ensure this remains the case, a clear political commitment to academia and reliable financial conditions are needed. We are ready to take on responsibility and make our contribution to Hamburg’s development. But to do so, we also need the appropriate conditions in place,” says Prof. Dr. Ute Lohrentz, spokesperson for the State Higher Education Conference and president of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences.
“Hamburg’s universities are central to training the skilled workers of tomorrow and to the city’s innovative strength. If their funding is not adequately secured, not only is the performance of the universities at risk, but ultimately so is Hamburg’s future viability,” explains Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Timm-Giel, deputy spokesperson for the State Conference of Higher Education Institutions and president of the Hamburg University of Technology.
The State Higher Education Conference warns against viewing the current situation solely as a matter of individual budget items. Rising personnel, energy, and operating costs, coupled with insufficient offsetting funding, are forcing universities to implement consolidation measures. Depending on the institution, this affects academic programs, staff, research, international collaborations, digitization, and knowledge transfer. Investments in universities lay the groundwork for the skilled workers, innovations, and competitiveness that Hamburg will need tomorrow. At the same time, Hamburg must offer attractive conditions for study and research in order to attract and retain scientific and artistic talent.
The LHK therefore calls for a long-term, sustainable funding path that takes actual cost trends into account, safeguards agreed-upon services, and provides universities with planning certainty. Only in this way can academic programs, research, and innovation be secured, and Hamburg’s international competitiveness as a center of scholarship be maintained.”
About the LHK Hamburg:
The Hamburg State Higher Education Conference (LHK) is an association of the presidents of the Hamburg member universities in the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK). Together, they develop positions on higher education policy issues and perspectives and advocate for common interests. The member institutions are: University of Hamburg (UHH), Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU), Hamburg University of Music and Drama (HfMT), Hamburg University of Fine Arts (HFBK), Helmut Schmidt University – University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg (HSU), Bucerius Law School, and the Protestant University of Applied Sciences for Social Work & Diaconia.
Contact:
Secretariat of the Hamburg State Conference of Higher Education Institutions
c/o HAW Hamburg
Berliner Tor 5
20099 Hamburg
Office Director: Jana Nöller
Phone: +49 40 219 04-3878
Email: geschaeftsstelle@lhk-hamburg.de