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Cutback alarm at Berlin universities: the future of education is in danger!
Prof. Dr. Geraldine Rauch warns of 15% cuts at the TU Berlin, which will endanger study places and research. Protest actions follow.
Cutback alarm at Berlin universities: the future of education is in danger!
On July 9, 2025, Prof. Dr. Geraldine Rauch, President of the Technical University of Berlin, is concerned about the planned budget cuts at Berlin's universities. These cuts, which are supposed to make up 15% of the total budget, represent a serious interference with the planning and future security of educational institutions. According to tu.berlin There have never been such massive cuts in the recent history of Berlin universities.
The consequences of these cuts could be far-reaching: a loss of tens of thousands of study places, the dismantling of entire research areas and an overload of employees are just some of the dangers. Prof. Rauch emphasizes that these developments not only endanger the quality of research and teaching, but will also have long-term consequences for the economy, education and social cohesion in Berlin. Universities play a central role in training skilled workers and protecting democratic values.
Protest actions at Berlin universities
Furthermore, the planned cuts are not just a one-off phenomenon. The Free University of Berlin is also faced with the possibility that the cuts could reach tragic levels in 2026 and beyond. This development would make it necessary to reduce the number of study places, which could jeopardize the city's overall innovative strength. The Free University emphasizes its role as a comprehensive university that contributes to securing skilled workers and solving social challenges. Political decision-makers are called upon to recognize the consequences of these drastic cuts and to act in a timely manner to ensure the quality of education.
University financing in Germany
According to a report by the University Rectors' Conference (HRK), universities in Germany are facing significant financial challenges. Various aspects such as the development of expenditure, changes in areas of responsibility and changes in financing must be taken into account. Forecasts up to 2025 show high numbers of new students and students, which underlines the need to maintain the supervision ratio. Urgent reforms are necessary to counteract the underfunding of universities, which has existed since the 1970s bildungsserver.de is described.
The target and performance agreements formulated by the universities vary greatly between the federal states and represent a further challenge for university financing. The current situation requires strong support from the universities in order to be able to continue to act as a source of inspiration for society. Only through appropriate financing can the quality of training and the number of study places be secured in the long term.
Overall, it is clear that the announced cuts will not only affect universities, but also society as a whole. Professor Rauch and numerous supporters are calling for a fundamental reassessment of financing strategies and a concrete need for action to not only secure the future of universities in Berlin, but also strengthen it.