The Quality of Teaching Pactof the Federal Government

and the Länder Governments of Germany

Background: HE system in a federal state

Background

Broad-based higher education and research system Approx. 400 public and private institutions of higher education (universities, universities of applied sciences, colleges of art and music) and

More than 200 non-university research institutes (MPG, FhG, HGF, WGL,…)

Divided competences in a federal state Länder are responsible for most of legislation in higher education and for establishing, financing and regulating higher education institutions Federation and Länder cooperate via joint funding programmes to strengthen the science system, i.e. higher education institutions and non-university research institutes

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Joint programmes (1)

Joint programmes of the Federal Government and the Länder

Higher Education Pact (2007-2015) First phase 2007-2010: an additional 185,000 new students

Second phase 2011-2015: an additional approx. 327,000 new students

Federal Government provides 11,000 euros (1st phase) and 13,000 euros (2nd phase) per new student; Länder are responsible for ensuring overall funding

Excellence Initiative (2005-2017) Promoting top-level university research in 45 graduate schools, 43 clusters of excellence and 11 institutional strategies Federation and Länder invest 4.6 billion euros in total

Pact for Research and Innovation (2005-2015) Financial security for research organisations (DFG, MPG, FhG, HGF, WGL)

Increasing funding by 3% per year since 2005 and by 5% per year since 2011

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Joint programmes (2): The Quality of Teaching Pact

Quality of Teaching Pact (2011-2020)

Federal Government provides about 2 billion euros

Goals: Improving study conditions and quality of teaching in public HE institutions Increasing completion rates and ensuring the success of Bologna reforms Broad impact and a wide range of measures, meeting specific local needs

Structure: Two competitive application rounds in 2011 with quality-oriented selection criteria:

reliable data-based SWOT analysis added value and coherence of proposed measures sustainability and monitoring concept

Funding from fall 2011 resp. spring 2012 until 2016 Further funding until 2020 after successful re-evaluation in 2015

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Quality of Teaching Pact: process, participation, funding decisions

Process: Peer review and funding recommendation by 12 experts Final funding decisions by selection committee

(12 experts and 4 governmental representatives)

Participation: Proposals by >90% of public HE institutions 339 individual and joint applications submitted in two rounds

Funding decisions: 186 HE institutions selected, that is three quarters of public HE institutions:

78 universities, 78 universities of applied sciences, 30 colleges of art and music Individual funding depends on specific concept and proposed measures, ranging

from <0.2 million euros for each partner of a small joint project up to 27 million euros for large universities (for a period of 5 years)

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Quality of Teaching Pact: thematic focus

Main focus of selected concepts and measures Support transition from school to higher education /

(e.g. through more teaching staff from professors to peer tutors, smaller groups, mentoring, preparatory courses, summer schools, self-assessments)

Better diversity management for increasingly heterogenous student bodies (e.g. through specific advice and support, additional courses in languages and

maths, individualised and intensified courses)

Additional didactic training for teaching staff (e.g. through additional offers, individual coaching, incentives)

Implementation of new teaching and learning concepts (e.g. through strengthening practical relevance, focussing on research-oriented

or problem-based learning, enhancing blended learning, introducing e-exams)

Improved quality assurance (e.g. through new responsibilities, procedures and institutions)

Specific programmes e.g. in engineering, medicine, teacher training etc.

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Quality of Teaching Pact: effects and outlook

The Quality of Teaching Pact: what have we gained yet?

Quality of teaching and learning has become a major topic of strategic considerations in German HE institutions

HE institutions consider their own strengths and weaknesses

New staff introduce new ideas and networks, thus promoting structural and "cultural" changes

Increased teaching staff for three quarters of German HE institutions

Approx. 3000 additional jobs in HE have been created (at least for the programme period until 2020)

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