Brandenburg slashes professor hiring times in bold higher education reform
Potsdam (dpa/bb) — Brandenburg aims to become the state with the fastest university professorial appointments in Germany. The cabinet approved a draft of a new higher education law, which will now be considered by the state parliament. Science Minister Manja Schüle (SPD) intends to make Brandenburg faster, more attractive, and more competitive in the global race for top talent.
Minister Seeks to Attract "Bright Minds" to Brandenburg More Quickly
"This will create the conditions for the fastest and most flexible appointment procedures at our universities—anywhere in the country," the minister said. Appointment processes currently take an average of 12 to 24 months, but the goal is to reduce that to 6 to 12 months.
Under the new law, universities will permanently retain the authority to both appoint and promote professors, with a particular focus on strengthening excellence-based hires and cutting bureaucratic red tape. The reforms also aim to simplify admissions procedures for students.
Streamlined Appointments for Top Talent
Matthias Barth, president of Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development and chair of the Brandenburg State Conference of University Presidents, called the plans a major opportunity. "This will bolster the autonomy of our universities," he said. "That is key to enhancing their competitiveness."
The state government is also fulfilling a 2025 agreement with the University of Potsdam and the Hasso Plattner Foundation. The Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI), a leading IT research institution, is set to become Europe's premier center for digital sciences. SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner, through his foundation, plans to build a new university campus in Potsdam and expand the HPI.
