Hamburg Universities Criticize Budget Cut Plans for 2027/2028
Hamburg, August 31 – Following a session of the Hamburg Science Committee on August 28, the State University Conference (LHK) of the nine state universities in Hamburg has issued a press release warning about the consequences of the 2027/2028 biennial budget. The LHK stated that financial frameworks and consolidation pressure must not jeopardize the performance of studies, research, and innovation in Hamburg.
The LHK views the planned financial conditions for the universities in the draft by the Ministry of Science, Research, and Equality (BWFG) “with great concern.” While the universities are committed to the recently agreed goals and services with the BWFG, these cannot be met with the proposed financial resources. Professor Ute Lohrentz, LHK spokesperson and President of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg), emphasized that Hamburg possesses a strong and efficient scientific system, which is a significant competitive advantage. “For this to remain so, a clear political commitment to science and reliable financial conditions are needed,” she stated.
Professor Andreas Timm-Giel, deputy LHK spokesperson and President of the Hamburg University of Technology (TU Hamburg), added that insufficient funding not only endangers “the performance of the universities” but also “ultimately Hamburg’s future viability.”
Deep Cuts and Existential Threats
According to the LHK, rising personnel, energy, and material costs, coupled with inadequate counter-financing, are forcing universities to implement consolidation measures that affect study programs, staff, research, international cooperation, digitalization, and knowledge transfer. “The LHK therefore demands a long-term sustainable financing path that considers actual cost development, secures agreed services, and provides planning certainty for the universities,” the press release stated.
According to the news platform tagesschau.de, particularly the University of Hamburg, HAW Hamburg, HafenCity University (HCU), and the Universities of Fine Arts and Music and Theatre face “severe cuts.” Science Senator Maryam Blumenthal emphasized in the committee meeting on Friday that the austerity measures are necessary for future security. While the Carl von Ossietzky State and University Library is also affected, TU Hamburg, in contrast, reports stable funding and secured growth.
Opposition factions in the Bürgerschaft, the Left and the CDU, expressed their incomprehension regarding the savings plans.
HafenCity University Faces Nearly 50 Percent Budget Cut
The Academic Senate, the University Council, and the Staff Council of the HCU protested on August 27 with an urgent letter to the members of the Science Committee. The letter, available to Forschung & Lehre, states: “The disproportionate cut existentially threatens the HCU” and raises questions “regarding equal treatment at the university location and, as a result, our academic freedom and university autonomy.” The HCU is reportedly the only Hamburg university facing a nearly 50 percent cut in its global budget in 2028.
This forces the HCU “to take immediate measures,” including the elimination of one-fifth of all positions and both existing and planned study programs. Vacant professorships cannot be filled for the foreseeable future. The BWFG justifies the cuts, according to tagesschau.de, with the high reserves held by the HCU. A university spokesperson told Forschung & Lehre that these are “earmarked funds” that were set aside at the request of the authority.
Professor Müller-Lietzkow, HCU President, highlighted in an interview with Forschung & Lehre that his university has repeatedly submitted various compromise proposals for dealing with the austerity measures since May. The BWFG has not responded to any of them. For several years, the HCU has had to access its earmarked reserves due to other unpaid funds. The money that should rightfully belong to the HCU is being used “to plug holes” in the Hamburg budget. “From 2028, we will then have a real structural deficit that we can no longer cover,” explains Müller-Lietzkow. If this happens, the university’s existence would be threatened. The university must now, through no fault of its own, initiate severe personnel measures immediately, as these are long-term effective and therefore cannot be started only in 2028. Among other things, the HCU will likely have to discontinue the new study program in Technical Building Equipment and suspend all appointments until the remaining options are finally clarified.
Protests and Broader Financial Demands
Already in June, employees and students of the University of Hamburg demonstrated against cuts given the precarious financial situation of the universities. On June 11, according to police, about 7,000 people marched from the university’s main building to the city hall under the motto “Knowledge Creates Future.” They feared massive restrictions on study operations, a decrease in study places, and the loss of up to 370 full-time positions.
As reported by the German Press Agency on August 31, the Hamburg Court of Auditors is demanding “tough austerity measures” and “tangible cuts” in education, transport, and pensions. The Court of Auditors estimates the actual consolidation requirement at one billion euros, which is 400 million euros higher than the Senate’s estimate. The biennial budget is to be finally approved by the Hamburg Parliament in mid-December.
Source: https://www.forschung-und-lehre.de/politik/hamburger-hochschulen-kritisieren-kuerzungsplaene-7873
