The LKRP has appointed Prof. Dr Julia von Blumenthal, President of Humboldt University of Berlin, Dr Anna Luise Kiss, President of the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin, and Prof. Dr Annabella Rauscher-Scheibe, President of the Berlin University of Applied Sciences, to the LKRP Executive Board for the term of office commencing on 1 October.
Professor Dr Julia von Blumenthal was re-elected as Chair of the LKRP for a further year, whilst the other two Executive Board members were elected as Deputy Chairs of the LKRP for two years.
Commenting on the major challenges facing Berlin’s higher education institutions, the new chairs stated:
Prof. Dr Julia von Blumenthal: “We urgently need to pick up the pace and change course in several areas of Berlin’s higher education policy. Three things are a priority for us as universities: 1. We demand adequate funding for universities. This also means that the principle of ‘who commissions, pays’ must apply. If politicians assign additional tasks to us universities or decide on changes, they must also bear the costs. 2. We call on the new state government to tackle the immense backlog of renovation work immediately. We urgently need faster and more efficient construction processes. 3. We expect politicians to strengthen university autonomy and further accelerate the reduction of red tape.”
Dr Anna Luise Kiss: “As one of Europe’s leading centres for art and culture, Berlin thrives on the fact that four highly specialised art colleges here are home to outstanding artists and future teachers from Berlin, the wider region and all over the world, who shape the city’s artistic life. To achieve this, we still need tuition-free education, affordable housing for students and the visionary further development of the unique ecosystem comprising schools, universities, theatres, orchestras, museums and the independent arts scene. Only in this way will Berlin remain a magnet for the most creative minds.”
Prof. Dr Annabella Rauscher-Scheibe: “Successful higher education development requires reliable framework conditions that also take into account the needs of the various types of higher education institution. In addition to adequate funding for higher education and greater autonomy for universities of applied sciences, this also includes support for joint structures such as the IFAF. Only in this way can we fulfil our remit to train skilled professionals for Berlin and ensure the sustainable transfer of applied research to business and society.”
The LKRP
The LKRP Executive Board is elected every two years and comprises representatives from the universities, the universities of applied sciences and the arts universities.
The LKRP’s role is to discuss matters of mutual interest in order to achieve a joint or coordinated approach amongst Berlin’s higher education institutions. The LKRP’s remit also includes representing the interests of Berlin’s higher education institutions within the German Rectors’ Conference.