In 2025, the state government wants to amend the Higher Education Act. This law lays down the basis for the legal framework of our university. As it affects many aspects of our daily lives as students – from admissions to examinations and participation in committees – it is one of the most important laws in everyday student life. There is an urgent need for change, which is why we fundamentally welcome the fact that it is to be amended.
The Ministry of Science published the draft already in the fall of last year and invited the status and interest groups in NRW to comment on it. We put a lot of work into these comments, both in the AStA and in the Landes-ASten-Treffen, the student representation in NRW. As a result, by mid-December, we had completed our response to the Ministry’s 337-page draft.
We want to keep some changes in every aspect. We are very much in favor of the introduction of quarter parity in the Senate. This regulation ensures that we as students have the same number of votes as the other status groups, such as professors. As the largest group in the university, our voice would finally have more influence on important decisions and the interests of students could be taken into greater consideration.
Other regulations must be prevented. The bill provides for extended sanctions against students, such as temporary expulsion on the mere suspicion of misconduct. There are already milder measures that serve the same purpose, which is why we oppose the expansion of this purely punitive measure. We also criticize the possibility of screening individuals in investigations. We are clearly against these personal violations, lecturers have no right to touch us!
In 2025, the ministry will review this draft with the comments and then the state parliament will negotiate the law. We must continue to make clear contributions in 2025, continue to monitor the amendments, and incorporate the opinion of the Bonn student body into the law.
This year, we have a great opportunity to make the student voice stronger and more lasting. Help us in making the student voice stronger!