Dresden (dpa / sn) - At a hearing on the Saxon Higher Education Act, experts submitted proposals for changes on Monday. The member of parliament Claudia Maicher (Greens) spoke of important points where there is a need for improvement. This applies, for example, to the introduction of a representative who is to take care of the needs of students with disabilities, easier registration for exams in the event of illness and support for the student unions in fulfilling their statutory tasks.
The left saw themselves confirmed by the hearing in previously voiced criticism. More flexibility, more protection for students, more co-determination: Experts have identified a significant need for changes to the coalition’s draft law. "There is an urgent need to make studying more flexible," explained MP Anna Gorski, proposing a legal right to part-time studies, unlimited exam attempts and a certificate of incapacity to work as proof of inability to take an exam.
"Two essential changes in the draft law were positively highlighted by the experts: On the one hand, the student unions can receive multi-year grants in the future and form reserves. This creates long-term reliability for the social support of the students," emphasized Sabine Friedel (SPD). On the other hand, innovations in the personnel structure would open up attractive career paths for the scientific staff. At the same time, the experts had made it clear that the design of the details would be the most important thing.
The conference of Saxon student bodies once again drew attention to their demands on Monday, parallel to the hearing, with a banner campaign in front of Saxon universities. "We expect universities to get involved in society and take a clear stance against movements hostile to science. This requires even more concrete strategies in the law," explained Ludwig Firkert from the Student Council at TU Dresden.
The new Higher Education Act is intended to replace the previous Higher Education Freedom Act from 2013 and improve the general conditions for higher education in the Free State of Saxony.
