The Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment 2 “Education, Academia and Research Are Key Issues for Germany’S Future

The Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment 2 “Education, academia and research are key issues for Germany’s future. Everyone has the right to a good education. Education policy has the task of creating the conditions for equality of opportunity, parity between different educational pathways, and access to education at any age and in any circumstances. The research carried out at higher education institutions and research institutes creates knowledge for the future and contributes to economic growth and prosperity. It grapples with the major challenges of tomor- row’s world and seeks answers to urgent questions in close collabora- tion with European and interna- tional partners.” Dr Ernst Dieter Rossmann, SPD Chairman of the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment 3 The German Bundestag’s decisions are prepared by its committees, which are established at the start of each electoral term. Four of them are stipulated by the Basic Law, the German constitution: the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Defence Committee, the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union and the Petitions Committee. The Budget Committee and the Committee for the Rules of Procedure are also required by law. The spheres of responsibility of the committees essentially reflect the Federal Government’s distribution of ministerial portfolios. This enables Parliament to scruti- nise the government’s work effectively. The Bundestag committees The German Bundestag sets political priorities of its own by establishing additional committees for specific sub- jects, such as sport, cultural affairs or tourism. In addition, special bodies such as parliamentary advisory councils, The committees discuss and committees of inquiry or deliberate on items referred study commissions can also to them by the plenary. They be established. The commit- also have the right to take up tees are composed of mem- issues on their own initiative, bers of all the parliamentary allowing them to set priorities groups, reflecting the balance in the parliamentary debate. of these groups in the German When necessary, they draw Bundestag. The distribution on external expertise – usu- of the chairs and deputy ally by holding public hear- chairs among the parliamen- ings. At the end of a commit- tary groups also reflects their tee’s deliberations, a majority relative strengths in the ple- of its members adopt a recom- nary. In the current electoral mendation for a decision and term, the committees have a report, which serve as the between nine and 49 mem- basis for the plenary’s deci- bers. sion. 5 Fields of work, competences and tasks Education, academia and research – these are the policy fields which give the Commit- tee its name. Technology assessment is also a key topic for the Committee. Its 43 members help to create a good framework for education and lifelong learning in Ger- many, as these play an important role in enabling everyone to participate actively, inde- pendently and successfully in the life of the community in Germany. The Committee also deals with the question of how to boost basic research and foster sustainable innova- tions by the academic and research community. These make a major contribution to prosperity, social security and environmental compatibility in Germany, which has few natural resources. The Com- mittee is responsible within Parliament for the areas of policy which fall within the purview of the Federal Minis- try of Education and Research. The Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment for higher education admis- sions and qualifications, as well as support for academic In line with the federal prin- research. In addition, the Fed- ciple which underpins how eration supports education, Germany is governed, the academia and research Basic Law divides the respon- through a wide range of spe- sibility and competences for cialised programmes, which education, academia and are presented and discussed research between the federal in the Committee. level and the Länder (federal The federal level and the states). For example, responsi- Länder cooperate directly in bility for schools and higher the framework of joint pro- education rests with the grammes to support academia, Länder rather than the federal research and teaching. Such level. The Federation, and measures aim, for example, to thus the Committee, is respon- secure and boost the number sible for legislation on finan- of university places, or to sup- cial support for vocational port higher education teach- training and higher education ing and excellent academic (assistance provided under research at higher education the Federal Training Assis- institutions and non-univer- tance Act and the Upgrading sity research institutes, but Training Assistance Act, and also to support highly gifted the Germany Scholarship pro- persons in schools, for exam- gramme) and legislation on ple, or to assist schools in initial and continuing training disadvantaged areas, and in provided outside of schools. particular to fund school In certain circumstances, the building and equip schools federal level is also responsible with digital technology. 15 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ CDU/CSU 9 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ SPD 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ AfD 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ FDP 4 ■ ■ ■ ■ The Left Party 4 ■ ■ ■ ■ Alliance 90/The Greens 1 ■ Non-attached Member Number of members: 43 Chairman: Dr Ernst Dieter Rossmann, SPD Deputy Chairwoman: Sybille Benning, CDU/CSU 7 Working with various roles: the government, the coalition and the opposition When considering matters and taking decisions, the Commit- tee reflects the balance of forces in the Bundestag’s plenary. While the coalition parliamentary groups generally support or refine the Federal To this end, the cooperation Government’s policies, the between the Federation, the opposition parliamentary Länder and the municipalities groups try to identify weak is to be intensified further. points and set out their alter- This requires an amendment native policies. That said, the of Article 104c of the Basic parliamentary groups do take Law, which will be examined a differentiated approach, and by the Bundestag’s Committee so sometimes there is agree- on Education, Research and ment from all sides on the Technology Assessment; the Committee, resulting in unan- Committee will also consider imous decisions. Members of an initiative to establish a the government are held to National Education Council. account by the Committee on Each year, the Committee a continuous basis. However, members are also asked for the Federal Government also their opinion in the budget has specific obligations to deliberations, to secure appro- report to Parliament and thus priate funding in the federal the Committee. For example, budget to support education, every two years the National academia and research, and to Education Report, the Report ensure that the funding is on Vocational Education and used as effectively and inno- Training, the report published vatively as possible. under Section 35 of the Fed- 8 eral Training Assistance Act and the Federal Report on Research and Innovation are discussed, usually flanked by motions tabled by the parliamentary groups. Challenges in education and important to boost the appeal academia of vocational education and training, to provide guidance Child day care centres and to pupils and ensure they schools have the task of offer- have the maturity required for ing children a good education successful vocational training, from their earliest years. Poli- and to adapt training courses cy-makers must establish a in light of new developments framework to facilitate this. In and requirements in the the current electoral term, the labour market. Universities Committee will deal with a and universities of applied raft of measures to this end, sciences are exemplary cen- including initiatives to further tres for both teaching and expand all-day schools and research. The Excellence childcare services, and will Strategy, the Higher Educa- discuss the Digital Package for tion Pact 2020 and the Quality Schools. Another item on the Pact for Teaching are initia- Committee’s agenda is sup- tives to boost cutting-edge port for vocational and aca- research, further increase the demic education and for par- number of university places ity between these educational and enhance teaching. The pathways. Germany’s youth parliamentary groups on the unemployment rate, at six per Committee take a critical but cent, is currently the lowest constructive approach as they in the EU. Nonetheless, it is examine these programmes. 9 Technology assessment: scientific policy advice for Challenges in research and the German Bundestag innovation The German Bundestag has In every electoral term, assigned the Committee the the Committee holds talks responsibility for planning with the heads of the major and managing technology research institutes and associ- assessments, and the Commit- ations. This enables the Com- tee carries out these tasks on mittee members to get an idea behalf of Parliament as a of their research priorities whole in accordance with and their staffing and funding Rule 56a of the Bundestag’s levels. The Federation, the Rules of Procedure. Analysing Länder and the business com- scientific and technical devel- munity are planning to spend opments in a comprehensive at least 3.5 per cent of gross and forward-looking manner domestic product on promot- and drawing attention to the ing R&D by 2025. The Com- social, economic and environ- mittee’s agenda

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