Bremen is planning a science revolution: new financial strategies for universities!

Bremen is planning a science revolution: new financial strategies for universities!

The 2030 Science Plan for Bremen is taking shape. Today, on October 1, 2025, the draft will be discussed in the Science Committee after the previous plan from 2025 came under criticism. The financing did not enable the required expansion of the universities, which raises questions about how the future of Bremen's university location can be secured. University management and various committees are often responsible for issuing a critical statement in order to overcome the challenges together. The need for stable financing, even with limited resources, is a central concern of the Bremen Senate in order to continue to make the scientific sector viable.

A major issue is demographic change, which is also reflected in the declining number of students. From 2015 to 2024, the number of students at state universities fell by six percent. In contrast, private universities show a different picture and, as was found at weser-kurier.de, were able to acquire more students. This has meant that the standard of Bremen's universities has remained stable. The focus is now all the more on efficient resource planning and innovative financing models, such as public-private partnerships.

Strategies for attracting students

Universities are called upon to actively seek out students and promote their internationalization. Since the forecasts predict that the number of new students will stagnate from 2027, as reported by Wissenschaftsrat.de, creative planning is required. Wolfgang Wick, chairman of the Science Council, calls on universities to develop tailor-made strategies to get demographic change under control. A shift in focus from the beginning of the course to the success of the course is necessary, as is improving the quality of teaching.

Support from politicians is also discussed in order not to fall into the trap of short-term savings. Universities that accept fewer students but offer better support should benefit from this. This could potentially lead to an increase in the number of qualified graduates entering the labor market, a goal that everyone should pursue.

Infrastructure and need for renovation

Another point is the significant renovation backlog of the university buildings, most of which date from the 1970s. According to estimates, the four state universities in Bremen will need investments of around two billion euros by 2040 to revitalize old and new buildings. A possible university construction company is being discussed in order to deal with this investment backlog. There is also a need for a new lecture hall within the city center after the law faculty moves there. For a long time, the Small Hall of the Bell served as an interim solution, which must be replaced by 2027.

Another important concern of the science authority is the creation of additional living space for students. Currently, just under eight percent live in dormitories, which underlines the growing need among the student body. The new student survey, scheduled for spring 2025, will provide valuable data that will help shed further light on the situation. According to bmftr.bund.de, better monitoring of the student situation is already being planned.

Overall, it's not just about the number of students, but also about their individual needs. Flexible study formats are intended to particularly appeal to working people and parents and offer space for a new, diverse student body. The challenges are great, but with targeted efforts and creative solutions it could be possible to make Bremen fit for the future as a university location.