Kassel protests: University fears 14 million euro deficit due to austerity plans!

Kassel protests: University fears 14 million euro deficit due to austerity plans!

Things are boiling at the universities in Hesse: the state government's planned savings in the university pact are calling students and employees into action. The University of Kassel in particular has major concerns - university president Ute Clement speaks of an impending financial hole of around 14 million euros annually. This minus could amount to 7.5 percent of the personnel budget, which is causing great concern among academics HNA reported.

Protests in several cities such as Kassel, Frankfurt and Darmstadt were organized by trade unions and student representatives. The planned cuts are seen as a serious threat to research, training and jobs. “No Cuts” is the motto of the movement, and it is clear that a broad alliance is at work here: the Verdi and GEW unions actively supported the protest actions and warned of frustration among around 600 employees who expressed their concerns at a staff meeting daily news.

The financial hardships and their consequences

With the new plans for the university pact, which envisage savings of around one billion euros over the next six years, fears of losses in the educational landscape are growing. It is predicted that up to ten percent of staff will be cut in science, art and administration, which could have a severe impact on universities and their students. In addition, annually increasing personnel costs of around 60 million euros are expected from 2026, while the budget for 2026 and 2027 should be below the 2025 level.

The concerns at the Kassel Art University are particularly dramatic. Teachers here fear that very specific courses such as art science or product design will be eliminated. Clement assures that the savings will not be made using a “lawnmower method”, but rather that decisions will be made according to clear and transparent criteria. But uncertainty remains high as the final decisions rest with the university management.

Political reactions and the way forward

Politicians like CDU MP Maximilian Bathon have warned universities that studying in Germany is free, which doesn't exactly cause enthusiasm among those affected. Science Minister Timon Gremmels describes the one billion euros as a worst-case scenario, while the opposition criticizes the austerity plans as a “austerity university pact” and warns of long-term damage to the educational landscape.

In this context, protests are also taking place at other universities, such as in Berlin, where members of the university community protested under the motto “It's over now!” Put pressure on university management to comply with university contracts. These movements show that universities are not alone in the fight against cuts - higher education in Germany is on the brink.

The developments are anything but positive. The protesters in Hesse, and not only there, see themselves in a race against time: the aim is to preserve the structure of the university landscape and at the same time uphold the cause of educational equality, especially for students from families with no academic background - because every euro counts and every decision could have far-reaching consequences.