A view of university reform endeavour in West Germany since 1945
This study is a view of attempts since 1945 to reform the West German university. It covers the years of reconstruction after the war, the introduction of newer universities and the eventual enacting of a federal framework law in the late seventies. It is argued here that the reforms undertaken have been characteristically 'German and in the first part of this study an attempt is made to establish an idealtypical model of national character. In order to make a critical synthesis of German character some of Hegel's writing is used. As a model for comparison the Humboldtian university has been chosen: an elite institution, where scholarship was freely pursued for its own sake in an atmosphere of solitude. The imposition of mass enrolments on essentially elite universities led to a range of demands with which the universities were unable to cope without fundamental changes. Newer institutions, the founding of comprehensive universities and a proliferation of individual state laws led to the Framework Act for Higher Education. The Act is considered here as ultimate reforming legislation. Reform endeavour is examined against a background of the Humboldtian university and interpreted in the light of German national
Stokes, Peter Leonard
History
A view of university reform endeavour in West Germany since 1945. This study is a view of attempts since 1945 to reform the West German university. It covers the years of reconstruction after the war, the introduction of newer universities and the eventual enacting of a federal framework law in the late seventies. It is argued here that the reforms undertaken have been characteristically 'German and in the first part of this study an attempt is made to establish an idealtypical model of national character. In order to make a critical synthesis of German character some of Hegel's writing is used. As a model for comparison the Humboldtian university has been chosen: an elite institution, where scholarship was freely pursued for its own sake in an atmosphere of solitude. The imposition of mass enrolments on essentially elite universities led to a range of demands with which the universities were unable to cope without fundamental changes. Newer institutions, the founding of comprehensive universities and a proliferation of individual state laws led to the Framework Act for Higher Education. The Act is considered here as ultimate reforming legislation. Reform endeavour is examined against a background of the Humboldtian university and interpreted in the light of German national
view university reform endeavour west germany since study view attempt since reform west german university cover year reconstruction war introduction newer university eventual enact federal framework law argue reform undertake characteristically german first_part study_attempt make establish model national_character order make critical synthesis german character hegel writing use model comparison university chosen elite institution scholarship freely pursue sake atmosphere solitude imposition mass enrolment essentially elite university lead range demand university unable cope without fundamental_change newer institution found comprehensive university proliferation individual state law lead framework act higher_education act consider ultimate legislation reform endeavour examine background university interpret_light german national