Private Universities As Employers    

Private universities in Germany compete with state universities for good academic staff and students. They like to be able to advertise better working and study conditions. It is therefore of vital interest to academics whether and to what extent the research and working conditions are actually better or worse at private universities compared with state universities. It is also important for students to be able to compare the offers and services available at the universities. For this reason the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers contacted 12 private universities in 2007 to join with them in a dialogue concerning the framework and working conditions of academics at private universities. The university managements were given 15 questions to answer.

The following universities were questioned:

- HHL-Leipzig Graduate School of Management
- Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
- Jacobs University Bremen
- Hertie School of Governance
- Zeppelin University Friedrichshafen
- University Witten/Herdecke
- International University of Germany Bruchsal
- WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management Vallendar


Steinbeis University, the Stuttgart Institute of Management and Technology, the European Business School Oestrich-Winkel as well as the Bucerius Law School were also contacted and unfortunately cannot be included here as they did not submit answers to the questions.

In addition to the statements from the university managements, the empirical data collected in the context of the appeal proceedings, and coaching appeal by the legal advisors of the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers were also included in the evaluation. The responses from the universities were divided into three groups. From the perspective of the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers positive responses were awarded a (+) and negative responses a (-). Evasive or meaningless answers were awarded the mark of "indifferent" (0). As two questions could not be evaluated in respect of a rating, the answers in this regard were summarised and combined.

These criteria were crucial for an overall assessment. The group of universities with up to four positive answers was rated as "needing to make improvements", the group of universities with five to nine positive answers was rated as "good" and the group of universities with a total of between ten and thirteen positive answers was rated as "excellent".

The results are as follows:

freedom of research»
salary»
dismissal»
restrictions (to employment)»
compulsory attendance»
compulsory teaching time»
holidays»
funding/budget»
retirement provision»
third party allowance»


Forschung & Lehre :: September 2008