Trump dispute with elite university: Harvard-out for foreigners-bear: “dramatic development”

The exclusion of foreign students from the elite university Harvard also caused great discussions in Germany. Federal Research Minister Dorothee Bär (CSU) named the decision from Washington fatally. Politicians from other parties, such as Harvard graduate Karl Lauterbach (SPD), also reacted with clear criticism and promoted Germany as a place of study for international young scientists.

“This is a very dramatic development, especially for the young generation,” said Bär in Brussels on the sidelines of a meeting of the EU research minister. “I very much hope that the US government will reverse this decision because it is really fatal.” In Europe, one is now slowly the sole hotspot of freedom of science.

Minister of Culture Wolfram Weimer spoke of a “heavy blow” and said: “The unrestricted international exchange is part of the essence of freedom of art and progress in art and culture. Without him, mental removal threatens that makes us all poorer.” The federal government continues to focus on exchange and discourse.

Foreign office: urgent matter for us

The Federal Foreign Office in Berlin announced talks with the United States about the effects that would have the announced dismissal of foreigners at the university on German students. This is perceived as an urgent matter and will express the expectation that their concerns and interests would be adequately taken into account, said a spokesman.

Three -digit number of Germans in Harvard

A three -digit number of Germans are inscribed in Harvard, the spokesman did not give more precise numbers. According to an overview of the Federal Statistical Office, between 8,000 and 9,000 Germans study in the United States every year.

The U.S. Ministry of Homeland had announced on Thursday to deprive Harvard for the admission to the admission of foreign students. Foreigners who are enrolled there would have to switch to another university or lose their residence status. According to Harvard, around 6,800 people from other countries are currently registered at the University of Cambridge on the US East Coast.

The elite university filed a lawsuit against the step of the US government in front of a federal court on Friday. In it, the University of Trump’s government accuses the university of wanting to put the university under pressure with an illegal retaliation measure

Permanent conflict with a Trump government about political orientation

The step of the US government has a longer history and is part of a continuing conflict between various universities and the government of President Donald Trump. This justifies your approach with propalestinian protests at the universities. In the opinion of the Ministry of Homeland, Harvard does not make a decision against anti -Semitism on campus.

In addition, the university opposes far -reaching political guidelines, such as stopping diversity programs – i.e. targeted measures to promote diversity. The government had previously frozen funding for the university.

Lauterbach speaks of “research policy suicide”

The step of the US government against the globally renowned university triggered head shake with ex-health minister, Harvard graduate and guest lecturer Karl Lauterbach. He told the “Rheinische Post” that the Trump government’s attacks were “research-political suicide”.

“If the most important and most powerful universities are intentionally weakened, the ax is put on one of the most important pillars for the American economy,” added the SPD politician.

Countless companies in the United States benefited from the knowledge that Harvard graduates will benefit. “Many foreign Harvard graduates remain in the United States after studying,” said Lauterbach, who has headed the Bundestag research committee since this week.

Discussion about young advertising in Germany

Against the background of the events in Germany, the possible recruitment of foreign young scientists is now being discussed. The government partners Union and SPD had already agreed a “1,000 heads” for the recruitment of international talents in their coalition agreement. Research Minister Bär referred to this.

For students and researchers from abroad, Germany and Europe would have to be “a safe haven”, said the CSU politician. The EU Commission also plans a 500 million euro package that is intended to finance scholarships for top researchers. You may not be able to offer “one to one” salaries like in the USA. For this, life in Germany is significantly cheaper – and that researchers could freely research and teach here is “priceless,” said Bär.

Jarzombek: “Fight for international talents”

The CDU research and digital politician Thomas Jarzombek-now State Secretary in the new Federal Ministry of the Federal Department-said that German universities and non-university institutions offer top conditions, especially in the field of artificial intelligence and digitization. “We now want to fight for international talents who are looking for other locations than in the United States.”

The representative of the Greens in the Bundestag, Misbah Khan, responsible for the topic, called for an “ambitious recruitment program” from the Federal Government. “Germany now has the task of compensating for the elimination of the USA with its strong and free universities as an educational location,” she told the German Press Agency.