05 - Germany - Types of institution

Types of institutions in the tertiary sector

As per the winter semester 2005/2006, Germany had a total of 378 state-maintained and state-recognised institutions of higher education, which are of the following types:

• Universities and equivalent institutions of higher education ( Technische Hochschulen/ Technische Universitäten, Pädagogische Hochschulen, theological colleges et al)
• Colleges of art and music
• Fachhochschulen (incl. Verwaltungsfachhochschulen)

For statistical information on institutions of higher education by type and Länder. In addition, Germany's tertiary sector also includes either state-run or state-recognised Berufsakademien in some Länder. According to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), the Fachschulen, the Fachakademienin Bayern and the two- and three-year schools in the health sector are also part of the tertiary sector.

Universities

In addition to the traditional universities, the Technischen Hochschulen or Technische Universitäten, that specialise in natural and engineering sciences also enjoy university status. Since 2002/2003, the same applies to the former comprehensive universities ( Gesamthochschulen) that were established in Hessen and Nordrhein-Westfalen from 1970 onwards. Also equivalent to universities are establishments that only offer a limited range of courses of study, such as theological colleges and Pädagogische Hochschulen. The latter, which still exist only in Baden-Württemberg, have been incorporated into universities in the other Länder or expanded into institutions offering a wider range of courses.

What these institutions have in common, as a rule, is the traditional right to award the Doktorgrad ( Promotionsrecht). Academic and scientific research – particularly basic research – and the training of the next generation of academics are also distinctive features of universities and equivalent institutions of higher education.

Colleges of art and music

Colleges of art and music offer courses of studies in the visual, design and performing arts as well as in the area of film, television and media, and in various music subjects; both, in some cases, also teach the appertaining theoretical disciplines (fine arts, art history and art pedagogy, musicology, history and teaching of music, media and communication studies as well as, more recently, the area of the new media). Some colleges teach the entire gamut of artistic subjects, others only certain branches of study.

Fachhochschulen

Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences) were introduced in 1970/71 as a new type of institution in the system of higher education in the Federal Republic of Germany. They fulfil their own specific educational function, characterised by a practice-oriented bias in the teaching, a usually integrated semester of practical training, and professors, who have, in addition to their academic qualifications, gained professional experience outside the field of higher education.

In the 2005/2006 winter semester, a relatively high proportion of them, just less than 70 out of 199 Fachhochschulen, were not state-maintained, but were to a large extent subject to the same legal provisions as state Fachhochschulen. They vary considerably in terms of size, number of students and number of courses of studies, and consequently the individual Fachhochschulenhave a specific regional character or particular area of specialisation. A special role is played by the 30 Verwaltungsfachhochschulen ( Fachhochschulenfor public administration), which train civil servants for careers in the so-called higher level of the civil service. They are maintained by the Federation or by a Land. Their students have revocable civil servant status. For a summary of this type of institution see The Fachhochschulen in Germany, published by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Establishments outside the higher education system – Berufsakademien, Fachschulen

Berufsakademien (professional academies) form part of the tertiary sector and combine academic training at a Studienakademie(study institution) with practical professional training in a training establishment, thus constituting a duales system (dual system). The companies bear the costs of on-the-job training and pay the students a wage, which is also received during the theoretical part of the training at the study institution. Berufsakademienwere first set up in 1974 in Baden-Württemberg as part of a pilot project and are now to be found in some Länder as either state-run or state-recognised institutions.

As an alternative to the dual courses of the Berufsakademien, several Fachhochschulen have developed so-called dual courses of study.

Fachschulenare continuing vocational education institutions in the tertiary sector that, as a rule, require the completion of relevant vocational training in a recognised occupation requiring formal training and subsequent employment. Fachschulen exist in the following fields:

• agricultural economy
• design
• technology
• business
• social work

Whether on a full or part-time basis, they lead to a state-recognised professional qualification in accordance with Land legislation. In addition, Fachschulencan offer follow-up and further courses, as well as career development programmes. Those who complete training at the Fachschulenact as intermediaries between the functional sphere of graduates and that of skilled workers in a recognised occupation requiring formal training.

Schools in the health sector offer training for occupations in the health sector, e.g. nurse or physiotherapist. Many of these schools have a physical and organisational link with hospitals where both theoretical and practical training is provided.

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