Goethe University President Enrico Schleiff on the consequences of the Hessian Higher Education Pact
Many members of the university community are already noticing in their daily lives the profound challenges Goethe University is facing. The budget cuts from the Hessian Higher Education Pact for the years 2026–2031 have impacted us to such an extent that we were forced to take immediate action. It is now clear that Goethe University will have to operate with funding cuts exceeding 10 percent.
The core budget of all higher education institutions in Hesse has been permanently reduced to contribute to the consolidation of the state budget. Moreover, neither the long-negotiated wage increases, nor general cost increases are being offset by financial resources from the state. Goethe University is particularly hard-hit because, unlike some other higher education institutions, it has consistently met the increase in student numbers agreed upon with the state – and has now seen the success bonuses for this eliminated.
When these drastic cuts became apparent in July, we implemented immediate and medium-term measures, including temporary freezes on hiring and appointments to ensure planning capabilities and financing for the faculties, as well as significant reductions in personnel, operational, and investment budgets. These steps are necessary to ensure we remain solvent as a university.
Additionally, by saving now, we are creating room to maneuver for the years ahead: Together with the faculties and in constant dialogue with the committees, we are developing long-term measures to respond to these dramatic cuts. This will be tough: While we are one of Germany’s largest universities and one of the most important employers in the Rhine-Main region, we have never operated in abundance.
But we are well-prepared: Our university development planning and subject-specific strategies have already established the framework for strategic and future-proof decisions. We know where we are headed, we are aware of our strengths and untapped potential, and we know where we need to improve. Now we face the complex task of developing effective consolidation options under both time pressure and financial constraints, while simultaneously accelerating the changes that are necessary anyway.
Our core responsibilities are excellent research, teaching, and knowledge transfer. We are a broadly structured university that thrives on its diversity – and must remain so. However, it is also clear that we will not be able to fully maintain our performance in all areas. Budget cuts of more than 10 percent are not something we take lightly. If we were to cut equally across the board, we would be undermining ourselves.
That’s why it’s important for us to develop concepts together with our faculties that not only fit their individual structures but also align with our university as a whole. The same applies to all other areas, including support structures and administration. We also want to identify opportunities to strengthen Goethe University through complementarity within our strategic RMU alliance with the Technical University of Darmstadt and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. Our approach is based on a 50-40-10 principle: Alongside a solid foundation of about 50 percent that remains intact, and savings in the range of 10 percent, we aim to respond to challenges and remain future-ready through reorientation, restructuring, and adjustments to about 40 percent of our work.
It is imperative that we pool all the resources we have now. That includes leveraging our unique opportunities as a university foundation under public law: We need the support of civil society as well as backing from our friends, sponsors, and surrounding community. Together, we will ensure that future generations of students will also find a broadly structured Goethe University offering teaching and research at the highest scientific level.
Prof. Enrico Schleiff, President Goethe University Frankfurt
