Changes in Institutional Research in Germany: Replacement of Faculty in East-Germany. AIR 1992 Annual Forum Paper.

This paper describes changes in German higher education as a consequence of the reunification of East and West Germany, focusing particularly on personal evaluation of East German faculty and assessment of their scientific expertise. An introduction reviews the major historical events that have shaped the current situation. The paper states that East Germany has 55 institutions of higher education with about 37,000 faculty members, but 90 percent of the nation's research capacity was actually located at the National Academy of Science or in special institutes where there were 15,000 scientists, of whom most are to be integrated into the universities. The process of personal evaluation is explained, noting that methods vary among federal states and among universities, describing the documentation used in evaluations, and commenting on the right to personal inspection of records and the right to make a statement before a final decision is made. The procedures to be used to assess the quality and scholarly excellence of East German university scientists are then discussed, noting the influence of politics and ideology in selecting East German faculty. The paper concludes that though universities continue to function, it is in the midst of an enormous social undertaking to reunify the nation. Five notes are included. (JB)