The Higher Education Pact in Germany was a successful funding program that ran from 2007 to 2020. It was praised for its impact on student numbers and the overall stability of the higher education system. According to the Wissenschaftsrat, a council that advises the government on science and humanities, this scheme was the most extensive funding program for German higher education to date.
The pact helped address the strains that the higher education system faced due to numerous reforms by emphasizing cooperative action over competition. This shift in approach was seen as positive, as it strengthened the higher education system’s ability to adapt and change. Wolfgang Wick, chair of the council, highlighted this importance of the pact in stabilizing the higher education system and growing student numbers. Overall, this initiative had a positive impact on Germany’s higher education landscape.