Drop-out rates rise at German universities

Citation

(2003), "Drop-out rates rise at German universities", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445eab.011

Drop-out rates rise at German universities

Drop-out rates rise at German universities

More than one-quarter of German students are dropping out of higher education before their final examinations, according to a new study. The survey found that financial problems, poor student-professor relationships and a lack of motivation were the main reasons that one in four of Germany's 1.9 million students were breaking off their studies early. Some 300,000 young Germans start university each year and, with 27 per cent of those dropping out before reaching their final examinations, the country's universities have been dealt a stinging blow – particularly when a large part of the problem is caused by their administrative or teaching standards.

Around 50 per cent of drop-outs said it was down to lack of motivation, no money or a change of heart over their chosen career. Some 70 per cent of students who broke off studies named poor conditions at universities as one of the reasons, although only 8 per cent said this was the main reason. They were particularly critical of teachers and professors in the economic and social-science subject areas, as well as information-technology lecturers.

The report, carried out by the Higher Education Information System (HIS), a non-profit organization funded partly by the central government and partly by the provinces, said students were also leaving it longer before dropping out, averaging 7.6 semesters rather than 6.5 as it was in 1993. This, say experts, is the worst thing to do. Ulrich Heublein, from the HIS, said the sooner students decided to give up their courses the better, as only then could other options be concretely explored.

Germany's Education Minister, Edelgard Bulmahn, has acknowledged the current problems and said they had to be tackled quickly in order to prevent the number of young students choosing to attend university from falling. She said a pact had to be made between the federal government and the regional governments to ensure that standards were met. She said that, in order to combat the problem of increased drop-out rates, a system of ranking had to be introduced. "Those universities with high numbers of students not completing their degrees should be investigated, while those with low numbers should be heavily rewarded."