Witten Uni-President Resigns.

At Germany's largest private university are reflected on the events. First came her country grants lost - now the head: President Birger Priddat throws in the towel. In the struggle for survival remains the university very little time, new donors to find.
  As on Wednesday the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Science unexpectedly announced that the country grants to the University of Witten / Herdecke be stopped, it was suspiciously quiet in the university management. Only after several hours was an opinion of the University before. And it was President Birger P. Priddat no word was mentioned in any row, was also not to speak by telephone.
The reason is clear on Thursday afternoon: This is a man-on-board maneuvers. Priddat place "with immediate effect," his offices as president and CEO available, it says in a press release. The doubts of the Science Department at the "regularity of the current management" were intended for Priddat "incomprehensible". Nevertheless, he decided to resign to "damage averted by the university and the conditions for a fresh start in relations with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to create."
The university is a quarter-century after its founding in front of a pile of shards. The country wants the donation of 4.5 million euros for the year 2008 does not pay off and also calls for three million for the previous year - a considerable sum given the annual budget of around 30 million euros.
"Calling all day with potential sponsors"
Even more lacking at the University of potent donors, the hole of about three to four million per year would need new sources of money are stopped. In addition, the universities seem to have benefited from years of fines, which she dishes on a proposal by the prosecutor in Bochum had considered. The exact amount is unknown. After Felt and Kungelei-allegations against a prosecutor should probably be over.
Now the university is fighting for their bare survival. "We are calling all day with potential sponsors," said on Thursday morning, university spokesman Ralf Hermersdorfer. "If we take the money until the year end, it is made." The decision of the country could "From the mean insolvency", had also Konrad Schily, founder and long-time president of the university, said on Wednesday.
Schily, the country recognized in 1982 by the university until 1999. Since then alternated the presidents in quick succession: On Schily, today FDP Bundestag deputy, followed by Walter Zimmerli, in April 2005, Hair Glatt Wolfgang and only in August 2007 then the Priddat economist who previously dean of the Economics Faculty had been.
Two seriously interested verprellt
On Thursday, the students formed to protest against the possible demise. Around 1200, a total of at Witten / Herdecke enrolled, studying medicine, dentistry, nursing or business as well as in the "Fundamental Studies." 200 students demonstrated in front of the Düsseldorf parliament. In an interview with a delegation of students said Science Minister Andreas Pinkwart (FDP), that in the event of a closure to other NRW universities could change. The decision of the country, however, as he defended mandatory now, the university on the train.
Pinkwart had justified the withdrawal of the country so that the management is no longer working properly and no convincing business plan submitted. Moreover, the university has more money than they are in the budget for 2007 had indicated - that's why the recovery. Pinkwart urged them to demonstrate a future perspective.
The formulations are unusually sharp. Pinkwart also argued, the university had not succeeded in negotiations with several potential partners "a lasting strategic partnership to develop". It is in the last two years only to the private hospital operator and Universities of Heidelberg Rehabilitation Foundation (SAO), then a few months ago to Droege International. The consulting firm wanted over seven years a total of twelve million euros available. But then verkrachten to university and donors.
Offer student fees to increase
The university announced on Wednesday evening, the actions of the Ministry also legally be examined. You voted for 2009 to 2011 presented a plan of a balanced budget can expect, and which could now turn was "not explain it. The state government also threatens 600 jobs and the training of over 1200 students.
It also pointed out the works - with the university in the region were also "2000 workers indirectly linked". The students wrote in a statement that the university as a "city of personal and social development" continue to fully support. They were ready to take up to 60 percent higher tuition fees to pay. Meanwhile, there is also a supporter page on the Internet.
Only a few months ago, the university management to Priddat vigorously raised the tuition fees. In the first years of university, there were none, the country also paid no grants. That changed in 1995 - from then there was the private university, in the rankings regularly front seats occupied, with close practical implications un unusual concepts scores, no longer quite so private. Recently, the country's budget 4.5 million euros per year, nearly one seventh of the total budget official.
"No money, we had always been," is one of self-bon mot, which for years at the university courses. Now she is severely under tight spot and the country would swiftly with a solid concept to convince more funds to be transferred. Even then they need on top of new private lenders to head off bankruptcy. The education union has even a "nationalization" of the private university demanded, should therefore but hardly enforced.