Review of Higher Education Institutions in Regional Development 2008-10: The City of Berlin, Germany

Berlin's main interest in the OECD reviews is the opportunity to analyse and to promote the economic and social potential of its HEIs through the lens of an international comparative perspective. Berlin wants to benefit more from the city’s attractiveness. Its creative image and its rich and broad landscape of research and HE has to be used more effectively to stimulate the economic growth and to support the fiscal recovery. “Knowledge creates Berlin’s future” is the German capital’s strategic plan for the development of its economic, social, and cultural potential.

Key issues in Berlin

Social and economic issues

• Budget situation
• Ageing population
• Integration of immigrant population
• Unemployment and large share of welfare recipients
• Low economic growth

 Higher education development

• Widening access
• Drop-out rates and long duration of studies
• Expansion of HE (expected 10% increase in students by 2011)
• Stronger professional orientation in curricula
• Cutting-edge research

More about Berlin, its higher education institutions, 
and Berlin's HEIs role in city development

• Berlin in brief
• Higher education in Germany and Berlin
• Further reading and useful links

Regional Co-ordinator in Berlin

Lena Ulbricht
Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB)
Reichpietschufer 50
10785 Berlin
Germany
ulbricht[at]wzb.eu
www.wzb.eu

HE and regions start page