1. February '24
People at a protest in front of the historic Hochschule Coburg hold a cardboard sign reading “Rassismus ist keine Alternative.
People at a protest in front of the historic Hochschule Coburg hold a cardboard sign reading "Rassismus ist keine Alternative.
Amidst a lively protest, people hold diverse signs. One stands out with “Hochschule Coburg” beside another highlighting “Liebe.” The scene unfolds near a building with visible windows and a storefront peeking into view.
Amidst a lively protest, people hold diverse signs. One stands out with "Hochschule Coburg" beside another highlighting "Liebe." The scene unfolds near a building with visible windows and a storefront peeking into view.
Coburg University of Applied Sciences joins the clear statement of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) on liberal democracy and the rule of law and, as a member of the “Alliance against Right-Wing Extremism”, supports the central rally for the metropolitan region on Saturday, February 3, in Nuremberg.
Coburg University of Applied Sciences is concerned to observe openly anti-democratic tendencies in our society.
As a university committed to shaping the future and playing a formative role in the region, we live diversity, liberal democracy and the rule of law every day in our teaching, research and transfer.
We see it as our social responsibility to strengthen these fundamental principles and are committed to doing so together with our local, regional and international partners.
We are a member of the Alliance against Right-Wing Extremism in the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region and invite you to join us at the central rally of this alliance on Saturday, February 3, at 4 p.m. in Nuremberg (Kornmarkt / Straße der Menschenrechte) to set an example under the motto “Never again is now! Democrats against right-wing arsonists”.
Coburg University of Applied Sciences is thus reaffirming its commitment to humanity, plurality and freedom.
They are the foundation of our society and essential for science.
We fully support the clear statement of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) “Science needs liberal democracy and the rule of law” (below).
The university management
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Statement by the Executive Board of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK):
Science needs liberal democracy and the rule of law
Against the backdrop of increasingly blatant anti-democratic efforts and the associated contempt for humanity, we emphasize clearly and unequivocally: liberal democracy and the rule of law are the immovable pillars of our country and its institutions.
They are also essential prerequisites for the existence of a competitive and internationally compatible German higher education system.
The comprehensive legal protection of academic freedom, as provided for in our Basic Law, is the basis for the success of our science.
Scientists must be able to freely choose and work on research topics.
Research and teaching must not be instrumentalized for political purposes.
Only in this way can science develop its full potential for the economy and society.
The legal protection against discrimination in any form enshrined in the German Basic Law is also a pillar of our scientific performance.
The diversity of international perspectives and backgrounds makes our science strong and contributes significantly to its progress.
We are proud of and expressly support the fact that people from all over the world and from the most diverse backgrounds study and work at our universities.
The member universities of the HRK have declared and affirmed this many times in their long-standing campaign “Universities open to the world”: Only a university that thinks and acts internationally is fit for the future and competitive.
An open and international campus and the international mobility of teaching staff and students are essential foundations for high-quality teaching, learning and research.
The increasing tendency in the public and political sphere to change the content and tone of social discourse in order to normalize hostility towards science, restrictions on academic freedom, racism, intolerance and ideas and enemy stereotypes based on exclusion, to disintegrate cohesion in society and to undermine trust in liberal democracy is highly alarming.
As the HRK Executive Board, we clearly oppose this.
Every single member of our universities is called upon to stand up for the fundamental values of our constitution.
