Purpose/Aktivities

The Conference of University Directors is the voluntary association of state and state-acknowledged universities and colleges in Germany. At the moment the Conference has 262 member institutions attended by 98 per cent of all the students in Germany.

The Conference is the public and political mouthpiece of the universities and the forum for the common opinion-shaping process within and among the universities. It deals with all the questions relevant to higher education: research; teaching curricula and structures; studies, post-graduate scientific studies; transfer of knowledge and technology; international co-operation and self-administration.

Activities in detail:

circulation of relevant information to member institutions

formulation and representation of common university-political positions

publicity and public relations

advising politicians and civil servants at federal and regional levels

securing the quality of teaching and curricula as well as the mobility of students

cooperation with other organisations and associations

cooperation with universities in foreign countries

collection and documentation of relevant literature.

The Conference of University Directors was founded in 1949 as the Conference of West German University Directors. After the reunification of the two German states, the first universities from the 'new' federal states were admitted on 5 November 1990 and the association renamed (details on the history).

The Conference is funded by the Stiftung zur Förderung der Hochschulrektorenkonferenz, the foundation for the promotion of the Conference.