GERMANY: Fears for degree muddle

The dispute over Germany's retention of its old diplom degree in the engineering sciences despite the Bologna process has been given further impetus through the adoption of new legislation by the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the announcement by a leading university specialising in engineering sciences that it will introduce new diplom courses this year.

The diplom was introduced just over 111 years ago by Emperor William II when Germany had established itself as a leading industrial power worldwide, and the then polytechnics had a high reputation internationally.

The Bologna accords adopted by European higher education ministers a century later aim to set bachelors' and masters' degrees as a standard for graduates. However, nine of Germany's technical universities (TUs), institutions specialising in the engineering sciences, have been campaigning for the diplom title to be retained.

Calling themselves the TU9 Alliance, these institutions account for 200,000, or 12%, of Germany's students and train half of the country's graduates in engineering. Out of the 46,000 engineering students graduating in 2009, 36,000 were awarded a diplom in engineering (the Dipl.-Ing., while the others received the new Master of Science.

Emphasising the esteem attached to the diplom, Daimler head Dieter Zetsche maintains that "a Dipl.-Ing. in front of a name is like a star on the bonnet, a trademark indicating top quality". And Ernst Schmachtenberg, rector of Aachen TU and spokesman for the alliance, says: "You wouldn't simply rip the star off a Daimler bonnet and then just refer to 'a car'."

Federal Education Minister Annette Schavan, a strong advocate of the Bologna process, nevertheless believes the title Dipl.-Ing. "sounds good worldwide", adding that universities are demonstrating their self-confidence by retaining the title.

Although the German universities are proud of the diplom, abroad it is often confused with the diploma, a much lower qualification that does not imply any university education.

The TU9 Alliance has not received unanimous backing, even among the Technical Universities. For instance, TU Harburg has clearly set its sights on the new masters' and bachelor degrees.

The Bologna process does not require that the diplom be completely obliterated. It could, for example, be referred to as a title in an annex to the master of science certificate, the 'diploma supplement', as suggested by the Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK), the conference of state higher education ministers.

However, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has gone one step further. Its parliament adopted an amendment to the state's higher education legislation shortly before Christmas enabling graduates to apply for a diplom instead of an MSc.

"This regulation will generally be very interesting for the engineering sciences," says Higher Education minister Henry Tesch. "There, the diplom is an important trademark, and our state can gain an edge in competition by awarding it."

Both the Hochschulrektorenkonferenz, representing the heads of higher education institutions, and several industrial organisations have expressed their dismay at what they regard as a retrograde step.

Moreover, there is concern that Germany could slide into a patchwork of degrees. This does seem justified, given that Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Fachhochschulen (FH), or universities of applied science, can now equate their bachelors' degrees, awarded after eight semesters unlike the universities' six, with the diplom, albeit a Dipl.-Ing (FH).

The 'FH' suffix might simply be ignored in other European countries which would put the Fachhochschul bachelor degree on a par with the universities' master's degree, via the diploma supplement.

TU Dresden's new rector Hans Müller-Steinhagen announced he intends to introduce five-year diplom courses to be run in parallel with bachelor and masters courses. This would be in line with higher education legislation in the state of Saxony.

michael.gardner@uw-news.com