State authorities plan to impose a €5.7 million budget reduction on Bergische University next year, as announced by the SPD.
In a concerning development, the SPD faction in the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament has voiced their opposition to the proposed cuts to universities by the state government. The heated debate centres around a hearing scheduled for October 29, 2025, in the Committee for Science, where the planned cuts will be discussed.
According to the draft state budget, total cuts of 158 million euros are earmarked for universities. The Bergische Universität Wuppertal, in particular, faces a significant cut of 5.688 million euros in the coming year. This situation has sparked fears that the situation will worsen further, with potential far-reaching consequences.
Josef Neumann, Solingen SPD state parliamentarian, has been vocal about his concerns, stating that the planned cuts to universities are harmful to the Bergish university location. He emphasises that nothing is finalised yet regarding the university cuts and urges caution.
Neumann also argues that every cut in the education sector endangers the economic and industrial location of NRW. He claims that whoever saves at universities, saves at the future. The SPD faction has requested this hearing to voice their concerns and fight for universities to maintain a strong Bergish university location.
For years, the state government has claimed not to be saving on education. However, the reality, according to Neumann, is different. He points to the previous cuts in funding for the everyday helper program in kindergartens and the halted expansion of all-day care as examples.
With universities now becoming the latest target of these budget cuts, the effects will be felt in the Bergisches region. NRW currently has the worst teacher-to-student ratio in Germany, and these cuts could exacerbate the issue.
The SPD faction in the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament is warning against these planned cuts to universities. They believe that the Black-Green coalition can still commit to a strong Bergish university location and are prepared to fight for it. The hearing on October 29, 2025, will provide a platform for this debate, shedding light on the potential impact of these cuts on the future of education and the economy in North Rhine-Westphalia.
