Humboldt president resigns over fixed-term contracts

Berlin law change lacks funding to be properly implemented, says Sabine Kunst

The president of Humboldt University has announced her resignation over an amendment to the Berlin Higher Education Act, which curtails the use of fixed-term contracts at universities.

The amendment, passed last month by the Berlin state senate, would force the state’s universities to increase the number of academics on permanent contracts. This would lead to a change in Humboldt University’s personnel structures, said Sabine Kunst, its outgoing president.