Knowledge Shapes the Future—for Adequate Funding of All Colleges and Universities!Call for a Rally on August 28, 2026

22 August 2026

For years, the Hamburg Senate has refused to provide universities with sufficient funding for their research and teaching responsibilities. The draft budget just presented threatens to further exacerbate these shortfalls, and the Senator for Science is openly talking about cutting the number of college spots. We will no longer tolerate these attacks on our fundamental working and learning conditions!

• Reduced library hours and the elimination of student jobs hinder our ability to learn and restrict the social openness of universities.
• We employees are buckling under the strain; sick leave is at an all-time high; numerous administrative positions are unfilled, and vacancies remain unfilled. Dignified working conditions look very different!
• Many doctoral positions remain unfilled, and the precarious employment conditions of the entire academic staff are becoming the greatest obstacle to democratic academic freedom.

Yet the money is there!

Already, the tax authorities are allowing hundreds of millions in tax revenue to lapse each year, while at the same time, over the past 10 years, inheritance tax on the ultra-wealthy has been waived to the tune of 600 million. Instead of cutting funding for education or social services, we demand the consistent collection of outstanding taxes from millionaires in Hamburg!

Adequate basic government funding is the foundation of the fundamental democratic right to academic freedom. This is intended to ensure that science can be conducted in the service of society, independent of the interests of private donors; this means, among other things, working toward inclusive education to strengthen democratic values and overcome social inequality; working to end wars and promote peace; and to help tackle the climate crisis. Furthermore, every euro invested in science generates nearly twice as much revenue.

As students and staff from various universities, we will take to the streets together on August 28 to demand an immediate revision of the budget in favor of education, culture, health, and social services. Afterward, we invite you to hold the members of the Science Committee accountable.

Rally: 1:00 p.m., Adolphsplatz/in front of the Chamber of Commerce

Science Committee meeting: 2:00 p.m., Adolphsplatz 6