JGU at A Glance

In general, there are three different types of higher education institutions: Universities, universities of applied sciences (“Fachhochschulen” or sometimes only “Hochschulen” which is also the umbrella term for all higher education institutions) and art and music colleges. The later train budding artists. The difference between universities and universities of applied sciences (UAS) is the more professional focus of UAS in contrast to the universities who are strongly oriented towards theory, methodology, and (basic) research. Since the last decade, the system of higher education system is undergoing some changes, which strive for a further assimilation of universities and UAS, e.g. in the way that UAS are endowed with the right to confer a doctorate which they had not had for many years.

An important characteristic of German universities is the so-called ‘unity of teaching and research’ which goes back to the famous founding father of the Humboldt University Berlin. Wilhelm von Humboldt’s educational ideal of the early 19th century still serves as a role model not only for universities in Germany, but all over the world.

Due to federalism, in Germany the responsibility for education and higher education lies within the federal states, such as Rhineland-Palatinate as it comes for JGU. The federal states provide the funding of higher education institutions as well as the legal framework. Each of the states has its own Hochschulgesetz (legislation of higher education). It causes that the organization of all processes, e.g. appointments, budget decisions, etc., vary from state to state. There is only a minor legal joint framework, the so-called Hochschulrahmengesetz (German Higher Education Framework Act). For each action, the federal state wants to take in order to fund a research project at a university, an administrative agreement has to be settled. This is the case e.g. for the Excellence Strategy of the federal states and the state government or for the Hochschulpakt (University Pact).

Besides the universities, there are also non-university research centers where top-level research is performed. Research centers of the Max Planck Society, the Helmholtz Association, the Leibniz Society or the Fraunhofer Society often cooperate closely with a university but are provided their own funding (mostly) by the state government.

Within the higher education system, there are further political and intermediate organizations. Most interesting for scholars at universities is the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, short: DFG). It is the organization for the public funding of research projects in Germany. Researchers and research institutions may submit proposals to fund research projects and their supporting structures within the funding programs. Grant proposals are decided based on scientific review and evaluation, so DFG is a so-called self-organized association.

• The German University System - An Overview by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service, short: DAAD)
• Higher Education in Germany by HRK (German Rectors' Conference - The Voice of the Universities)
• The German higher education system (an explanatory video)

Are you looking for third-party funding for your research idea? Research Services (FT1) gives advice and support on national, European and international funding programs. Please contact the Department of Research and Technology Transfer (FT) to find your right contact person.

To help you prepare a competitive proposal, the Internal University research funding grants initial funding. Research services also gives feedback on your individual proposal, and helps you set up collaborative projects. We also offer training measures and information events on research funding. For courses in english visit this site.

For additional opportunities for Young Researchers and Artists please visit the Portal for Young Researchers and Artists.

JGU sees itself as an integral part of society with which it works closely and openly; it perceives knowledge transfer as one of its primary objectives. The Research and Technology Transfer Department at JGU provides active support for

• bilateral projects between organizations and individual university institutes as well as participation in joint projects with several partners from research and industry
• service inventions and invention consultations
• industrial cooperation and contract research
• developing a business model to finding and applying for funding opportunities for entrepreneurs

The Study Office supports the planning and organizing of courses. Study Offices are organizational units within the faculties that are responsible for study-related administration in the different subjects.

The members of the Study Office manage and coordinate the modularized degree programs. They organize courses and examinations. In addition they contribute to the conceptual and organizational development of the degree programs in the subject.

If you are a lecturer, please contact your responsible Study Office as soon as possible. The Study Office responsible for your subject can be found here (available only in German).

Furthermore the Academic Affairs (Central Administration; available only in German) provide relevant information about examination and study regulations as well as other relevant legislations, ordinances and statutes, Student Services forms and newsletters for student advisors.

JGU continuously monitor the area of study and teaching. In addition to the faculty-wide evaluation, lecturers have the opportunity to carry out student surveys in their courses at any time to get individual feedback. You can get more information here.

Our university offers teachers a wide range of academic didactic support. Teachers can choose from a wide variety of formats, ranging from individual teaching advice and topic-specific workshops and trainings to collegial offerings, e.g. peer observations of teaching and peer advising. You can find more information here (only available in German).

In addition, teachers of JGU have access to a wide range of statewide workshops as well as observations of teaching within the framework of the higher education didactics offerings of the Hochschulevaluierungsverbund Südwest (South-West Evaluation Association of Higher Education Institutes), with the possibility of receiving the Rhineland-Palatinate Certificate for Higher Education Didactics. You can find more information about the programme and courses here (only available in German). For information about offers in English please contact the Center for Quality Assurance and Development (ZQ), Dr. Daniel Gaus.

Dr. Daniel Gaus
Colonel-Kleinmann-Weg 2, SB II
D-55099 Mainz
Tel.: +49 6131 39-27006
Fax: +49 6131 39-20787
Email | Website