In Israel, the private sector is much more closely interlinked with research. For example the start-up scene. Is this a potential path for Germany?
In Germany, you often encounter the view that the entire educational and scientific system is exclusively the concern of the state. It is true that the public sector bears significant responsibility for promoting science. You simply cannot privatize education and science and leave them subject to market forces.
However, increasing cooperation between industry and research institutions is not in contradiction with that principle. We can learn a lot from Israel about start-ups and how to successfully establish an entrepreneurial culture.
Why is access to academic education in Germany so low relative to other countries?
The percentage of people who earn higher degrees in Germany is above the international average. I belong to a generation in which the majority of those who studied at a university had parents without university degrees. It was our parents’ conviction that education was the key to moving up in the world. This belief has changed over the years, for a variety of reasons.
I believe however, this change is connected to the phase of unregulated immigration we experienced, in which little initiative was taken towards promoting integration through education. In the meantime, we have corrected our course by choosing a proactive integration policy.
“As someone with a degree in theology, I obviously take a keen interest in the Holy Land, where the origins of the three monotheistic religions can be found.”
The German-Jewish-Israeli Dialogue
Where does your interest in German-Jewish-Israeli dialogue come from?
As someone with a degree in theology, I obviously take a keen interest in the Holy Land, where the origins of the three monotheistic religions can be found. The second source for my interest in Israel is my engagement with the Shoah, namely as a member of the nation responsible for the greatest breach of civilization.
From this I have derived a special sense of responsibility, deep shame and dismay that never subsides. Over the years, I also learned that Israel is the model for a powerhouse of science. Nowhere else is the proportion of academics in the population so high, and no other country invests so much in research.
In her address to the Knesset, Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed that Israel’s security is non-negotiable for Germany. Still, support for Israel among the German public seems to be waning.
During his visit to Berlin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that he had “absolutely no doubt” about Germany’s dedication to Israel’s security. In fact, there is no cause for doubt, Israel’s right to exist is a raison d’état for Germany.
Iran is currently developing nuclear weapons and speaks openly of the annihilation of Israel. Is the international community standing idly by while a member of the community of nations is in mortal danger?
No. The international community is committed to solving this crisis through negotiations. Germany is very vigilant on this matter.
Minister Annette Schavan in her Berlin office with JVG’s editor-in-chief Elisabeth Neu and Rafael Seligmann
About Minister Annette Schavan
Annette Schavan was born in 1955 and studied education, philosophy, and Catholic theology, earning her doctoral degree in 1980. She was an active member of the CDU from early on, working as a municipal councilor before she was elected to the Baden-Würtemberg state parliament, taking office as the Minister for Education, Youth and Sport.
Schavan is the Federal Minister for Education and Research since 2005. Apart from her work as minister, she is also active in the Central Council for German Catholics and the ecumenical foundation Bibel und Kultur. For her contribution to the German-Israeli dialogue and her commitment to intensifying cooperation in science and education she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 2011.