Germany’s Bold 2023 Strategy Redefines Academic Excellence Worldwide
Germany's academic institutions are renowned for their pursuit of excellence, with a new strategy unveiled in June 2023. This drive for superiority in the country's leading research bodies is not merely a title, but a state of balanced thinking. The quest for excellence in Germany is evident in institutions like the Universität Bonn, which boasts eight excellence clusters and six Transdisciplinary Research Areas (TRAs). The Max Planck Society, with 84 research institutes, focuses on foundational research. Other entities, such as the Berliner Antike-Kolleg, IKV Aachen, Saarland Informatics Campus, Gutenberg Research College, and Leibniz Peace Research Institute (PRIF), also foster interdisciplinary collaboration. The concept of excellence has evolved over time. In the early modern period, the French associated it with a certain 'je ne sais quoi', elevating it to a synonym for exceptional quality. This idea of excellence has been linked to the mysterious aura of great thinkers since ancient times. The modern pursuit of excellence is not without its challenges. The increasing industrialization of knowledge has led to more specialized application areas, particularly in technology, thanks to AI. However, true excellence often comes from innovative, non-conformist ideas that may not be found in textbooks. It is cultivated in universities with high-performance research and interdisciplinary networking, known as excellence clusters. Germany's excellence strategy, presented in June 2023, reflects the country's commitment to fostering superior thinking and innovation in its countries. This pursuit is not merely about achieving a title, but about cultivating a state of artful, balanced thinking that can drive progress in various fields.
