University Studies at Hardenberg’s and Humboldt’s Time and the Professionalization of University Studies Today

The paper is focussed on the problem, if the general advanced education should be orientated to Humboldt’s ideas and concept of studies at the institutions of the ecucation system, especially at universities. Referring to two hundred years of university studies and education policy in Germany, two university students of the 18th century – Karl August von Hardenberg and Wilhelm von Humboldt – are exposed, both having been involved in reforms of the education-system and cultural policy in Prussia. The basic concept of Humboldt’s reforms of the education-system is object of special paragraphs as well as the core-problem, if university studies should be focussed on “pure sciences” or on “applied sciences”, or if both dimensions of sciences should be integrated on the institutional level (networking) and/or by cooperation of teaching staff personnel and coordination of curricula and exams. The first section introduces into the perspective of two hundred years of university studies and education policy. In the second section the examples of two university students – Hardenberg and Humboldt – are exposed, to point out characteristics of academic studies at that time. The third chapter turns to the concept of Humboldt’s reforms of the education-system in Prussia. Special interest is spent for the foundation of the University of Berlin. The fourth chapter puts forward the problem, if “free” or “professionalized” university studies should be performed. Herewith the “bridge” between the university of Hardenberg’s and Humboldt’s time and the present time becomes apparent. The discussion on how to organize the professionalization of university studies and how to consider Humboldt’s concept of university education is brought forward as a central problem of university policy today, not only in Germany. Conclusions are presented in the final chapter. It demonstrates, that the professionalization of university studies is needed, but that the quality of university studies depends on academic research related or even integrated into academic teaching.