On September 26, Germany elects a new federal parliament, the Bundestag. This election affects all aspects of life, including the worklife of doctoral researchers, development of science and diversity in acadmia. To help doctoral researchers and other early-career scientists, several PhD networks have joined forces to provide them with a guide to navigate the elections using information that directly affects them. We very much encourage you to cast your vote if you can!
The project was conducted by the the N² network (Helmholtz Association, Max Planck Society, leibniz PhD Network and IPP Mayence), the TUM Graduate Council of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the ProKo of the Friedrich-August-University in Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), THESIS e.V., the Doctoral Covenant of Baden-Württemberg, the Coucil of Doctoral Researchers of the Technical University of Brunswik, the ProRat of the University of Leipzig, and the DR.FSU of the University of Jena.
With our forces joined, we asked the political parties currently present in the Bundestag about their plans after the election regarding science and academia, including the working conditions of doctoral researchers among other topics. The result can be read in our report. The report is only available in German because this is about the German elections and entails an introductory note, summary tables, a short text with our overall impression and an annex with the verbatim answers of the parties.
Our joint effort has received complete sets of answers from the parties CDU/CSU, FDP, Bündnis90/Die Grünen and Die Linke. The SPD has answered to one of the blocks of questions only, while the AfD has not sent any answers.
We hope the report is a useful tool to inform your voting decision.