Rebuilding from Scratch? The Reconstruction of East German Universities
Conference To Examine Ongoing Trials And Tribulations Of A United Germany, Restructuring Of The German University System

TORONTO, November 17, 1999 -- Ten years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the social and political transformation of Germany is still in process. Political unification has not overcome deep-seated divisions, and in certain ways has made them worse. One of the difficulties of unification has been reforming the university system, particularly in the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

To examine the innumerable obstacles and roadblocks in this reform process, The Canadian Centre for German and European Studies at York University and the UniversitČ de MontrČal, in coordination with the Goethe-Institut Toronto, and the Centre for International Studies of the University of Toronto, will be holding a conference Thurs., Nov. 18 and Fri., Nov. 19 entitled Divided Through Unity? Politics, Culture and Society in Germany Ten Years After.

As part of the conference The Canadian Centre for German and European Studies has invited the former presidents of four German universities, three of them in the East, to discuss the topic "Rebuilding from Scratch? The Reconstruction of East German Universities," Fri., Nov. 19, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Centre for International Studies (the O.I.S.E. building), 252 Bloor Street West, Room 12-199.

The four German experts are: Prof. Dr. Marlis D¸rkop, former President of the Humboldt-University in Berlin; Prof. Dr. Cornelius Weiss, former President of the University of Leipzig; Prof. Dr. Hans Weiler, former President of the European University "Viadrina" in Frankfurt/Oder; and Prof. Dr. Michael Daxner, former President of the University of Oldenburg.

They will examine the following questions: (1) Was the reconstruction of the East German universities a missed opportunity? (2) How much influence did, do, and should provincial and federal governments exercise on universities? (3) Was the "Americanization" of the universities an unavoidable (and a positive) development?

These questions are relevant to Canada as well. York University Prof. Paul Axelrod, a specialist on the social history of higher education in Canada, will respond to the papers of the four German experts.

The event is open to the public. Admission is free.

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For further information on the panel on university restructuring, contact The Canadian Centre for German and European Studies at York University at (416) 736-5695.

General information on the conference is available through the Goethe-Institut at (416) 593-5257 and the Centre for International Studies at (416) 946-8929.
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