Wadephul stresses importance of academic freedom
To mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the DAAD, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul gave a speech welcoming scholarship holders from 94 countries to Berlin.
As part of celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul welcomed scholarship holders from 94 countries to an event in Berlin. In a speech given at the Freie Universität Berlin to around 500 funding recipients, Wadephul stressed the importance of academic freedom in Germany. “The freedom of art, science, academia, research and teaching as set down in Article 5 of our Basic Law is something we will safeguard and uphold now and in future. We are observing with concern the fact that this freedom is no longer a given in a growing number of countries, including some of our European neighbours and our longstanding allies,” he said. Wadephul also referred to the so-called “1,000 Heads Programme” announced as part of the new Federal Government’s coalition agreement, which is designed to attract international talent to Germany as an outstanding location for study and research.