Thuringian universities: Think tanks, driving forces and partners of the regional economy

The Parliamentary Evening of the Thuringian State Presidents' Conference (TLPK) on 13 March 2024 was held under the motto "Our institutions of higher education are worth their weight in gold". Thuringia's ten state institutions of higher education presented a broad spectrum of their activities to emphasise their immense importance for the state of Thuringia and its population. Their activities are not limited to academic education, but also influence the economy, cultural and social life and the future viability of the Free State.

A recent study conducted by Heidelberg University on behalf of the TLPK confirms the outstanding contribution of these educational institutions to Thuringia's economic development based on data from 2022. According to the study "The regional economic importance of the state institutions of higher education in the Free State of Thuringia"External link, three factors are decisive.

The three success factors for Thuringia

1) One key aspect is the university-related expenditure itself. In the year in question, the state institutions of higher education invested 967 million euros in wages and salaries as well as in materials and services. A further 673 million euros were handed out to the almost 46,000 students.

2. due to their higher qualifications, graduates of the ten institutions of higher education earned a higher income than their peers without a university degree. The study speaks of almost 700 million euros on the labour market.

3) Another important factor is the spin-offs from the institutions of higher education, which generated additional expenditure totalling 139 million euros in 2022.

Every euro invested generates 3.64 euros

Overall, this resulted in a total effect of a good 2 billion euros and almost 30,000 jobs in Bavaria. According to the study, every euro invested in the basic funding of the 10 state institutions of higher education in Thuringia in 2022 generated added value of 3.64 euros.

In his speech, the chair of the TLPK, Prof. Dr Kai-Uwe Sattler, emphasised the central role of the institutions of higher education for the development of Thuringia: "Our universities are not only research and educational institutions, but also drivers of innovation and impetus for the entire region. The results of the impact study impressively illustrate their diverse and positive effects on the regional economy and the labour market."

The parliamentary evening offered participants the opportunity to enter into a constructive dialogue about the future of Thuringia's higher education landscape and to work together to find ways to further strengthen and promote it.

About the Thuringian State Presidents' Conference

The Thuringian State Presidents' Conference is an association of the ten state institutions of higher education in Thuringia. They are represented by their Presidents. The TLPK sees itself as a platform for exchange and cooperation between the institutions of higher education in Thuringia on overarching higher education policy issues with the aim of bringing the common interests of the institutions of higher education into the political decision-making process and into the public eye.