Bavarian School of Public Policy

The Bavarian School of Public Policy ( Hochschule für Politik München ) – from the Munich School of Political Science – is an independent institution within the Technical University of Munich. The Bavarian School of Public Policy is a unique institution, focusing on future-oriented, transdisciplinary, and applied research and teaching. In cooperation with the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Bavarian School of Public Policy is dedicated to educating the next generation of political scientists. Technological progress in areas like energy, climate change, big data, data security, and mobility is having an important impact on the society. To keep up with tomorrow’s key technologies, the course program provides the opportunity for students to combine the traditional content of a political science degree with technology modules by TUM departments.

History

The Bavarian School of Public Policy was founded during the period of World War II. Prompted by the US Military Government, and with the participation of the Constitutional Law Prof. Hans Nawiasky, a decision was made in 1948 to set up an institution with the primary goal of teaching the principles of democracy. The discipline of „political science“, already established in the US, would serve as the school’s model. On July 14, 1950 the „Hochschule für Politische Wissenschaften“ was founded – as a corporation under private law.

On October 27, 1970, the Bavarian Parliament enacted the „Law governing the Bavarian School of Public Policy“. This gives the school the status of an institution institutionally at the University of Munich. This is the only institution of higher education in the Federal Republic of Germany whose legal basis is a higher education act unique to that institution. Moreover, the law was also the first higher education act in the Federal Republic of Germany.

In a law dated February 16, 1981, the Bavarian School of Public Policy was given the status of a public body. The main advantage for students is the opportunity to earn a full academic qualification

The Bavarian Parliament instigated the reform process that is currently underway in October 2013. In July 2014, it was decided to make the Technical University of Munich (TUM) the new host university for the Bavarian School of Public Policy. This landmark decision opens up new opportunities to develop the discipline of political science by incorporating insights from TUM’s excellent work in the social sciences, the natural sciences and engineering.

The law governing the Bavarian School of Public Policy was enacted in early December 2014, and the Constitution in January 2015. On December 18, 2014 the appointment procedure for the new HfP professorships began. Out of 350 applications from Germany and abroad, seven professors were appointed, who took up their duties at the Bavarian School of Public Policy on 1 March / 1 July 2016. ^[1] In July 2016, the Bavarian School of Public Policy moved to its in the Briennerforum at Königsplatz. ^[2]

Studies

Bringing Politics and Technology together

The Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (B.Sc.) started in the 2016/17 Winter Semester. In the 2017/18 Winter Semester the Bavarian School of Public Policy established the new Master’s program in Politics & Technology (M.Sc.). Both studies programs are based on a unique concept worldwide. This provides a „full-scale political science education with possible emphasis in policy areas at the interface between politics and technology“. ^[2]

• Interdisciplinary study program
• Comprehensive grounding in political science with the opportunity to focus on the interface of politics and technology
• Strong practical element, with a three-month, supervised internship requirement
• Various optional modules, allowing students to develop a professional academic profile

Professors

Appointed Professors at the Bavarian School of Public Policy ^[3] :

• Chair for International Relations: Tim Büthe
• Chair for European and Global Governance: Eugenia da Conceição-Heldt
• Professor of Political Science Science: Simon Hegelich
• Professorship for Political Philosophy and Theory: Lisa Herzog
• Professorship for Computational Social Science and Big Data: Jürgen Pfeffer
• Chair for Environmental and Climate Policy: Miranda Schreurs
• Professorship for Policy Analysis: Stefan Wurster

Notable alumni

• Hans Henning Atrott (* 1944), German author and theorist
• Dorothee Bär (* 1978), politician (CSU)
• Markus Blume (* 1975), politician (CSU)
• Geza Andreas von Geyr (* 1962), Vice President of the Bundesnachrichtendienst
• Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (* 1971), train German Minister of Defense (2009-2011)
• Klaus Höchstetter (* 1964), expert in economics
• Katharina Holzinger, Prorektor of the University of Konstanz
• Franz Kohout (* 1953), Professor of Political Science
• Harry Luck (* 1972), journalist
• Franz Maget (* 1953), Chairman of the SPD Parliamentary Group in the Landtag of Bavaria
• Otto-Peter Obermeier (* 1941), Publisher of the newspaper „The Blue Rider – Journal for Philosophy“
• Michael Piazolo (* 1959), political scientist
• Gerhard Polt , (* 1942), actor and cabaret artist
• Ralph Rotte (* 1968), Professor at the RWTH Aachen
• Sascha Spoun (* 1969), President of the University of Luneburg
• Christiane Stenger (* 1987), author and present
• Edmund Stoiber (* 1941), train Minister-President of Bavaria (1993-2007)
• Eleni Torossi (* 1947), author

References