Esslingen University of Applied Sciences: Focus on 1.6 million euros!

Esslingen University of Applied Sciences: Focus on 1.6 million euros!

The Situation at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences is still tense, because the investigation by the Stuttgart public prosecutor is in length. For three years, law enforcement officers have been dealing with the processes around the illegally paid benefits on 52 professors. In 2008, the university under the direction of Rector Bernhard Schwarz had paid funds of around 1.6 million euros without sufficient examination. The explosiveness of this matter was only aware of the university in October 2021, and the first indications of the faulty payments became loud. Finally, in January 2022, the suspicion was made public, which got the investigation rolling.

rector Christof Wolfmaier now commented and explained that the internal processing of the case was already completed. An evaluation showed that the professors had legally received the paid funds and that the payments passed a review. "I don't believe in evil intentions of the then leadership staff," said Wolfmaier. Despite this discharge, the criminal assessment of the incidents is still missing, and the university regularly asks the current state of investigation with the public prosecutor, such as Esslinger Zeitung reported.

Another chapter in this scandal is to find out that the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences not only granted the incorrect payments, but also legitimized them afterwards. According to [Stuttgarter Nachrichten] (https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.affaere-um-metzen-esslinger-professor-muessen-nicht-nicht-nicht-nicht-nicht-nicht-nicht-zurueck numbers. Ministry of Science, Research and Art in Stuttgart. The professors therefore do not have to make any repayments, which could relax the situation for everyone involved.

legal framework and effects

In a further context and general consideration of university law, it can be seen that the University Framework Act (HRG) provides for certain provisions and regulations for such cases. These legal provisions come from a time when the federal framework legislative competence was largely abolished by the federalism reform. More information about the legal foundations can be found on the pages of the BildungsServer. Despite all the complexity, developments at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences have rejected the discussion about financing and legal framework conditions for universities.

This is how the events at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences continue to be in public discussion. While the internal revision went positively, the outsiders such as the ongoing public prosecutor's investigations and the legal requirements of university law are crucial for how the situation is ultimately based for everyone involved. The coming months should be decisive for whether this case has long-term consequences in the university landscape in Baden-Württemberg.