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Kassel Civil University Initiative

The website for the “Zivile Uni Kassel” initiative is now online (https://zivile-uni-kassel.de/).
On the site, you’ll find background information, detailed reasons and arguments for a strong civil clause, and our demands.
All employees, regardless of their employment status, can sign our petition to the Senate and the Executive Board—including professors.

Keep the Civil Clause at the University of Kassel!

Dear Colleagues, Dear Members,

The Senate of the University of Kassel plans to adopt an amendment to the Basic Statutes at its meeting on November 4, 2026. The so-called “civil clause” currently stipulates that research and development, teaching, and academic studies must serve exclusively peaceful goals and civilian purposes. The proposed rewording would allow for military research, development, teaching, and technology transfer in the future. This has led to massive protests and ongoing discussions within the university. The GEW supports the efforts of students and staff to preserve and strengthen the civil clause.

All students at the University of Kassel have the opportunity to participate in the ballot vote on this issue by the end of the month. During the same period, ALL employees (ATMs, WiMis, professors, student employees) can sign the petition for a strong civil clause. The petition will be presented to the members of the Senate and the Executive Board in early November.

You can find additional background information and event announcements on the website of the employee alliance “Zivile Universität Kassel” as well as on the Instagram channel of Zivile Uni Kassel and the student initiative “Zivilklausel bleibt!”

If you want to get involved: Sign the petition and share it—along with the website—with your colleagues; attend the information and discussion events over the next few weeks; and feel free to get involved in the GEW workplace group.

University of Kassel Civil Clause

University of Kassel Civil Clause: “The Civil Clause Stays!” | GEW – Thuringia

Statement by the University of Kassel Chapter of the Education and Science Union of Hesse on Retaining the Civil Clause at the University of Kassel

Staff Meeting on June 30, 2026

 

Dear Colleagues,

My name is Anil Shah. I have been employed as a research assistant in the Department of Social Sciences for nearly 10 years and have been a member of the Education and Science Union (GEW) ever since; I am here today to speak on behalf of the GEW. Our local union chapter unequivocally supports preserving the existing “civil clause” and opposes any attempts to water it down. In doing so, we are also following the national resolution of the Education and Science Union, which clearly opposes militarization in schools and universities. After all, this is a pressing issue not only in Kassel but throughout the Federal Republic of Germany.

We are currently witnessing Germany’s largest military buildup since World War II. Several hundred billion euros are set to flow into the arms industry and military capabilities in the coming years. At the same time, far-right and fascist forces are gaining political influence. We know from history how dangerous this combination is.

The militarization of society does not stop at educational institutions. It is linked not only to the largest cuts to social services in decades but also to the scaling back of university funding. Universities are under increasing pressure to secure external funding and thus participate in Germany’s rearmament. That is why the “civil clause” is being called into question.

The initiative to so-called “reform” the civil clause did not come from the Senate or from members of the University of Kassel community. The pressure is coming from the state government, the mayor, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), and other actors who would like to expand North Hesse into an even larger arms manufacturing hub. And it is perfectly clear who is behind this political pressure: corporations worth billions, such as Rheinmetall and KNDS, which manufacture tanks and other weapons systems right here on our doorstep. These companies want to further expand their production with the windfall from the special fund and now also increase their cooperation with research and teaching institutions. To achieve this, the civilian clause must be abolished in its current form.

Instead of exclusively focusing research, teaching, and development on peaceful and civilian purposes, the future is supposed to be about “diverse disciplinary cultures” and a vague “discussion of goals and risks.” This is not a compromise proposal, but a veiled abolition.

Because we all know: This is by no means just about defense or civil protection. Both Rheinmetall and KNDS export their products all over the world and are making a fortune in the process. It is well documented that Rheinmetall’s weapons systems end up in crisis and war zones and have been used, for example, by Saudi Arabia to commit war crimes in Yemen.

A university that champions “sustainable development” and “social responsibility” completely undermines its credibility if it now begins to establish and expand collaborations with the arms industry. War is the opposite of sustainable development: Wars bring death, poverty, and hunger; they exacerbate gender inequalities and further fuel climate change. They do not promote sustainable growth and decent work, but rather destroy livelihoods and economic prospects. And they leave survivors traumatized and scarred. If we fail to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, it will be due, among other things, to the multitude of armed conflicts currently taking place on this planet.

And what exactly is supposed to improve as a result of reforming the “civil clause”? Does anyone here in this room seriously believe that collaborations with defense contractors will lead the university out of its current predicament? None of the third-party-funded projects with defense contractors will improve academic programs and teaching, alleviate administrative overload, or offer long-term prospects to academic staff on fixed-term contracts. Instead of the militarization of research and teaching, we need solid base funding, better working and supervision conditions, and the democratization of the university. That is what we stand for as the Education and Science Union.

It is repeatedly emphasized that the freedom of research and teaching must not be restricted by a civil clause. This argument is a smokescreen. Of course, not a single Senate resolution takes precedence over state law or even the Constitution. That is perfectly clear. But the civil clause is not a legal text. It is a moral commitment on the part of the University of Kassel. As such, it is effective and is feared by arms manufacturers and politicians. It serves as a moral compass that sends a clear signal both internally and externally: military research and development are not welcome here. And that is how it should remain!

We, as the GEW workplace group and as union members, will gather tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Senate Hall to protest the watering down of the Civil Clause. We call on all employees and students to join the protest organized by the “Zivilklausel bleibt” initiative. And we expect all senators to be mindful of their historical responsibility: Kassel would be the first university in Germany to effectively abolish an effective civil clause. And this on the former site of the Henschel factory. This place serves as a reminder that science and technology have already been misused in Kassel’s history to ideologically and practically enable the crimes of National Socialism. This, dear colleagues, must never happen again. Thank you!

GEW works group

The GEW workplace group at the University of Kassel plans its activities at regular executive board meetings.

The meetings are generally open to all GEW members at the University of Kassel.

 

If you are interested or have other union-related concerns, please contact grote[at]uni-kassel[dot]de.

 

The local chapter is active at various levels.

We focus on the working conditions of employees and students and on representing their interests, particularly on the staff council (see the overview of our members on the staff council)


- In terms of union and social policy, we collaborate in Kassel and the surrounding region with other DGB unions and GEW associations, as well as other civil society groups.

 


- We are also active at the state level in the Hessian Association for Higher Education and Research (HuF-He) and in the GEW’s Higher Education and Research Section (https://www.gew-hessen.de/education-sector/higher-education-and-research), where our representatives focus in particular on overarching education policy issues and challenges. Here, for example, statewide campaigns for better learning, working, and living conditions in and around higher education institutions are planned and implemented.


- GEW members receive pro bono legal advice from the North Hesse Regional Association (https://gew-nordhessen.de/recht/rechtsberatung-bezirksverband) and legal protection from the State Legal Office (https://www.gew-hessen.de/recht/landrechtsstelle).

The next meeting of the workplace group together with the BG Verdi:


The next meeting of our workplace group will take place on Tuesday, October 20, starting at 4:00 p.m. in Building KW 5, Room 3044.