ABSTRACT
The reform debate which dominated the period of the Grand Coalition produced many important innovations. Framework provisions refer to the competence for setting generally applicable guidelines to which all institutions of higher education in the FRG must comply. By 1976, the passage of the Framework Law had become a political end in itself, rather than a means to a more effective system of higher learning. The HRG also introduced general norms for university entry, as discussed in the following section: in particular, after the 1972 decision by the Federal Constitutional Court had insisted on more systematic regulations of the admission process across the country. The key proposal of the new framework law was the introduction of performance-related university funding and the allocation of ‘global’ budgets to the universities allowing them more autonomy in the use of the funds. Framework provisions were to be issued by the Federal government as specified by the Basic Law.
