The German Universities are in crisis - such is the general perception. The reform euphoria of the seventies has long since been replaced by disappointment: material waste and political insignificance threaten universities in Germany. But what does the university of the future look like? How many reforms should there be, how much competition, how international do they need to become? Well-known specialists involved in research and university practice lay a foundation for the current debate. From the beginnings in the 12th century, to Wilhelm von Humboldt's university reform and on to universities for the masses in the age of globalisation - this collected edition presents a comprehensive overview. The scope ranges from historical analysis to practical perspectives for the future and new thought-provoking impulses for the university of tomorrow.