162 small disciplines, 2,616 professorships: small disciplines are of great scientific, cultural and social importance and are crucial to Germany's international competitiveness as a research location, its reputation, the profile of its universities and the training of young scientists.
From medical history to linguistics and religious studies to regional studies – around 80 per cent of small disciplines belong to the humanities and social sciences. Well-networked and internationally positioned, they enable an understanding of cultural, social and economic developments. In this way, they make a significant contribution to solving social challenges, but also to researching and preserving cultural heritage.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMFTR) framework programme "Understanding society – shaping the future" marked a new chapter in the success story of small disciplines: the funding guideline "Small Disciplines – strong together" aims to promote and connect young academics. In the selected projects, interdisciplinary research groups work on a topic of their own choosing under the direction of the small disciplines. This is also intended to contribute to the structural strengthening of these minor subjects. Small disciplines continue to be an important part of the current framework programme "Orientation for a Changing World".
The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) has been supporting small disciplines for several years with targeted funding programmes. The guidelines "Small Disciplines – Great Potential" and "Small Disciplines – Strong Together" particularly promoted young scientists, strengthened interdisciplinary cooperation and contributed to the structural development of the subjects. In addition, initiatives organised by the German Rectors' Conference, such as the "Small Disciplines – University Weeks" and the "Visibly Innovative" competition, increased public visibility and networking.
Another milestone was the networking portal for small disciplines, www.kleinefaecher.de, which was set up at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz with the support of the BMFTR. It serves to promote national and international networking and the systematic recording of study programmes, doctoral opportunities and locations for small disciplines.
