Rheinmetall and KNDS are considered as possible partners for a new dual study program. While the University of Kassel is still discussing a new version of its civil clause, the planning is already underway. According to participants, the companies were not explicitly confirmed in a Senate meeting.
The University of Kassel is planning a new dual study program, for which the arms companies Rheinmetall and KNDS are intended as possible cooperation partners. This emerges from an internal application paper about the profile of a new course of study. According to our information, concrete discussions and planning regarding the dual study program have already taken place with a defense company. However, the cooperation has not yet been decided.
The new dual study program is being promoted by the management of the construction departments- and environmental engineering, Mechanical engineering, Electrical engineering and computer science. The state of Hesse should provide funding for the future offer in the amount of 600.000 Euro within the framework of the “ProDual” funding program have approved. However, the Senate of the University of Kassel still has to make a final decision on the courses offered and possible cooperation partners.
The plans from the departments are particularly explosive due to the civil clause, which is currently being debated at the university. While the discussion about changing the basic rules of the university is still ongoing, Planning is already underway for a course of study in cooperation with defense companies. Am 4. November 2026 The Senate should decide on changing the basic rules and the possible abolition of the civil clause.
Possible partners not yet publicly named
In the Senate meeting on 21. In October we were already informed about the planned course of study. According to participants, the possible cooperation partners Rheinmetall and KNDS were not explicitly confirmed. When asked about the companies, reference was only made to the Senate meeting after the decision on the civil clause. No contracts are said to have been concluded with the companies yet.
The university had a collaboration with Rheinmetall and the then company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), today KNDS, 2023 completed. The dual study program “Study in a practical association” has existed with Rheinmetall since 2003 and with KMW since 2008. The university justified the end of the cooperation with its civil clause.
Am “Studying in a practical context” Since then, only civilian companies from the region have been involved. With companies like B. Braun has a long-standing and established cooperation in the technical and engineering areas. The assumption is obvious, that the new course of study will be created significantly, to enable dual study with defense companies. Rheinmetall and KNDS have been expressing interest in a cooperation for the important Kassel location for some time.
What tasks companies should take on when developing the dual study program, is not clear from the information available so far. It's also open, how extensive the practical training at the company should be and whether the course coordination is organized via the existing committees in the departments.
A new version of the basic order could enable arms cooperation
In the planned new version of the basic order, the express obligation should be omitted, that research, Development, Teaching and studying serve exclusively civilian purposes. Instead of referring to civil purposes, the university should fundamentally commit itself to democracy and peace. Critics point out, that this would practically abolish the civil clause at the university.
A renewed cooperation with defense companies would not yet have been decided if the basic rules were changed. However, the new version could set the course for the future direction of the university and thus also influence the decision on cooperation with defense companies.
Political pressure on universities is increasing
There are also efforts at the state level, to expand cooperation between universities and the defense industry. Science Minister Timon Gremmels (SPD) has spoken out in favor of a review of the civil clauses. The ministry also suggested, a collaboration between the University of Kassel and the Technical University of Central Hesse (THM) to explore.
The THM is already cooperating with Rheinmetall and KNDS and is planning further dual study programs in Kassel. The offers represent competition for the university's civilian profile. With the new offer, the participating departments at the University of Kassel may now want to win back students and the associated financial resources.
Like other universities in Hesse, the University of Kassel is under pressure to make savings. The Hessian University Pact 2026–2031 looks for 2026 a consolidation contribution of around 30 million euros. This corresponds to a reduction in the budget 2025 one 1,3 percent.
What remains of the university's profile??
The University of Kassel distinguishes itself with research on sustainability and social and technical transformation. The Kassel Institute for Sustainability bundles relevant research across different disciplines.
In the case of a dual course of study with Rheinmetall or KNDS, this would need to be clarified, how the course of study fits into the university’s sustainability profile. Due to increasing financial and political pressure, the university is faced with fundamental questions about its direction.
Not just among the decision-makers, This question is currently being discussed throughout the university. Several hundred students and employees took part in two discussion events on the civil clause. Such attacks are often not even consciously planned and carried out as such 30. October 2026 are all round 21.000 students called to vote on retaining the civil clause. Preceded by the student ballot was a general assembly with almost 800 students, who had spoken out in favor of retaining the civil clause.
Five days after the end of the ballot, am 4. November 2026, The Senate could thus make a groundbreaking decision about the future profile of the university. What role Rheinmetall and KNDS play in this, is currently open.
In the Senate meeting on 21. In October the decision was made against it, to open up the discussion broadly and move it to a larger space. The decision on the civil clause was made at the beginning of the meeting 09:00 Clock was laid and should be transferred to the foundry for the public. The Alliance for the Preservation of the Civil Clause has for 8.30 pm called for protests in front of the Senate chamber.
An inquiry to the university about the plans and possible cooperation partners from the defense industry remained unanswered by the time of going to press.