Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege, Berlin SenWGP

Overview

The Senate Department for Science, Health and Care of Berlin (Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege – SenWGP) is a cabinet-level authority of the Berlin state government. It integrates higher education oversight, non-university research coordination, public health administration and nursing policy under a single agency. According to uniRank, SenWGP is a central actor in setting the strategic direction for all 32 officially recognised universities and colleges in Berlin.

History and Legal Framework

The body in its current form was created in 1999 as a merger of earlier science, health and nursing administrations. In 2021 the science unit was transferred back from the Senatskanzlei into the health department and in 2023 the formal name SenWGP was adopted. The department operates under the Berlin state constitution and the Berliner Hochschulgesetz (Higher Education Act) as the top supervisory authority for universities, research and public health policy.

Mission, Vision and Objectives in Higher Education

SenWGP’s mission is to ensure access to excellent, inclusive higher education; to foster research innovation; and to guarantee high-quality public healthcare and care services. Its objectives include:

• Negotiating five‑year performance contracts with universities, linking funding to research output, enrolment of under‑represented groups and internationalisation;
• Digitalising administration and teaching via projects such as Digital Campus Berlin;
• Enforcing equality and diversity, including targets for female leadership and refugee enrolment;
• Expanding doctoral rights at Universities of Applied Sciences (as of April 2025);
• Promoting university-business cooperation and cluster excellence networks.

Governance, Structure and Independence

Senatorin Dr. Ina Czyborra (SPD) has led SenWGP since April 2023, supported by State Secretaries Dr. Henry Marx (Science) and Ellen Haußdörfer (Health & Care). The department comprises five main divisions:

• Abteilung Z: Central services covering legal, finance, HR and infrastructure;
• Abteilung I: Public health, hospital oversight, epidemiology and health protection;
• Abteilung II: Nursing policy, long-term care strategy and social care planning;
• Abteilung IV: Non-university research and coordination with the Charité;
• Abteilung V: Higher education governance, programme approval, university agreements and student affairs.

Although part of the city government, SenWGP retains statutory independence under the Berlin Higher Education Act to approve study programmes, appoint university leaders and shape research funding strategies.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation in Higher Education

SenWGP carries out several key quality assurance functions:

1. Granting or withdrawing charters and institutional status;
2. Approving new degree programmes in consultation with national and EU accreditation councils;
3. Negotiating targeting‑based university contracts that align funding with performance and development goals;
4. Evaluating institutional compliance with Berlin’s regulatory and equality requirements through peer reviews and external audit mechanisms.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

SenWGP is Berlin’s official representative in national and international academic bodies and funding schemes. Its international activities include:

• Participation in the Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) and German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) in higher education policy;
• Coordinating EU grant support under Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and COST for Berlin’s consortium of universities;
• Facilitating partnerships via the Berlin University Alliance and key cluster programmes;
• Supporting Charité and non-university research institutes in global networks and innovation projects.

Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

Significant recent developments include:

• A €1.52 billion to €1.85 billion funding increase over 2024–2028 under new performance agreements;
• Implementation of doctoral entitlements for Universities of Applied Sciences from April 2025;
• Ongoing delivery of the Berlin Landes‑pflegeplan 2025, integrating vocational innovation and care services;
• Expansion of digital infrastructure to support unified student IDs, data exchange and online learning environments;
• Embedding performance metrics for equity and international engagement into university governance.

Summary

SenWGP plays a unique integrative role within Berlin’s governance, combining oversight of academic institutions with leadership in health and care policy. Since its reconstitution in 2021–2023, its expanded scope has allowed it to shape long-term funding, digital transformation, equality and research excellence. With responsibility for all major universities and research institutes in Berlin, it drives strategic direction across education, healthcare and nursing under a unified vision.

FAQs

• What responsibilities does SenWGP have?
  It oversees higher education licensing, research policy, public health, long-term care and equality policy in the Berlin city-state.
• When was it established?
  The current department emerged in 1999 and reached its present form in 2021–2023 following legislative reorganisation.
• Who leads SenWGP?
  Senatorin Dr. Ina Czyborra (SPD), with State Secretaries Dr. Henry Marx and Ellen Haußdörfer.
• How many universities does it oversee?
  According to uniRank, Berlin has 32 officially recognised universities and colleges under SenWGP’s oversight.
• How are universities funded?
  Via five-year performance contracts negotiated with SenWGP, linking state funding to teaching quality, research and equality goals.
• How does it promote equality?
  Equality targets for female leadership, refugee and first-generation students are embedded in funding contracts and strategic policy frameworks.

Organization Name

Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege, Berlin
Senate Department for Science, Health and Care of Berlin

Acronym

SenWGP

Year of Establishment

1/01/1999

Control Type

Public

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

Local or Regional

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

n.a.

Address

Warschauer Strasse 41/42
Berlin
10243 Berlin Germany

Phone

+49 (30) 9026-0

Fax

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

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Wikipedia Article

Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege, Berlin's Wikipedia article

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