POST-COVID-19 UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE IN GERMANY
Researchers admit that there will not be a quick return to “business as usual”, especially related to internationalization, the financing of studies and universities, research and administration. The enabling research question is formulated as following: What is the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and university governance? The aim of the article is to examine the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and university governance underpinning the elaboration of implications for higher education. The study was of the qualitative nature. The exploratory study was implemented. The study was carried out in Germany on the 22nd September 2020. Focus group interview served as a method of data collection. The data were interpreted via structuring and summarising content analysis. The theoretical finding is that the COVID-19 pandemic is a factor that influences the university governance. The COVID-19 pandemic is an external factor in regard to university governance. Factor impact can be regulated. Factor impact can be increased or decreased according to the situation requirements. The empirical data allow concluding that the COVID-19 pandemic fastens the changes in governing the universities in Germany. Implications for higher education are presented. Research limitations are identified. Directions of further research are proposed.