A dataset of study program availability in German higher education between 1971 and 1996

Area of Science:

• Education Science
• Economics
• Sociology

Background:

• Educational systems are crucial for human capital, technological advancement, and economic growth.
• Higher education drives innovation, with diverse fields contributing uniquely.
• A gap existed in historical data on academic field evolution within national higher education systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the RWI-UNI-SUBJECTS dataset, the first comprehensive collection of study opportunities in German higher education institutions.
• To cover the period from 1971 to 1996, providing a historical perspective on academic field development.
• To facilitate interdisciplinary research on education, innovation, and economic development.

Main Methods:

• Data extracted from annual study guides of the German Federal Employment Agency (1971-1996).
• A custom-developed computer vision algorithm was employed for data extraction.
• Dataset enriched with administrative codes for fields, institutions, and districts for integration with other data sources.

Main Results:

• The RWI-UNI-SUBJECTS dataset comprises 105,307 study programs from German higher education institutions between 1971 and 1996.
• Provides a detailed historical overview of the landscape of academic fields offered.
• Enables linkage with social security data, student statistics, and the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS).

Conclusions:

• The RWI-UNI-SUBJECTS dataset addresses a critical data gap in the study of educational systems.
• It serves as a valuable foundation for analyzing the long-term evolution of academic fields and their impact.
• Facilitates new avenues for research at the intersection of education, innovation, and economic growth.