In order to meet these needs, attempts have been made to provide further education for those who, chiefly because of a desire for promotion, want to increase their professional knowledge. Other measures have also been taken, in particular the creation in 1957 of the "Institut National des Sciences Appliquees" at Lyon, which is directed, in fact, by the speaker. An indication has been given of the charac- ter of this establishment, which in many ways resembles the "Technische Hochschulen" of Germany. It differs essentially from them, however, by virtue of the "numerus clausus" which it has been necessary to introduce, and of the obligation on students ta complete their studies in eight semesters. It is worth noting that the Institute, comprises a "Com ge preparatoire" and two sections of different level; after tWJ semesters in the "College prepara- toire", students can enter, according to their results at the end of the year, either to the higher technology or the practical technology section. Diskussion Magnifizenz Professor Dr. -Ing. Herwart Opitz Die Schwierigkeiten scheinen mir wesentlich darin zu liegen, daB auf der einen Seite die Zahl der Interessenten fiir technische und ingenieur-wissen- schaftliche Berufe immer groBer wird, daB andererseits aber damit der An- teil der wirklich qualifizierten Studenten zuriickgeht. Dies gilt natiirlich insbesondere fiir die Ausbildung an den Technischen Hochschulen, fiir die eine bestimmte wissenschaftliche Qualifikation vorausgesetzt werden muB, die weder durch den Neubau von Gymnasien noch den von Hochschulen er- reidtt wird.