'Students who wanted to enter the universities had to spend three days bringing rubbish away ... By this they qualified to be considered as a candidate for admission.'
After the Second World War Dr Friedrich Schneider, now retiring Secretary-General of the European Science Foundation, took over administration of Cologne University where this unusual entrance qualification was required. He talks to John Maddox about his experiences in revitalising education at Cologne, establishing the Max Planck Research Institutes as the centre of excellence, and organising European science.
Producer DAVID PATERSON