The points of departure, objectives and methods of higher education planning are subsumed within the total context of the social, scientific, technical and cultural development of a country and dependent upon that country's social order. In the socialist countries, all deliberations on educational planning involve the all-round development of the socialist personality. Economic goals and factors also play an important role, but they must be seen as a means to the end of a superordinate goal. In the German Democratic Republic educational planning has to guarantee the realisation of several constitutional mandates: admission to universities and colleges in accordance with the principle of achievement, with the requirements of society, and with reference to the social composition of the people and equality of the sexes; the right to work and the social security of the graduates. In terms of the number of students admitted to and graduating from higher education, the GDR has arrived at a high level. The planning of higher education takes place in accordance with the principles of democratic centralism, with broad participation of people inside and outside of universities.