"The anniversary year 2024 marks a special milestone for Carl von Ossietzky University. For half a century, it has stood for excellent research, outstanding teaching and deep roots in the region." With these words, Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture, Falko Mohrs, welcomed around 500 guests to the New Year's reception organised by the University and University Society Oldenburg e.V. (UGO). "In the past year, which was challenging in many respects, the university was able to impressively demonstrate these strengths. In the future, they will continue to contribute to jointly and successfully mastering current challenges such as the increased training of teaching staff and medical specialists," continued Mohrs.
The New Year's reception has brought the university and the region together at the Oldenburg State Theatre every year since 1995. To mark the university's 50th anniversary, the guests enjoyed works from operettas and musicals as well as film music and thus a "best of" from previous New Year's concerts. General Director Christian Firmbach and University President Prof Dr Ralph Bruder jointly hosted the evening.
Their guests on stage included Oldenburg's Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann, who emphasised the close connection between the city and the university. "The fact that the New Year's reception is taking place in the main auditorium of the Oldenburg State Theatre is particularly fitting in this anniversary year," said Krogmann. "After all, the university plays the big stage of science, research and teaching in an outstanding way." The city wants to help ensure that the university can continue to play an important role as a driving force for innovation processes and remain in the spotlight. "The new cooperation agreement concluded last year will showcase the harmonious collaboration between the city and the university even better than before," said Krogmann with conviction. The Lord Mayor also hopes that the joint commitment to university medicine will soon lead to a happy ending and reliable financing.
Special moments and looking forward to the future
University President Prof. Dr Ralph Bruder emphasised: "The University has experienced many special moments over the past 50 years, which we look back on with pride and gratitude. We are now looking forward to the future with great anticipation". The university has a lot planned for the coming years: "We will continue to focus intensively on socially relevant topics, expand our internationally visible research focus and strengthen our already very strong interdisciplinary cooperation," emphasised Bruder. The university has equally high standards for its teacher training and research-oriented degree programmes. "Whether medical care, energy transition or school education - we feel a special responsibility for this region," said Bruder.
The Oldenburg State Orchestra conducted by Vito Cristofaro and soloists Paola Leoci and Paul Brady got the anniversary year off to a lively start. The New Year's reception ended with the traditional "chat afterwards".
As in previous years, guests supported the university's "Deutschlandstipendium" scholarship programme, which supports particularly talented and committed students, with the purchase of their tickets.