Throwback to the history of the University of Oldenburg

The picture shows a seminar room in which students are sitting. In the foreground is a replica skeleton of a human body. — University of Oldenburg / Torsten von Reeken

15 Jul 2019 University Medicine Human Medicine

15 July 2019: Praise for EMS from the German Council of Science and Humanities

On 15 July 2019, the German Council of Science and Humanities assessed the European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen (EMS) model degree programme in…

The picture shows opened early modern letters. Handwritten information and seals can be recognised. There are also some stains on the letters. — National Archives (UK) / HCA32_249

13 Nov 2017 PrizePapers History of the early modern period

13 November 2017: Launch of the "Prize Papers" project

On 13 November 2017, the "Prize Papers" research project led by Oldenburg historian Prof. Dr Dagmar Freist was accepted into the academy programme…

University of Oldenburg / Daniel Schmidt

31 May 2017 Marine Sciences Cooperations

31 May 2017: Foundation of the HIFMB

The Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB) was founded on 31 May 2017.

The HIFMB is an…

The picture shows the ship "Sonne". It is floating on a calm body of water on the open sea. There are various superstructures and cranes on the ship. — University of Oldenburg / Thomas Badewien

17 Nov 2014 Marine Sciences Marine Science

17 November 2014: Handover of the "Sun"

On 17 November 2014, the research vessel "Sonne" was handed over to its home institute, the Institute of Chemistry and Biology of the Marine…

The picture shows the Dutch King Willem-Alexander, his wife Máxima and the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil. They are leaning slightly forwards towards a model of a car with an alternative drive system that is being explained to them. — University of Oldenburg / Tobias Trapp

26 May 2014 Energy Research People

26 May 2014: Royal visit to the university

On 26 May 2014, the University of Oldenburg shone in royal splendour: Dutch King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Máxima visited the EWE research…

The picture shows the Karl Jaspers House in the Dobbenviertel neighbourhood. The house is a two-storey villa with a red roof and yellow paint. A car is parked in front of the house. The house is surrounded by a white fence. — University of Oldenburg / Daniel Schmidt

07 Sep 2013 Philosophy

7 September 2013: Karl Jaspers House is opened

The Karl Jaspers House in Oldenburg's Dobbenviertel district was opened on 7 September 2013. The villa is probably one of the university's most…

The picture shows the first 40 medical students. They are standing in front of the entrance to building V02 and smiling at the camera. — University of Oldenburg

01 Oct 2012 University Medicine Human Medicine

1 October 2012: Medical studies begin

On 1 October 2012, 28 women and twelve men began their medical studies at the University of Oldenburg, causing a sensation beyond the region.

They…

The picture shows Stephan Albani, then Managing Director of HörTech/Hörzentrum Oldenburg, Prof. Dr Erich Barke, then President of the University of Hanover, the then Federal Minister of Science Prof. Dr Johanna Wanka, Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Thomas Lenarz from "Hearing4All", Prof. Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier, then spokesperson for "Hearing4All", Prof. Dr Babette Simon, then President of the University of Oldenburg. Thomas Lenarz from "Hearing4All", Prof Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier, then spokesperson for "Hearing4All", Prof Dr Babette Simon, then President of the University of Oldenburg, Prof Dr Dieter Bitter-Suermann, then President of Hannover Medical School. They smile into the camera. — University of Oldenburg / Markus Hibbeler

15 Jun 2012 Excellence Strategy Hearing Research

15 June 2012: Success with cluster of excellence

On 15 June 2012, Oldenburg hearing research celebrated a major success: the "Hearing4all" cluster of excellence proposal was approved as part of the…

The picture shows the two-storey Schlaue Haus from the rear. It is located near Oldenburg Castle. The back is painted white. — The Smart House Oldenburg University / Smart House

07 Jan 2009 Urban area

7 January 2009: "City of Science"

Oldenburg was launched as a "City of Science" on 7 January 2009. The award from the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft was a great success…

University of Oldenburg / Per Ruppel

01 Oct 2004 Teaching Studying

1 October 2004: Bachelor and Master

On 1 October 2004, the University of Oldenburg was the first university in Lower Saxony and one of the first in Germany to switch its degree…

The picture shows Prof Dr Dr Birger Kollmeier in the Audimax during his lecture. Hundreds of inquisitive children sit in the auditorium and listen to his lecture. — University of Oldenburg / Wilfried Golletz

18 Feb 2004 KinderUniversität

18 February 2004: First lecture at the Children's University

The first "KinderUni Oldenburg" started on 18 February 2004 with a lecture by hearing researcher Prof. Dr Birger Kollmeier.

There were a total of 100…

The picture shows the ForWind research laboratory from above. The wind tunnel is located in a separate hall. — University of Oldenburg / Daniel Clören

01 Mar 2003 Wind Physics ForWind Center for Wind Energy Research

1 August 2003: ForWind starts

The ForWind - Centre for Wind Energy Research was founded on 1 August 2003.

Bundling university research on wind energy and promoting the knowledge…

The picture shows people standing in the foyer of the Audimax on the opening day. A buffet has been set up and photographers are taking pictures of the scene. — University of Oldenburg / Wilfried Golletz

27 Apr 1998 Buildings

27 April 1998: Inauguration of the Audimax in A 14

Auditorium Centre A 14 was opened on 27 April 1998.

Lecture Theatre Centre A 14 is the Audimax and, alongside the tower with the dove of peace, the…

The image shows a printed page of the Insights article discussed in the text. — University of Oldenburg / Henning Kulbarsch

14 Feb 1997 Psychology

Winter 1997: Insights into "Love and being in love"

In spring 1997, an article appeared in the UOL research magazine EINBLICKE that still arouses great interest today: "Love and being in love" by Prof…

01 Mar 1995 Homepage

March 1995: The university website goes online

The university website went online in March 1995.

It has long been the case that anyone who wants to find out about the University of Oldenburg first…

The picture shows young people sitting and working at CRT monitors. — University of Oldenburg / Screenshot image film

19 Jan 1992 Industriestraße / OFFIS Computing Science

29 January 1992: Opening of OFFIS as an affiliated Institute

The OFFIS - Institute for Computing Science was opened on 29 January 1992.

Anyone studying at the University of Oldenburg today is unlikely to come…

The picture shows the then Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Gerhard Schröder, with Rosalinde von Ossietzky-Palm. They are standing on a stage, she is holding a bouquet of flowers. Schröder shows her the way off the stage. Cameras watch the scene. — University of Oldenburg / Wilfried Golletz

03 Oct 1991 Higher Education Policy People

3 October 1991: Naming ceremony

On 3 October 1991, the ceremony to name the University of Oldenburg after Carl von Ossietzky took place. Among the guests was his daughter Rosalinde…

The picture shows the two football teams. They are standing on a football pitch and looking into the camera. — University of Oldenburg

31 May 1985 International affairs

31 May 1985: The start of a football tradition

On 31 May 1985, the football teams from the universities of Oldenburg and Groningen played against each other for the first time.

Five years after…

The picture shows an employee working at a typewriter. The caption to the photo from Uni-Info reads "No unbroken pleasure: Working on the new technology in the office". — University of Oldenburg / Wilfried Golletz

05 Nov 1984 Digitisation University workplace

5 November 1984: Digitisation arrives

On 5 November 1984, the university newspaper UNI-INFO reported on the first use of "screen typewriters" - early precursors of personal computers - at…

The picture shows Dr Johann-Tönjes Cassens, then Minister for Science and Art in Lower Saxony. He is surrounded by students as he is about to give a speech. They interrupt him and hold up posters of people who have lost their jobs as a result of the occupational bans. The minister looks indignant. — University of Oldenburg / Wilfried Golletz

28 Jun 1984 Buildings School V

28 June 1984: Inauguration of the Wechloy campus

On 28 June 1984, the Wechloy science campus was to be officially opened.

This led to an unprecedented scandal in the history of the university. The…

The picture shows the energy laboratory from the outside. You can also see various solar modules on the walls. — University of Oldenburg / Wilfried Golletz

18 Dec 1980 Buildings Energy Research

18 December 1980: Ground-breaking ceremony for the energy laboratory

The ground-breaking ceremony for the energy laboratory took place on 18 December 1980 - as the first building on the Wechloy campus.

The energy…

The picture shows the then Minister for Science and Art, Eduard Pestel, and the provisional university president, Hans-Dietrich Raapke, sawing down the protest wall together as a highly symbolic act. Bystanders watch the work. — University of Oldenburg / Wilfried Golletz

19 May 1980 Buildings Higher Education Policy

19 May 1980: Ground-breaking ceremony for the central area

Construction of the central area on Uhlhornsweg began on 19 May 1980: the library, refectory building and sports facilities were built.

However, it…

The picture shows the then University President Hans-Dietrich Raapke and the then President of the University of Groningen signing the agreement. — Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

17 Apr 1980 Higher Education Policy International affairs

17 April 1980: Contract for co-operation with Groningen

On 17 April 1980, the then President of the University, Prof. Dr Hans-Dietrich Raapke (left), signed the first co-operation agreement with a foreign…

The picture shows the covered building A 1-4. The poster mentioned in the text can also be recognised. There is snow around the building. — University of Oldenburg / Wilfried Golletz

01 Feb 1980 Buildings Higher Education Policy

Winter 1980: Protest against the expansion freeze

In the winter of 1980, students wrapped what is now A1-A4 - then known as the Allgemeines Verfügungszentrum (AVZ). Their role model: wrapping artist…

The picture shows the memorial for Ossietzky in front of the Audimax. It depicts barbed wire. The inscription mentioned in the text can be recognised in the front. There are bicycles in the background and the sun is shining. — University of Oldenburg / Daniel Schmidt

04 May 1978 Higher Education Policy

4 May 1978: The first Ossietzky Days

The first "Ossietzky Days" took place at the University of Oldenburg on 4 and 5 May 1978.

Anyone visiting the university, or more precisely the…

The picture shows two men sitting in a room at the university. One of them is smoking a pipe and large clouds of smoke can be seen. — University of Oldenburg / Jochen Dubuisson

03 Dec 1976 Buildings University

3 December 1976: (No) smoking ban at the university

On 3 December 1976, the then Rector of the University, Prof. Dr Rainer Krüger, called on lecturers in UNI-INFO to hold a vote in their seminars on…

The picture shows a table in the canteen at the time. It is full of cups, plates and cutlery. Much of it is dirty. Some students are sitting in the background, chairs and tables have been moved. The caption from Uni-Info reads "Everyday life in the canteen: table that has not been cleared by users." — University of Oldenburg

11 Nov 1976 Buildings

11 November 1976: The canteen etiquette

On 11 November 1976, UNI-INFO published a "Little etiquette guide for the canteen". The reason for this was the mess that students often left behind…

The picture shows Aart Pabst and his fellow students attaching the umbrella. One of the men is wearing a white coat, while another is holding a ladder on which a third is standing and attaching a letter to the tower. — Hinrich Gerresheim

16 Oct 1974 Buildings University Higher Education Policy

16 October 1974: Action at the tower - with consequences

On 16 October 1974, three university students painted the name "Carl von Ossietzky University" in large letters on the tower of building A 1-4. The…

The image is a screenshot from a university image film. It shows students sitting in the auditorium in A11 and listening to a lecture with their arms crossed. One of the men looks slightly annoyed at the camera. — University of Oldenburg / Jochen Dubuisson

01 Apr 1974 Studying

1 April 1974: The first semester starts

The very first semester at the University of Oldenburg began on 1 April 1974.

In the summer semester of 1974, 2,507 young people began their studies…

The picture shows the first page of the first issue of Uni-Info. The newspaper is printed on paper and is black and white. The first page begins with a reprint of the university charter at the time, introduced by a preliminary remark from the founding committee. — University of Oldenburg

11 Mar 1974 Higher Education Policy

11 March 1974: The first UNI-INFO is published

The first issue of UNI-INFO was published on 11 March 1974.

The university newspaper UNI-INFO is available in many places at the university and is…

The picture shows a demonstration in the centre of Oldenburg in the early 1970s. Several hundred people have turned up. Some are holding up placards calling for the establishment of a university or a reform university. — Northwest Newspaper

05 Dec 1973 University Higher Education Policy

5 December 1973: Foundation of the university

On 5 December 1973, it was finally decided: Oldenburg would have a university. On this day, the corresponding resolution of the Lower Saxony state…

The picture shows the founding meeting of the UGO. Several dozen people sit in a room and listen to a speaker. — Northwest Newspaper

26 Apr 1972 University Society UGO University Society

26 April 1972: Foundation of the UGO

The Universitätsgesellschaft Oldenburg e.V. (UGO) was founded on 26 April 1972, one and a half years earlier than the university itself.

The UGO sees…

The picture shows several volumes of leaflets lying on a table. One of the books is open. You can see a leaflet from the AStA inviting people to an event. Some of the leaflets are printed on white paper, others on coloured paper. — University of Oldenburg / Henning Kulbarsch

01 Jan 1970 University History

Timeless: flyers at the university

We were unable to assign one of the 33 "Throwbacks" to a specific date because it is a timeless phenomenon that is basically still valid today:…

Between December 2023 and December 2024, the University of Oldenburg celebrated its 50th anniversary. To mark the occasion, staff from the Press and Communication department researched the university's archives and publications to find special, significant and curious events that have shaped the university in the first 50 years of its existence. The result is a total of 33 retrospectives for Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn - also known as "throwbacks" in social media parlance. They were viewed around 330,000 times. If you missed them, you can find an overview here.

The series spans a period from the founding of the University Society in 1972 to the positive assessment of the medical degree programme by the German Council of Science and Humanities in 2019 and provides exciting background information on key developments and events in Oldenburg's university history - from the name dispute to the Children's University, the Ossietzky Days and the Excellence Initiative.

Editors: Henning Kulbarsch and Silke Rudolph

(Changed: 27 Feb 2026) | Kurz-URL:Shortlink: https://uol.de/p108527en

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Throwback to the history of the University of Oldenburg

Throwback to the history of the University of Oldenburg

15 July 2019: Praise for EMS from the German Council of Science and Humanities

13 November 2017: Launch of the "Prize Papers" project

31 May 2017: Foundation of the HIFMB

17 November 2014: Handover of the "Sun"

26 May 2014: Royal visit to the university

7 September 2013: Karl Jaspers House is opened

1 October 2012: Medical studies begin

15 June 2012: Success with cluster of excellence

7 January 2009: "City of Science"

1 October 2004: Bachelor and Master

18 February 2004: First lecture at the Children's University

1 August 2003: ForWind starts

27 April 1998: Inauguration of the Audimax in A 14

Winter 1997: Insights into "Love and being in love"

March 1995: The university website goes online

29 January 1992: Opening of OFFIS as an affiliated Institute

3 October 1991: Naming ceremony

31 May 1985: The start of a football tradition

5 November 1984: Digitisation arrives

28 June 1984: Inauguration of the Wechloy campus

18 December 1980: Ground-breaking ceremony for the energy laboratory

19 May 1980: Ground-breaking ceremony for the central area

17 April 1980: Contract for co-operation with Groningen

Winter 1980: Protest against the expansion freeze

4 May 1978: The first Ossietzky Days

3 December 1976: (No) smoking ban at the university

11 November 1976: The canteen etiquette

16 October 1974: Action at the tower - with consequences

1 April 1974: The first semester starts

11 March 1974: The first UNI-INFO is published

5 December 1973: Foundation of the university

26 April 1972: Foundation of the UGO

Timeless: flyers at the university