This year, for the first time, the University and the Oldenburg University Society (UGO) jointly marked the opening of the academic year to mark the start of the winter semester. “Auftakt 17/18” brought together members of the university community, UGO members and invited guests from the worlds of politics, business and culture.

The keynote speaker at the event was Gerhard Schröder, who served as Federal Chancellor from 1998 to 2005.

Gerhard Schröder has been a guest at the University of Oldenburg on several occasions – in the 1980s as leader of the SPD parliamentary group in the state parliament and as Minister-President of Lower Saxony (1990–1998). In 1991, his government tabled a bill which received broad support from the state parliament for the University of Oldenburg’s proposed naming of the university after Carl von Ossietzky.

The musical programme for the evening was organised by students under the direction of the Institute of Music. Among other things, guests were treated to a cappella performances, a trombone quartet, percussion and excerpts from the current revue “ESC-APE”, directed by Peter Janßen and Axel Fries.

The ceremony concluded with a reception in the foyer of the Lecture Theatre Centre. Here, young entrepreneurs also presented their business ideas.