• Unanimous election of the Board of Directors

  Not only the Chair of the University Society, entrepreneur Peter Waskönig, but also the other members of the Board of Directors were unanimously elected or re-elected at the Society's annual meeting on 23 November. In addition to Waskönig, the board includes Lord Mayor Dieter Holzapfel, Dr Günter König (Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Prof Michael Daxner (University), Managing Director Heiko Büsing, Werner Mock (IG Medien), Prof Horst K. Schminke (University) and Ursula Maria Schute (Oldenburgische Landschaft). The new Advisory Board, which also received a unanimous vote from the members, is made up of Wilfried Barnstedt, Hubert Bittner, Dr Jörg Bleckmann, Rita Broweleit, Prof. Götz Frank, Rolf Gerwien, Ina Grieb, Johannes Johannsen, Axel König, Prof. Laurenz Lachnit, Eckart Otter, Prof. Rolf Schaefer, Arno Schreiber, Dietmar Schubert and Rolf Seelheim.

• High attendance at the New Year's reception

  The members of the University Society showed a high attendance at the joint New Year's reception with the University in the Oldenburg State Theatre. Over 230 of the 650 seats were taken by members of the society. This is a sign that the University enjoys a high level of interest among many citizens of the region, said the Chair of the University Society, Peter Waskönig. He announced that the University Society would also be taking part in next year's New Year's reception - in conjunction with a theatre performance.

• More information for members

  The Executive Board and Advisory Board intend to publish a quarterly information sheet for members of the University Society, which will report on the Society's work, draw attention to important events at the University and contain a calendar of events, including lecture series at the University.

• Growth

  The University Society continues to grow. The number of members is increasing and is now approaching 500.

• Better contacts

  The University Society would like to establish stronger contacts between its members and members of the University. As part of this programme, there will be a company tour, a visit to a department and a communication evening with students and academics.

Great interest in technology centre

The technology centre brought up by University President Prof. Dr Michael Daxner and politicians from the region has met with a surprisingly high response. A survey of companies in the region carried out by Peter Waskönig and Dr Günter König, members of the Board of the University Society, received responses from 89 companies. Almost all of them were in favour of building the centre, and 18 showed interest in renting space there themselves.

The foundation stone for the 4000 square metre building is scheduled to be laid this year. A design by a private group of investors has already been submitted. The plot of land is also already available. The city is making it available on Küpkersweg in a size that will also allow for expansion should demand increase. Offices, laboratories and technical halls are to be offered for sale or rent in the building.

Technology centres in the university area are intended to offer companies the opportunity to work more closely with application-oriented research projects or to give university projects the chance to market their products through their own start-ups or economically independent, so-called affiliated institutes.