• "Excellent working basis"

  Gerhard Wachsmann Prize for thesis on the EU

  Heiko Walkenhorst was unanimously awarded the 1996 Gerhard Wachsmann Prize by the Universitätsgesellschaft Oldenburg e.V. for his master's thesis in political science. His topic was: "The Federalisation of the European Union: possibilities and limits in the field of tension between the three political levels of the EC/EU, nation states and regions". The thesis, which was written at Faculty 3 Social Sciences, examines the question of how the EU will continue to develop in light of the debate on federalism. Will the countries or regions be able to participate in European decisions in a future Europe? Will the cultural sovereignty of the German Federal States be preserved in a centralised European Union if the Federal Government is a contracting party?

  In the jury's opinion, Walkenhorst has organised the complex and much-discussed topic at all levels of politics into a structure that expresses historical aspects, theory, reality and the legal situation as well as conflicting claims. In addition, political principles of order are presented that could balance centralism on the one hand and federalism on the other. In its objectivity and rigour, the work provides an excellent working basis for well-founded European policy decision-making. In her laudatory speech, the director of the Oldenburgische Landschaft, Ursula Maria Schute, said: "I hope that his work will be widely disseminated, because I think that it can make a significant contribution to guiding the political debate on Europe and regionalisation towards well-founded arguments and realistic perspectives."

• Successful New Year's reception

  After 1996, the University and the University Society once again held a successful New Year's reception for their members and relatives this year at the Staatstheater Oldenburg with Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The approximately 600 guests were welcomed by Intendant Stephan Mettin, Vice President Prof Dr Siegfried Grubitzsch and the Chair of the University Society, Peter Waskönig. In this context, Waskönig appealed to the city to make more use of the image-building term "University City Oldenburg". It must be filled with life. After all, 10% of the population is directly involved with the university.

• Special rate for students

  Students who want to join the University Society only have to pay 30 marks a year. This was decided by the general meeting last year. Nevertheless, the offer has so far only been taken up very hesitantly. All the more pleasing, however, is the general recruitment of members. It is approaching the figure of 500.

The University Society is once again offering a varied programme in 1997. In addition to company tours with discussions between company management, the university and the University Society, visits to various departments of the university are offered.

The extension of the University Society's awards for special academic achievements is also under discussion.

More than ever, the University Society will be focussing its efforts on presenting the University, its facilities and its achievements to a broad public. The aim is to root the university even more firmly in the region. This also includes promoting its further expansion - in particular the establishment of an engineering faculty. There are particularly high hopes for innovative impulses in this area.