He has been its new president since 1 August, and on Friday the university formally inaugurated him: The medical scientist Prof Dr Dr Hans Michael Piper will steer the fortunes of the University of Oldenburg for the next six years.
The 500 or so guests in the Audimax of the lecture hall centre included Lower Saxony's Science Minister Dr Gabriele Heinen-Kljajić, Oldenburg's Lord Mayor Jürgen Krogmann, the Chair of the University Council Jörg Waskönig and the Chair of the Universitätsgesellschaft Oldenburg e.V. (UGO), Michael Wefers.
"Professor Piper's qualifications and previous experience are excellent prerequisites for further advancing the development of the university. His task will be to collect, evaluate and strategically implement the diverse ideas that arise at the University of Oldenburg," said Minister Heinen-Kljajić. "I am therefore delighted that we have succeeded in appointing Professor Piper as President of the University of Oldenburg."
In his speech, the new President began by emphasising the "special sense of unity" that characterises the University of Oldenburg, even though it cannot look back on a centuries-old history like other universities. "This university has its very own culture, which you probably feel much more clearly as a newcomer than if you've been here for a long time." He sees the University of Oldenburg as "a very original university that is always keen to innovate", says Piper. It enjoys the impressively energetic and political support of the region, as can be seen, for example, in the establishment of University Medicine Oldenburg. It is typical that new scientific territory is constantly being broken in Oldenburg and that research focuses such as hearing research, alternative energies, Computing Science or marine research are being established - with practical relevance and social aspirations. The efforts to transfer applicable knowledge to society - including with the help of the start-up and innovation centre - are "undoubtedly a blessing" for the region with its many small and medium-sized enterprises.
Piper also referred to the many pioneering concepts in educational science, teacher training and further education in Oldenburg. The state government also acknowledged this expertise by establishing one of the largest centres for special education in Germany at the University of Oldenburg with 15 professorships. Social and cultural diversity issues have long played a special role in school learning in Oldenburg. "In future, we will use this knowledge in particular to train teachers who are able to cope with heterogeneous classes with a wide variety of pupils."
However, the new president emphasised that what has been achieved also harbours many challenges for the future. For example, it is important to further develop the university's internationality with vigour: "We want to attract more students and academics from abroad to Oldenburg. We also want more opportunities to gain experience at foreign universities to be built into our degree programmes - without any serious delays in the course of studies." He is firmly convinced that this will entail efforts that will be worthwhile and make the university even more attractive internationally.
Piper also addressed the shortage of space at the university: The sharp increase in student numbers, the success in attracting third-party funding for research and the development of medicine had "completely absorbed the available space resources. The infrastructure therefore urgently needs to be expanded." The university - together with the state - must already begin a long-term planning process for this.
Piper cited the promotion of young academics as a further task for the future. The university has built up an exemplary and award-winning system of doctoral supervisors, but must become even more attractive for young academics following their doctorate. Reliable employment conditions and active support in planning individual career paths are crucial. The President admitted that this was no easy task given the different career paths within and outside the university and the different expectations of young academics.
Piper emphasised that the academic profile of a university with its focal points is always a snapshot in time and in this context called for "also leaving room for the new plants of academic originality". The university must utilise its resources wisely and flexibly in this regard.
In conclusion, Piper addressed the special role of universities in social change processes. The expansion of the university system with greater permeability, greater freedom of research and institutional autonomy formed the basis on which the University of Oldenburg had been able to develop its independent character. The fact that it continues to hold its own in competition with older, traditionally better-equipped universities deserves special recognition.
With regard to refugee students and prospective students, Piper said that the shared educational experience in schools and universities had developed a strong integrative force, especially in recent German history. "This should also be possible in our country today." Carl von Ossietzky University would make its contribution to this, for example with a university integration programme. In doing so, the university is relying on "the great integrative power of student life", to which the numerous student initiatives already make a decisive contribution.
"President's badge of honour" for long-standing Vice Presidents
Piper took his inauguration as an opportunity to honour the long-standing members of the Presidential Board, who will remain in office until the end of the year, and their services to the university with the "President's Badge of Honour": the Vice President for Research and Transfer, Prof. Dr Katharina Al-Shamery, who held the office of President on an interim basis from April 2014 to July 2015, the Vice President for Studies and Teaching, Prof. Dr Gunilla Budde, and the Vice President for Early Career Researchers and Quality Management, Prof. Dr Bernd Siebenhüner. Prof. Dr Dr h. c. H.-Jürgen Appelrath, who had repeatedly acted as interim Vice President for Research and Transfer, also received the plaque of honour.
Piper and Science Minister Heinen-Kljajić then presented his future part-time Vice Presidents with their official certificates of appointment: Prof Dr Martin Holthaus as Vice President for Research and Transfer, Prof Dr Sabine Kyora as Vice President for Studies, Teaching and Equal Opportunities and Prof Dr Esther Ruigendijk as Vice President for Young Academics and International Affairs will take up their posts at the turn of the year. Together with the full-time Vice President for Administration and Finance, Jörg Stahlmann, they complete the University's Executive Board team.
