University President Babette Simon takes over as Chairman of the Executive Board of the Mainz University Medical Centre

Prof Dr Babette Simon, President of the University Medicine Oldenburg since 2010, is taking over the role of Medical Director and Chairwoman of the Mainz University Medical Centre. The Supervisory Board decided to appoint the physician with effect from 1 April.

Simon emphasised that she was leaving the university with a heavy heart, as she had enjoyed leading it during her four years in office. "In the 40 years of its existence, the University of Oldenburg has achieved an outstanding position in research and teaching and is undoubtedly one of the most successful German reform universities today." Simon said that she was particularly impressed by the high level of commitment shown by all of the university's employees and the strong support from the region.

The office of President will be reappointed in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act. "Thanks to the many years of trustful cooperation, I am sure that my colleagues on the Presidential Board will continue on the forward-looking path for the good of the University until my successor is appointed," explained Simon.

Jörg Waskönig, Chairman of the University Council of the University of Oldenburg, said that he was extremely sorry to see President Simon go. "During her presidency, the University of Oldenburg has developed dynamically and successfully," emphasised Waskönig. However, he sympathised with her decision to take on this extremely attractive position in Mainz. "In President Simon, the University of Oldenburg is losing an outstanding university expert and science manager who, even in difficult times, showed great skill and enormous personal commitment to the interests and future viability of the university and positioned it with a successful profile in a competitive environment," said Waskönig.

Simon's time in office saw the further development of the university's profile and its internationalisation. This included the founding of the School of Medicine and the opening of the European Medical School Oldenburg-Groningen. In addition, the "Hearing4all" cluster of excellence, four new DFG Research Training Groups and two DFG Research Units were approved, as well as the construction of the Research Laboratory for Turbulence and Wind Energy Systems and the Student Service Centre. In order to promote young scientists, the university opened a Graduate Academy. The Federal Ministry of Economics named the University of Oldenburg one of the best start-up universities in Germany; it subsequently opened a start-up and innovation centre (GIZ). In the area of study and teaching, the goals of the European study reform were pursued further and funding for research-based learning was successfully acquired in the federal-state programme "Quality Pact for Teaching".

Simon studied medicine in Freiburg and Basel and completed her doctorate at the University of Freiburg. Before taking up the post of President of the University of Oldenburg on 1 February 2010, she was Vice President at the Philipps University of Marburg. Among other things, she is a member of the Medical Committee of the German Council of Science and Humanities and Senator of the Helmholtz Association for the Research Field Health.