Tübingen University Council Convenes for Historic 100th Meeting
The University Council of the University of Tübingen met for the 100th time on Tuesday. The committee has been supporting and advising the respective rectorates of the University of Tübingen on strategic issues since 2000. It consists of seven external and four internal members and has been headed since 2018 by Bernhard Sibold, the former president of the headquarters of the Deutsche Bundesbank in Baden-Württemberg. The science journalist and moderator Lena Ganschow took part as a guest at the anniversary meeting – she will be a new member of the Tübingen University Council from December 1st. She replaces Christiane Neumann, former managing director of the Leibniz Association, whose term of office ends after nine years.
University councils were introduced in almost all German federal states from 1998 following an amendment to the University Framework Act. Its members, most of whom are externally appointed from business, politics, culture or other research institutions, bring an outside perspective into the developments of a university. In Baden-Württemberg, they also decide on the budget, decide on development plans and are significantly involved in the election of the university leadership.
“In more than two decades of shared journey, the University Council provided important impulses for the development of the University of Tübingen,” said Rector Professor Karla Pollmann. “His vote is an indicator for the university to continually reflect on its strategic direction, its position in the field of research-strong universities and also its role in society.”
The Tübingen University Council played a key role in shaping the excellence strategy. He accompanied numerous reforms such as the restructuring of the faculties and the implementation of the Bologna Process as well as the negotiations of university financing agreements with the country. And he advised the university on, among other things, internationalization, the founding of the teacher training center, the center for Islamic theology and the Cyber Valley.
The minutes also show that the student housing shortage was discussed during the first term of office. The University Council hopes that the new management of the student union will improve the situation. And the university’s construction projects were always a topic. The current meeting was about further construction planning and area management. “A university of excellence also requires excellent accommodation. With a view to the university’s 550th anniversary in 2027, the renovation and modernization backlog of over a billion euros should be at least partially resolved through one or two flagship projects,” says Bernhard Sibold.
Another topic for the next few years will be the shortage of skilled workers – together with the regional economy, the university council and the university want to combat this proactively by bringing together more talented young talent with the right companies.
For Christiane Neumann, former managing director of the Leibniz Association, the anniversary meeting was also her last: after nine years of membership – the state higher education law does not allow more – it was passed. Sibold thanked her for the excellent and trusting collaboration, in which she was able to contribute her many years of experience in prominent leadership positions in research and science organizations.
Lena Ganschow took part in a meeting of the University Council as a guest for the first time. After being elected by the University Senate, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science appointed her as a new member on December 1st. Ganschow studied biology in Tübingen and Boston and wrote her thesis with Professor Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology. While still studying, she decided to fully immerse herself in the media world. She volunteered at Südwestrundfunk and has since moderated numerous programs and television documentaries. Since 2023 she has been presenting “ARD Wissen” – a new documentary format on Erste. Since 2021 she has also been a lecturer for media and presentation training at the National Institute for Science Communication (NaWik).