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Inauguration of the new University President

The inauguration of Prof. Gerd Strohmeier was accompanied by Federal Minister Prof. Johanna Wanka, Saxon State Minister Stange, and the President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Neugebauer, as guests

  • Dr. Peter Seifert, Chair of the University Council and the new University President Prof. Gerd Strohmeier with the Chain of Office. Photo: Jacob Müller
  • Among the more than 500 guests were representatives from politics, business and society, members of Chemnitz University of Technology, Presidents of other universities in Saxony, and former presidents of CUT.
  • Saxony’s State Minister for Higher Education, Research, and the Arts, Dr. Eva-Maria Stange, emphasized in her greeting: ”Chemnitz University of Technology is a successful and scientifically strong university.”
  • Chemnitz University of Technology plays a significant role for the major of the City of Chemnitz Barbara Ludwig: ”If the University prospers, city and region will follow.”
  • Prof. Reimund Neugebauer, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, emphasized in his greeting the unique transdisciplinary cooperation of the eight departments faculties of CUT.
  • Marius Hirschfeld (l.) and Florian Melcher from the student council of the university said: “We are proud to be part of the international student body at CUT.”
  • “Premiere league in the field of resource efficiency”: Federal Minister of Education and Research Prof. Johanna Wanka acknowledged the research focus of CUT in her speech.
  • Shaping instead of maintaining , increasing transparency, strengthening active contribution as well as increased international cooperation while simultaneously ensuring a regional anchoring of the university: University President Prof. Gerd Strohmeier outlined key points of his agenda in his speech.

The President of Chemnitz University of Technology (CUT), Prof. Gerd Strohmeier, was ceremonially inaugurated into his office on May 15, 2017. “Prof. Gerd Strohmeier is the 32nd President in the 181-year-long history of our university and its forerunners to hold the office”, said Eberhard Alles, Chancellor of Chemnitz University, in his welcoming speech in front of more than 500 guests in the St. Petri Church at the Chemnitz Theaterplatz. Among the guests were representatives from  politics, business and society, members of Chemnitz University of Technology, Presidents of other Saxon universities and former presidents of the CUT.

Saxony’s State Minister of Science and the Arts, Dr. Eva-Maria Stange, emphasized in her greeting that for the first time since 1990 universities are able to plan without staff reductions, due to the university development plan 2025 decided by the state government. This was also an important milestone for the University President in his hitherto over 100 days lasting term of office. “Chemnitz University of Technology is the innovation driver for the city and the region”, emphasized the state minister. She identified the Federal Cluster of Excellence “MERGE” at CUT as a “lighthouse” and assured the active support of her ministry and the Saxon State government for both new proposals in the framework of the Federal Excellence Strategy .

Prof. Johanna Wanka, Federal Minister of Education and Research, delivered the ceremonial address. She clearly stated the great importance of universities and the freedom of research and teaching for our society. Artificial intelligence, learning systems, and autonomous driving are only a few examples for current technological challenges that have to be faced but are also seen with some concern by mankind. In order to give answers in those fields, a close cooperation between experts of various disciplines is necessary. “Chemnitz University of Technology is able to think about many of those questions due to its great expertise in the field of humanities”, said Wanka. A few weeks ago, at the Hannover Fair, she had experienced first-hand that research at CUT plays in the premiere league, especially in the field of resource-efficient production. The minister complimented the positive progress of the university and numerically quantified this development: the number of students doubled since 1995, an “impressive” third party funds balance of 482,000 euros per professor, an above average proportion of international students and a strong international network  of the university. She praised Prof. Strohmeier for his “smart agenda” for the further development of the university.

After his speech, the President officially appointed the three Vice Presidents into their offices: Prof. Maximilian Eibl, Vice President for Academic and International Affairs, Prof. Jörn Ihlemann, Vice President for Research and Junior Research, and Prof. Uwe Götze, Vice President for Transfer and Academic Qualification. Together with the Chancellor Eberhard Alles and the President they form the University Management of CUT. (Author: Mario Steinebach)

Profile: Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier

Professor Gerd Strohmeier was born in Simbach am Inn (Germany) in 1975. He studied political science, psychology and sociology at Passau University. Afterwards he worked as lecturer and assistant professor at Passau University.

From 2009 to 2016 Strohmeier was Professor for European Comparative Government at Chemnitz University of Technology. From 2012 to 2015 he was Executive Director of the Institute of Political Science at Chemnitz University of Technology. He was repeatedly Visiting Fellow at Durham University and Cambridge University (United Kingdom). Furthermore, he was guest lecturer in Wroclaw (Poland), Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Salzburg (Austria) and Munich.

Strohmeier became President of Chemnitz University of Technology in 2016.

Strohmeier has been a political consultant for different parliaments and governmental institutions.

Matthias Fejes
17.05.2017

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