The new vice-rectors were elected by the Leipzig University Senate on 12 April 2022. Following a seven-day appeal period, the three elected representatives took office on 20 April 2022. The names of the restructured vice-rectorates – “Excellence Development: Research and Transfer”, “Talent Development: Study and Teaching” and “Campus Development: Cooperation and Internationalisation” – outline their future fields of work. But their tasks and responsibilities will also overlap.
The medical scientist Professor Jens-Karl Eilers from the Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology will head the new Vice-Rectorate for Excellence Development: Research and Transfer. During his professional career, he has already acquired a great deal of experience to help him assume this role. To him, the term “excellence” means applying our own resources to continuously identify, develop and promote the brightest minds for cutting-edge research at the University. He believes this is strongly linked to the promotion of research and can only happen in close interaction with quality teaching. Once in office, Eilers intends to make transparency an important instrument in the measures he takes.
At the helm of the Vice-Rectorate for Talent Development: Study and Teaching is the chemist Professor Roger Gläser. The Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy sees in every person working or studying at the University a talented mind to be discovered and nurtured. He will also focus on the strategic development of our degree programmes in their disciplinary diversity. He wants to create an excellent environment to encourage precisely this. Furthermore, Gläser would like to see the digitalisation of teaching fitted into the University’s overall digitalisation strategy, so as to enable individualised learning and teaching.
The Vice-Rectorate for Campus Development: Cooperation and Internationalisation is the responsibility of historian Professor Matthias Middell. As director of the Global and European Studies Institute, he has extensive experience when it comes to successfully growing the University. One of his key objectives is to make the best use of existing infrastructure and to set the ball rolling for new research buildings. He wants to adapt the University’s properties to the new requirements of digital teaching formats and forward-looking research. At the same time, Middell is keen to always have a “green university” in mind. Vice-Rector Middell hopes to further boost the University’s regional, national and international ties.
As her new vice-rectors take office, Rector Professor Eva Inés Obergfell emphasises: “With Professor Eilers, Professor Gläser and Professor Middell, the new Rectorate is very well positioned to tackle the major tasks that lie ahead and to develop the overall potential of this vibrant university.” The Rectorate looks forward to entering into a dialogue with all the relevant groups about the future of Leipzig University.
We present the new vice-rectors on the University website and also in short videos published in the University Magazine: Vice-Rector Professor Eilers, Vice-Rector Professor Gläser and Vice-Rector Professor Middell.
