At today’s conference “Excellence 2017plus” on the continuation of the Excellence Initiative at the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, the State Rectors’ Conference with its chairman, Professor Hans-Jochen Schiewer, presented the key demands of the universities in Baden-Württemberg. For Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), President Professor Holger Hanselka spoke at the conference.
“The Excellence Initiative has introduced enormous dynamics into the German science system. Thanks to its momentum only was the KIT established,” KIT President Hanselka said. “Today, the merger of a state and a federal institution in KIT is a living example of the reforms of which the German science system is capable. The Excellence Initiative stimulated strategy formation and profiling, such that German universities are clearly better positioned than in 2005.”
“The unique success of the Excellence Initiative is based on the fact that the universities were able to position themselves much better in international competition with the help of adequate financial resources and institutional autonomy,” Hanselka continued. “For the follow-up program, we would like the action options of the universities – in particular with respect to autonomy and resources – to be emphasized. Excellent research has to remain in the focus.”
Hanselka is convinced: “Sharpening of the profile is an essential task of universities. For this, we need free and flexible means for e.g. higher education or as a motivation for top staff. Regarding challenges faced by society, such as the transformation of the energy system, the KIT President argued in favor of a quick opening up of new strategic fields of research: “To act flexibly and without delay, we need additional professorships. Provision of these excellent professorships will be of crucial importance.”
In close partnership with society, KIT develops solutions for urgent challenges – from climate change, energy transition and sustainable use of natural resources to artificial intelligence, sovereignty and an aging population. As The University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT unites scientific excellence from insight to application-driven research under one roof – and is thus in a unique position to drive this transformation. As a University of Excellence, KIT offers its more than 10,000 employees and 22,800 students outstanding opportunities to shape a sustainable and resilient future. KIT – Science for Impact.