6 May 2010
Joint Statement by the University's Management and the University Council
of the University of Hamburg
University Council Session of 5 May 2010
On 5 May, the University Council and the University Managment met on the invitation of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Koch-Gromus, on the premises of the Teaching Campus at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). The Faculty of Medicine's vice-deans introduced the areas of teaching and research to the University Council at the start of the session. Subsequently, the University Council discussed the Faculty of Medicine's special status within the University. The Faculty and the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) constitute a single legal body.
The University Council was delighted about the strengthening of cooperation between the Faculty of Medicine and the University's other faculties. In order to improve the University's and the UKE's common strategic orientation, the University Council suggested that a steering committee consisting of the UKE's board and the University Management develop a catalogue of cooperative measures covering substantive, strategic and structural issues.
In the competition "Health Regions of the Future," funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the project "Health Metroplis Hamburg: Network for Psychological Health" was successful. The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hamburg participated at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in this project. The president and the University Council congratulate the Faculty of Medicine on their success. For the University, this means an increase in the University's budget of almost 40% in external funding - a top result.
In view of the current political discussion about the 2011/2012 budget, the University Council made it clear that the University of Hamburg, in comparison to the universities of other federal states, is egregiously under-financed. Without sufficient funding, future competitions and appointments on either national or international levels will not be feasible. The city's goal of becoming a locus of academic endeavor can only be realized with additional state resources.
The University Council session also covered the "The University's Building Development" and the University's participation in the Federal Excellence Initiative.
Senator Dr. Gundelach, who had been invited on the topic of "Building Development," cancelled, as the internal Senate discussion has not yet been concluded. The University Council greatly regretted this cancellation. The University Council and the University Management agree that a discussion which takes into account the University's academic and administrative development has yet to be pursued. The political discussion about the University's location should take place and a decision made before the summer break. This would make it possible to concretely plan the University's further development. Furthermore, the president informed informed the University Council about the possible lease of a building on 1 January 2011 near the campus, which would meet the urgent need for rooms in the short-term. The University Council requests that the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg provide the necessary resources.
The University Management told the University Council about its planned participation in the Federal Excellence Initiative. The University Council is delighted that the University will be represented with three Excellence Clusters and five graduate programs. It is also delighted with the subject diversity of the proposals. The University Council also supports the University Managment's decision to make a proposal for the third line of funding ("Future Concepts").
With regard to SAP, the president reported that a task-force has been established and that project supervision has been transferred to the University. This creates some hope that the most urgent problems be solved within the next two months.
The University Council and the Univerity Management also agreed upon a procedure for reviewing the Structure and Development Plan (STEP). The University Council will be informed for the first time in September 2010, a good year following the resolution on STEP, about subsequent measures and achieved goals.
Hamburg, 6 May 2010
| Prof. Dr. Albrecht Wagner |
Prof. Dr. Dieter Lenzen |
ffor the University Council
|
for the University Management |
