Guiding Principle for Studying and Teaching at the University of Hamburg
(agreed by the Academic Senate at its 818th session on 8 May 2025)
The guiding principle for studies and teaching has been integral to the evolution of the University of Hamburg, Germany’s first democratically established university. Accordingly, it particularly reflects values such as freedom in research and teaching, democracy, participation, and diversity. The guiding principle clarifies our vision and the framework in which studies and teaching at the University of Hamburg, a constantly learning academic institution, are designed to be oriented to the future and based on quality. To realize this guiding principle, it is vital that everyone involved—University management, the faculties, teaching staff, students, and library, technical, and administrative staff—reliably works together, fulfills obligations to governmental offices and institutions, and provides the necessary HR and infrastructural resources.
As a cosmopolitan and research-oriented university, the University of Hamburg is aware of its responsibility to offer excellent studies, teaching, and education through academic pursuit. The primary goal is for students to gain a high level of academic expertise in their subject, to engage on the basis of sound argument and self-reflection, to develop their own abilities, and to continue to grow into mature members of a diverse, tolerant society. As such, they are prepared and able to take an active role in shaping the social, economic, and ecological landscape in a sustainable, democratic, and peaceful manner within a larger global context; to initiate renewal and transformation processes; and to take responsibility for their future viability. The following features characterize studies and teaching at the University of Hamburg:
Research-based and academically diverse
University teaching is based on Humboldt’s idea that education lies in the unity of research and teaching. Against this backdrop, studies and teaching are based on a culture of scientific pursuit (Hub for Academic Career and Research Culture), excellent research, and sound academics. Studies and teaching are conceived to facilitate various subject combinations, with a strong disciplinary focus and interdisciplinary dialogue complementing one another. The diversity of research cultures that characterizes a comprehensive university is reflected in the diversity of teaching and learning cultures right through to doctoral studies. Researching to learn, learning through research, lifelong learning, and engagement on the basis of sound argument and academic principles guide our teaching.
Quality-based, dynamic, and effective for learning
The University of Hamburg develops its studies and continuing education programs for all target groups in a research-based and subject-specific manner to ensure flexible educational options and achievement with a view to preparing learners for current and future challenges. When designing degree programs and courses, we value outstanding didactic quality that incorporate both findings in educational science and nonscientific concerns and that focus on learning success. To design their teaching, teaching staff have access to higher education information, advice, qualification opportunities, and supportwhen, for example, reflecting on their own work or conducting research. We systematically further develop courses within the scope of an accredited quality management system. One requirement for ongoing renewal in our programs and curricula is that legal and infrastructural conditions are adjusted to meet needs and expectations. The University and other Hamburg universities engage actively with the respective governmental offices.
Based on knowledge exchange and firmly established in society at large
Programs and courses at the University of Hamburg incorporate material relevant to society at large. Students gain the ability to think and act on their subject expertise alongside knowledge-exchange skills, which allow them to use their knowledge and abilities in society. By doing so, their knowledge-exchange activities can be seen as a further university responsibility. There is an opportunity to work together with people in academia, the economy, culture, and society in all subjects and at all stages of study. This kind of knowledge-exchange focus reconciles students’ expectations for social relevance and practical and professional guidance with academic expertise and personal development. It also supports communication between researchers, the business community, and people working in cultural and social fields.
Digital and sustainable
Our guiding principle Innovating and Cooperating for a Sustainable Future in a Digital Age brings together sustainability and digitalization, firmly establishing them in individual subjects both with regard to curricula and methodology in programs, courses, and continuing education. The University of Hamburg firmly incorporates sustainability and digitalization as guiding principles to ensure teaching quality that enables students to develop skills that allow them to confidently but critically and ethically handle digital technology and AI. The University strives to provide everyone involved in studies and teaching with the best-possible access to modern IT and research infrastructure and extensive teaching and study resources and to further democratize access to education through digitalization.
International, diverse, and inclusive
The University of Hamburg has a strong international network, providing students and teaching staff with forward-looking opportunities to gain international experience. Internationalization, diversity, and inclusion are indicative of quality and reflected in various ways in studies and teaching: as subjects of study, as guiding principles when choosing methodologies, in teaching cooperation, and when setting up classrooms. The targeted development and expansion of international cooperation with strategic partner universities in various forms also supports internationalization, diversity, and inclusion. Cooperation runs the gamut from individual courses to joint degree programs to extracurricular offers. A further goal is to take a decisive stand against discrimination of any kind and to establish conditions for study that support family obligations, diversity, educational equity, and inclusion.
Participatory and student-oriented
The University of Hamburg fosters student participation in all aspects of academic life and self-governance. It draws on the concept of the student as a partner and strives to increase the quality of our relations at all levels, especially between teaching staff and students. Learning support, academic mentoring, and student tutoring are available at different stages of study to strengthen social relationships and foster well-being, mental health, and resilience. Students can also avail themselves of our professional academic affairs services and diverse advising and support services to master the challenges throughout the student life cycle. This kind of student-focused approach forms the basis for the cultivation of subject expertise and academic success as well as personal development, the cultivation of interests, and active participation in developments in academia, research, industry, culture, and society.
Inspiring and respectful
Inspiration and respect are vital in the University of Hamburg’s culture of scientific pursuit. To create places of exchange where students and teaching staff (also in their roles as researchers) can tap and grow their potential, learn from one another, and think and act in new ways, the University continues to work on making its campus locations more modern and open. Physical and digital teaching and study environments are created to facilitate various types of communication and cooperation. Excellent teaching is respected and recognized at the University of Hamburg as a career that is welcome in academia. Academic belonging is the driving force of inspiration and respect as well as dynamic exchange between committed students, teachers, and library, technical, and administrative staff (relationship-rich education). Everyone has a responsibility for the success of this principle.
Note
This mission statement is a further development of the Mission Statement for University Teaching at Universität Hamburg (adopted by the Academic Senate at its 719th session on 10 July 2014).