Hanse University Alliance: A magnet for bright minds in the north

The alliance was launched at Leuphana University Lüneburg. Representatives from politics and science explored the future options for the North German science area in the central building.

New name for a seal of quality

A new name for a proven alliance: the Association of North German Universities (VNU) can look back on 30 successful years. With the Hanse University Alliance, the network in the North and Baltic Sea region is being strategically developed and repositioned. Host and President of Leuphana Sascha Spoun welcomed the representatives from science and politics. He said: ‘We have the opportunity to open a new chapter. Cooperation and competition are not contradictions, but complement each other, so that we can attract the best minds for northern Germany. Constructive, friendly and trusting cooperation is essential among universities, as well as with politics and business.’ Sascha Spoun is also the spokesperson for the HUA. And with regard to the southern German research landscape, he emphasised: ‘The north is characterised by remarkable diversity. This diversity allows for many centres and beacons and is a mark of quality.’ The Hanse University Alliance is an important means ‘to be successful together in the competition between regions.’
 

Unifying character

The Lower Saxony Minister for Science and Culture, Falko Mohrs, emphasised the unifying character of the Hanse University Alliance: ‘We don't see ourselves as separate from others. Here in northern Germany, there are thematic connections. Marine research is an obvious one, but there are also issues related to energy, climate and health research. The problems we have to solve know no state borders. Despite all the competition we have among ourselves, we have to join forces.’ The previous 30 years have been valuable: “We see each other as partners - in state politics and in the universities,” emphasised Falko Mohrs. Regarding the financing of universities, he said: ’To get into cutting-edge research, you need brains, money and time.’

Falko Mohrs continued: ‘The Hanse University Alliance not only builds on a good North German tradition in name: it brings universities together to jointly promote innovation. The universities are to advance technological progress in cooperation and help to overcome current and future challenges in Northern Germany. Teaching and thus the education of students will also benefit from the exchange between the locations.’

At the same time, the alliance remains an important point of contact for the science ministers of the northern German states, ‘in order to continue to create good conditions for research and to provide scientific support for the major changes of our time’.
 

‘Return’ to Leuphana

Hamburg's Senator and Second Mayor, Katharina Fegebank, was a research associate in the Reorientation team at Leuphana from 2007. One of her first trips with students was to Daniel Libeskind's office in New York. At the launch of the Hanse University Alliance, she let her gaze wander around the forum of the central building: ‘The Libeskind building shows what can be achieved against all odds and how much courage it takes to realise something so spectacular.’

She pointed out that the Hanse University Alliance strengthens the common voice of northern German science vis-à-vis the EU. The University of Groningen is also part of the HUA. Fegebank commented: ‘If we further strengthen the axis with the Baltic and Scandinavia, then there is real potential there.’

Bettina Martin, Minister of Science for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, welcomed the networking between the universities: ‘I am speaking from two directions, not only for the north, but also for eastern Germany. We feel very connected to the North German Science Ministers’ Conference and the North German Science Area.’ She hoped that the Hanse University Alliance would increase the visibility of the “small” science location of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in particular.

Dr Guido Wendt, State Secretary at the Ministry for General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, emphasised the role of alliances in the allocation of funding: ‘If we look at the funding atlas of the German Research Foundation, things look rather bright in the north German area.’ Here, the Hanse University Alliance could help and build a ‘strong foundation’ for the north German science area.

Irene Strebl, State Councillor for the Environment, Climate and Science, spoke for the small but scientifically strong city of Bremen and pointed to the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences at the University of Bremen in cooperation with the University of Oldenburg: ‘We are jointly expanding our strengths.’ In addition to good research, however, the training of young scientists is also important: ‘Good teaching also requires reliable basic funding,’ Irene Strebl demanded.

Students from various universities in the network were also invited to the HUA launch at Leuphana. Emil Jüchter from Leuphana would like to see a course of study that allows more time for ‘voluntary work and social engagement.’ He praised Leuphana for the spatial support of initiatives: ‘We have almost an entire floor to ourselves here. That helps a lot.’

Denise Granzow from the Leuphana Asta would like to see more equal opportunities: ‘For students to be able to help shape a university, they need flexibility in their studies and stable financing. Participation should be designed in such a way that it is effective and students notice: it brings something when I get involved.’ In addition, universities should provide special support to students from, for example, ‘migrant or non-academic backgrounds’.

Nicolás Castillo, StuRa President at the University of Rostock, emphasised the importance of the university as a place of learning and interaction: ‘I am studying chemistry to become a teacher, so I depend on being present for my internships. I cannot recommend a purely digital course of study from my side. Face-to-face teaching makes universities attractive, even though I also see advantages in online teaching.’

The importance of cooperation between research and teaching was emphasised by Leonard Willen, a student at the University of Oldenburg. With regard to the HUA, he expressed the wish that ‘it would be interesting for us students to be able to attend courses at other universities within the alliance.’ He suggested cross-university, project-oriented teaching.

Energy, the sea, sustainability, people and climate – the representatives of the Hanse University Alliance gathered around the core topics and discussed the role of universities in science and society.

Prof. Dr Ralph Bruder, President of the University of Oldenburg: ‘The Hanse University Alliance is a special case. Not only do we connect five federal states, but we are also internationally networked with the University of Groningen. We strengthen each other; we are international in the north.’ He pointed out common research topics, especially in the field of energy: ‘The wind knows no borders.’

Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Prommer, rector of the University of Rostock and deputy spokesperson of the HUA, reported on a stone wall found by researchers in the Baltic Sea that is probably associated with prehistoric hunts. The result has emerged from the focus on maritime systems: ‘We understand maritime systems not only as the sea, but also include coastal areas. We have been conducting research on this for a long time with various partners.’

Prof. Dr. Catherine Cleophas, Vice President of Kiel University, reports on a project cooperation between the universities of Rostock and Greifswald on coastal research: ‘The areas of focus interlock: sustainability, the climate and the sea, and work with the technologies in this area. This alliance will drive this forward: ’

Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gillessen-Kaesbach, President of the University of Lübeck, ventured an analysis: ‘If we already have so many good joint projects, why another Hanse University Alliance?’ She continued, ‘After 30 years, it was time to take a look: Have we exhausted our possibilities?’ We have achieved a lot in the past years, but there is still more potential.’

Prof. Dr. Jutta Günther, rector of the University of Bremen, highlighted a climate research project: ‘Our researchers are looking back 130,000 years into the past to predict the future climate.’ In a paleo-modelling project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in the ‘Research for Sustainable Development’ funding line, scientists from Bremen, Kiel and Hamburg are conducting research together.

Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, President of the University of Hamburg, mentioned not only research but also innovation and transfer as key areas, referring to the Startup Factory Hamburg. ‘Together with the TU Hamburg, DESY and Leuphana, we are making excellent progress. This also enables us to show industry the social contribution we can make as universities.’

Prof. Dr. Katharina Riedel, rector of the University of Greifswald, reported on the ‘One Health’ research project. The concept is based on the realisation that human health is closely linked to animal health and an intact environment: ‘All our universities can contribute to this.’ For example, the University of Kiel is a research partner.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Timm-Giel, President of the TU Hamburg, named ‘Engineering to Face Climate Change’ as his favourite project: researchers are using engineering methods to mitigate the consequences of climate change. ‘The topic is extremely important for the north. It concerns energy, sustainability and climate modelling.’

In conclusion, Sascha Spoun referred to one of Leuphana's priorities: ‘We will have no quality of life without sustainability concepts.’ The president and host also pointed out the Startup-Port and the ‘Wissenschaftsräume’ (scientific spaces) initiative. Both are collaborations within the Hanse University Alliance – another example of a future between the seas.