Hello, Professor Engels! The University Council was established in 2008 amid considerable “labor pains”. Some students even protested against it. What is the situation today?
Professor Engels: That is no longer the case. Initially, students in particular said that we were far too “business-orientated”. But when I pointed out to the then chairperson of the General Students’ Committee that none of our members came from the business world, this criticism ended. Today, we meet regularly with student representatives to discuss a range of issues. At our last council meeting, for example, the chairperson of the General Students’ Committee gave us an insight into student life. The focus then is usually on current topics such as teaching, BAFöG, the housing situation here in Bonn or mobility issues such as the student ticket. We are kept informed about a range of everyday concerns.
You are probably often asked what the University Council actually is and does and about its composition.
Professor Engels: The answer can be found in the Higher Education Act: Our role is to advise the Rectorate and monitor its work. The law deliberately specifies these tasks in this order. In addition, the nine external members of the University Council belong to the University Electoral Assembly, which elects the members of the Rectorate. As (voluntary) chairperson, I have the largely unknown task of being the supervisor of the rector and the chancellor.
The electoral assembly has just re-elected the rector for a third term of office from 2025.
Professor Engels: When Professor Hoch was first elected, the University Council still carried sole responsibility for the election of the rector. At first, it fell mainly to me to find a suitable candidate. After talking with Professor Hoch for the first time, I very soon realized that he was “our man”. He was very enthusiastic and full of plans, yet also willing to listen to our ideas. This university has always been one of the leading German universities, and the new rector was tasked with releasing its untapped potential. We trusted Professor Hoch to do that. And that is exactly what he did.
After the election, you described Professor Hoch as the “rector of the century”. Was that “advance praise” for his third term of office?
Professor Engels: He has set himself a lot of goals, also with regards to the student body. I am confident that he will realize his plans. I know what I am talking about. Professor Hoch and I sit down together every year at the end of the year and look at the goals we defined together. Have we achieved them? If yes, great. If not, why not? But the answer hardly ever turns out to be no.
How do meetings of the University Council work in practice?
Professor Engels: As a rule, the Finance Committee of the University Council meets first, which primarily deals with financial issues and administrative projects, i.e. construction, leases, IT and building services. This is followed by the meeting of the University Council. The gender equality officer and the chairperson of the Senate are also present; we place great value on a good relationship with them. At each meeting, the rector and the other members of the Rectorate report on matters of strategic and current importance and a range of changing priorities. We finish with financial matters. We pass resolutions on all these issues, approve Rectorate proposals, or make demands of the Rectorate, which we then address again two or three meetings later.
Is the University Council in demand as a source of advice?
Professor Engels: Yes, very much so. This is partly due to our composition. We have four internal members, local professors who have an overview of the entire University. The diverse range of backgrounds from which the nine external members are drawn—academia, culture, administration and politics, including two former ministers of science and research—enables the University to draw on a wealth of experience and external perspectives.
Which developments in university governance would not have taken place at the University of Bonn without the University Council?
Professor Engels: Successes always have many parents. But, we would probably not have been so fortunate as to appoint Professor Hoch, and the University Council was also involved in the appointment of Holger Gottschalk, our excellent provost. Thirdly, we have made sure that the rector is surrounded by an excellent management team which draws on the input of advisors. Our university can only survive in national and international competition with effective management structures. That is why we also insisted on the establishment of a single Rectorate building, in which all members of the Rectorate and their staff can meet. None of this can be taken for granted. There were voices saying it was all far too expensive. But sometimes you have to invest money to generate revenue. The Rectorate has played a major role in enabling us to become a University of Excellence and gaining access to very considerable financial resources.
Is that the former President of the Federal Court of Auditors speaking?
Professor Engels: Yes. Acting economically does not always mean choosing the cheapest solution, but utilizing resources in such a way that they can be increased. And not just money, but opportunities for research and other output can be expanded without aiming for commercial profit. This is the crucial difference between companies and universities. We in the University Council have always acted to ensure that we attract the best minds in the world to Bonn and provide them with good conditions for research and teaching. This costs money, for example for laboratories, technical equipment and generally good working conditions. Unfortunately, not everyone has an aesthetically pleasing working environment that is conducive to creative work.
As the long-standing chairperson of the University Council and who also studied in Bonn, have you learned anything new about our university?
Professor Engels: Not much. But it became clear that some things had changed during the celebrations marking our 200th anniversary in 2018. What enthusiasm! What a sense of community! These feelings really surprised me. When I was a student, things were much more sober and sedate. The University was seen as very conservative. That has changed in my view. The University has also become younger and more female. When I studied law, the faculty was almost exclusively male. That has been changing for ten years now, and the University Council has had great influence over this development. It is very pleasing that the Rectorate has made a specific commitment—also with regard to the Excellence Strategy—to fill 30 percent of all professorships with women by 2026. This target has almost been achieved. That fundamentally changes the atmosphere!
What are your plans for your third term of office?
Professor Engels: We want to consolidate the path taken by the Rectorate, Senate and Council. We also want students to realize what a fine university they are studying at. We want to come into even closer contact with city society. I dream of the University dominating the cityscape and remaining a city-center university, like Cambridge or Oxford. That would also be good for the city, even if it doesn't feel like this has been recognized everywhere yet.
Do you have internal targets?
Professor Engels: The future of the theological faculties is personally very important to me. The decision taken by the Cardinal of Cologne to close the Albertinum and found his own university in Cologne as a “competitor” poses a threat to both the Faculty of Catholic Theology and ultimately also to the Faculty of Protestant Theology. We must remain unstinting in our efforts to ensure that theological issues can be addressed in the research and teaching conducted at the University of Bonn—perhaps even in an interdisciplinary manner with other religions.
What other challenges do you see as facing the University?
Professor Engels: Competition between universities is increasing. Advances in technology mean that we are able to reach students and researchers throughout the world. We cannot yet fully comprehend the opportunities that artificial intelligence will offer. How will it affect research and teaching? Which degree programs will we have to redefine? The challenge is to prepare following generations for something still unknown to us. We have already discussed this with our own experts at the University at an internal conference. But that was at best a starting point; the real match has yet to start!
Thank you very much for your time.