The Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year under the motto "We shape the future - for 50 years". At a ceremony on Thursday, 16 September 2021, Minister President Malu Dreyer conveyed the greetings of the state government and highlighted the university's clear profile and its success story. Science Minister Clemens Hoch, Peter Johann, Managing Director of the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar, and representatives of the city of Ludwigshafen also honored the university with their visit. Prof. Dr. Dorit Schumann, Vice President of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), gave the keynote speech entitled "A journey through the world of universities of applied sciences (HAW)".
This year, the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary under the motto "We shape the future". The university celebrated this wonderful anniversary on Thursday, September 16, 2021, as part of a hybrid ceremony in the university auditorium. Minister President Malu Dreyer gave a welcoming address; MRN Managing Director Peter Johann conveyed the congratulations of the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar. Prof. Dr. Dorit Schumann, Vice President of the HRK and President of Trier University of Applied Sciences, gave the keynote speech.
Like the other seven universities in the state, Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences was founded in 1971 under the label Rhineland-Palatinate University of Applied Sciences - Ludwigshafen-Worms Department. The then new type of university brought together engineering schools, higher business schools, art schools and other comparable higher technical schools and has since developed into a real model of success with over 40,000 students, around 5,000 employees and 35.5 million euros in third-party funding in 2019. The development of the university in Ludwigshafen from the "Ludwigshafen-Worms Department" or the Ludwigshafen Protestant University of Applied Sciences to the Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences and the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society is also impressive. Minister President Malu Dreyer emphasized: "The Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society has shown over the past decades that you can position yourself well in the world of higher education with vision, perseverance and a good dose of pragmatism. It has a clear profile, which it consistently pursues. In doing so, the university keeps its history in mind and also builds on very important pillars in our society, as can be seen from the introduction of the primary qualifying midwifery and nursing degree courses." The university's economic pillar has also developed well and is holding its own. The Minister President thanked the university in particular for its commitment to the healthcare courses, which face enormous challenges. "What you are achieving here is very important for our country and for our society," emphasized Minister President Malu Dreyer.
Science Minister Clemens Hoch, who attended the ceremony as a guest, was also pleased with the development of the HWG LU and the successful profile development of recent years: "With around 4,600 students, the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society is one of the smaller universities in the state, but it stands out with its unique profile and has made a name for itself. As a university with a strong focus on society and transfer, it is closely linked to the city and region and is an important player in the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar," says Hoch. Peter Johann, Managing Director of MRN GmbH and alumnus of the university, also emphasized the university's close ties with the economic powerhouse of the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar (MRN) in his speech and praised the university as "a driving force and important partner in regional development".
The importance of the university for the city of Ludwigshafen was emphasized by Alderman Andreas Schwarz, who delivered the city's greeting on behalf of Mayor Jutta Steinruck, who was ill: "At 50 years old, the university is a best ager that still has many ideas and impulses, and an indispensable component of urban development".
In the subsequent speech, HRK Vice President Prof. Dr. Dorit Schumann embarked on "A journey through the world of HAW" and gave personal insights: "My life path is possibly special and at the same time this life path is typical for all professors at the universities of applied sciences, because we are all special in our own way," said Schumann and focused on the special features of HAW: "Quality in education and individual support for students characterize the University of Applied Sciences. We network regionally and internationally. We conduct research and engage in intensive knowledge transfer. We face up to the major challenges facing society. We stand for interdisciplinarity and innovation. I would like to congratulate the University of Business and Society on 50 years of exemplary success. You are shaping the future!" said Schumann.
University President Prof. Dr. Peter Mudra was also pleased with the development of "his" university: "Since 1971, we have stood for practice-oriented education and research in Ludwigshafen and targeted opportunities through education. With a peak of 4,800 students, we have multiplied our student numbers in recent decades. The number of our successful graduates will soon reach the 100,000 mark," he summed up, pointing to the university's "exceptionally good networking with companies, non-profit organizations and other institutions" as well as its "comprehensive and vital international network". "Accordingly, our university has now also been awarded the status of a European university," said a delighted Mudra (complete speech for download).
After the ceremony, the anniversary activities will continue with the continuation of one interdisciplinary and one international anniversary lecture series. In addition, the anniversary edition of the university magazine Spektrum will be published in November.
The ceremony was streamed live and can also be viewed afterwards on the university's YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqlFlnGyOZQ
