On March 15, 2022, Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller received his certificate of appointment as President of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society (HWG LU) from Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister of Science, Clemens Hoch. Yesterday, the ceremonial handover of office from the previous incumbent Prof. Dr. Peter Mudra to his successor Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller took place in the auditorium of the university in Ludwigshafen. Minister Clemens Hoch, Prof. Dr. Michael Jäckel, Chairman of the State University Presidents' Conference (LHPK), Alderman Alexander Thewalt, Chairman of the University Council Dr. Dieter Wagner and Michael Cordier, former Managing Director of LUKOM, honored the old and new presidents with their words of welcome.
Vice President Prof. Dr. Edith Rüger Muck opened the ceremony for the handover of the presidency with a review of the twelve years of work and the biography of the previous incumbent Prof. Dr. Peter Mudra: "You have always been a strong advocate of continuing education and lifelong learning". In addition, Peter Mudra had also developed the university in other directions "with great dedication, commitment, passion and many innovative ideas", said Rüger-Muck, citing as examples the merging of the two originally independent Ludwigshafen universities and their different cultures after the merger, the campus expansion with the new building, which will soon be ready for occupancy, and the renaming of the university with the associated sharpening of its profile as particular milestones of Mudra's presidency. On a personal level, he was also characterized by his modest and appreciative manner, his open ear and his participative management style. "You tried to convince rather than persuade, which I think is the opposite of a basta culture," said Rüger-Muck, summarizing the opinions of the professors and staff. The Vice President warmly welcomed the new President, Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller, and promised him the full support of the Executive Board.
Science Minister Clemens Hoch thanked outgoing President Prof. Dr. Peter Mudra: "Professor Mudra has provided important impetus for the continued positive development of Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences during his two terms in office. With his inspiring energy, he not only worked within the university, but also built up networks and brought the university and the city even closer together. The numerous developments during his time in office include the university's profiling process, which resulted in the new name 'Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft' (University of Business and Society), the development of academic healthcare professions and the establishment of the Weincampus in Neustadt, together with Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences and the TH Bingen. I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Mudra for his special commitment." The Minister of Science also congratulated the new President Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller: "I would like to warmly congratulate Mr. Piller on his new office. The very good development of the university provides an excellent starting point for leading it into a bright future. I look forward to working with you, Mr. Piller, and wish you every success and good luck in the task ahead."
As Chairman of the State University Presidents' Conference (LHPK), Prof. Dr. Michael Jäckel focused in his speech on the particular challenges facing Rhineland-Palatinate as a university location and called for "even more action". At the same time, Jäckel also emphasized the fruitful exchange between the presidents of the LHPK and gave both the outgoing and the new president of the HWG LU a quote from the Ludwigshafen philosopher Ernst Bloch: "You have to be in love with success, not failure".
The good cooperation between the university and the city of Ludwigshafen was highlighted by Alexander Thewalt, Head of the Building and Environment Department, who stood in for Mayor Jutta Steinruck, who was unable to attend at short notice: "You have always had the city in mind and emphasized its positive aspects," he thanked Mudra, citing some of the many joint projects as examples: the study on the workplace of the future, for example, the study on employee mobility or the current housing study. At the same time, Thewalt reiterated his desire to improve the university's connection to the main railway station and the city center in the future.
Dr. Dieter Wagner, Chairman of the University Council, then paid tribute to the many years of good cooperation between the committee and the university management, which had been characterized by openness, mutual respect and appreciative dialogue. In addition, there was great agreement on one central issue: "People must be at the center of everything we do." Dr. Dieter Wagner also pledged his personal support and that of the University Council to the new President, Prof. Dr. Piller.
Michael Cordier, Managing Director of LUKOM for many years, ended the series of laudatory speeches with a very personal greeting: "I think I've made you a bit of a Ludwigshafen native - you've certainly made me a big fan of the university," Cordier said to Peter Mudra, mentioning a whole series of joint activities and projects close to his heart, including the children's university lectures, joint city tours for students and alumni and the joint film project to replace the 2020 graduation ceremony, which was canceled due to coronavirus.
Before the symbolic handover of the university key, the previous and new presidents of the university also took the floor once again:
"When assessing the university's past achievements, we must not ignore the collective momentum. Everything we have achieved, we have achieved as a team," summarized Mudra and thanked the state, the Ministry of Science, the city, the LHPK, the IHK Round Table and all of the university's stakeholders. The special team spirit at HWG LU and the Palatinate philosophy of "just do it!" had always supported him. Prof. Dr. Peter Mudra will remain at the university even after his self-imposed retirement from the presidency: He will return to education and research in his "old" Department of Marketing and Human Resource Management.
His successor Prof. Dr. Gunter Piller described it as a "privilege" to be able to continue Mudra's work: "I was very impressed by our guest list. The presence of leading representatives from politics, administration, companies and civil society organizations as well as from colleges and universities alone shows, dear Mr. Mudra: you have done everything right. You have successfully led the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, developed it further and anchored and networked it well in the city, the region and the state." In the further development of the university with a special focus on education and research, he, like his predecessor, relies on successful teamwork - both within the university and with all of its stakeholders, said Piller.
The evening was hosted by Vice President Prof. Dr. Edith Rüger-Muck, with Kathrin Presser (vocals) and Jan David (guitar) from the School of Music Ludwigshafen providing the musical accompaniment.
