Media information: Investiture ceremony at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar

Minister presents the certificate of office to the new vice-chancellor Professor Dr.-Ing. Karl Beucke.

On Wednesday, 6 April 2011, the Thuringian Minister of Education, Science and Cultural Affairs, Christoph Matschie, inducted Professor Dr.-Ing. Karl Beucke as the next vice-chancellor of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Numerous professors, students and university employees attended the momentous event in the university's main auditorium. The university also welcomed a large number of illustrious cultural, economic, political and scientific representatives, including the vice-chancellors and presidents of all the universities in Thuringia.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karl Beucke has been a professor of Information Science in Construction in Weimar since 1995 and will now commence a six-year term as the university's new vice-chancellor. In his inaugural speech, he described his view of universities in Germany and the future challenges he will likely face as vice-chancellor. "For the most part, we are well-aware of the major tasks ahead of us. The Higher Education Pact will have to be renegotiated, the state's funding criteria will have to take the unique profile of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar into account, and the specific role of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will have to be firmly anchored in the current process of "differentiation among universities" in Germany.  

He also emphasized that the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is well positioned for future challenges. "We at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar possess a high degree of creative strength. Our programme and our size make it necessary and possible to combine our strength and use it effectively in cross-disciplinary endeavours. Our students and graduates are highly valued wherever they work. Our international reputation offers us great opportunity."

The Thuringian Minister of Education, Science and Cultural Affairs, Christoph Matschie, congratulated the new vice-chancellor, saying: "I am certain, Professor Beucke, that the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is in good hands with you. Under your guidance, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will continue another important chapter in its future. And this means continuing to shape the profile of the university in Weimar." The Minister also expressed his admiration for Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karl Beucke's scientific and professional achievements, as well as the respect and trust he receives from his fellow professors and students at the university.

Several other speeches were given by the departing vice-chancellor, Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann, Prof. Wolfgang Sattler as deputy chairman of the University Council and Katrin Jahr and Jan Frederick Eick, representatives of the student government. During the investiture ceremony, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karl Beucke publicly introduced his two new deans for the first time which complete the staff appointments in the Vice-Chancellor's Office. The Senate had approved Prof. Beucke's recommendations for the dean appointments that same afternoon. Prof. Dr. Hans-Rudolf Meier will immediately take office as Dean of Research. The 54-year-old Swiss professor has been Chair of Monument Preservation and Building History at the Faculty of Architecture since 2008. The new Dean of Study and Instruction is Prof. Dr. Andrea Dreyer who was appointed Junior Professor of Art and Art Didactics in 2008 at the Faculty of Art and Design and who also worked as Dean of Studies there.