"An era is coming to an end": Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences bids farewell to President Hartmut Ihne

‘The retirement of Prof Dr Hartmut Ihne marks the end of an era. For 16 years, he played a decisive role in shaping the fortunes of Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences with his foresight, assertiveness and attitude,’ said Science Minister Ina Brandes in his tribute. ‘During his time in office, he has positioned the university internationally, brought it up to date thematically and successfully campaigned with his colleagues for the right to award doctorates for universities of applied sciences.’ With regard to the Doctoral College of the Universities of Applied Sciences in NRW, she added: ‘Fortunately, Professor Dr Ihne will remain with us in his un-retirement. Dear Professor Ihne, I look forward to continuing to work with you on the Board of the Doctoral College NRW.’

Bonn University Rector Hoch emphasises good cooperation

Bonn University Rector Michael Hoch emphasised the good cooperation between the university and H-BRS. ‘This is what makes us strong in the region,’ he said. H-BRS has developed fantastically since it was founded. This can be seen, for example, in the sharp rise in student numbers or the innovative degree programmes. ‘Of course, this is also largely due to Hartmut Ihne's presidency,’ said Hoch. He successfully overcame crises such as the pandemic or the flood disaster at the Rheinbach campus. He was a very good strategist. He has also always focused on new topics - such as sustainability, artificial intelligence and digitalisation.

Von Grünberg finds very personal words

His long-time companion Hans-Hennig von Grünberg (Professor at the University of Potsdam and former President of the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences) had very personal words for Hartmut Ihne. He praised Ihne as someone who showed the way and could inspire people, referring to his role in obtaining the independent right to award doctorates for the universities of applied sciences (HAW) two years ago. ‘The fact that this institution was founded is a milestone in the history of the universities of applied sciences and this milestone has a lot to do with Hartmut Ihne's work. And with his special ability to breathe life into politics at state and federal level,’ as von Grünberg put it. But he also spoke about the private Hartmut Ihne, who had style in dress, habitus, education and language, who was both a carnivalist with close ties to his homeland and an international thinker who had internalised his Kant.

Chancellor Fischer: Ihne was always a visionary

The outgoing university president was honoured by the Chair of the University Council, Sylvie Hambloch-Gesinn, the Senate Chair Professor Dr Andreas Gadatsch, Chancellor Angela Fischer, the former AStA Chair Masharika Zamil on behalf of the students, the Chair of the University Society, Stefan Raetz, and the CDU politician Axel Voss (Member of the European Parliament). ‘Analysis, perseverance, resilience, an eye for the essentials and, last but not least, visionary ability characterise Mr Ihne - and his actions, always friendly and humorous,’ said Sylvie Hambloch-Gesinn, for example. ‘Hartmut Ihne was always a visionary who knew how to successfully bring people and topics together,’ emphasised Angela Fischer. ‘He always had an open ear for us students,’ said Masharika Zamil.

Importance of H-BRS for the region

The importance of H-BRS for the region was demonstrated in a small round table discussion between moderator Sybille Schütt and Bonn's Lord Mayor Katja Dörner and the District Administrator of the Rhein-Sieg district, Sebastian Schuster. Both agreed that Ihne was an extremely influential figure for the university and the Bonn-Rhine-Sieg science region.

Ihne: I have always seen it as a privilege

The university had titled the farewell ‘Thank you, Hartmut Ihne!’. ‘Saying goodbye to something as important as the work you have known for many years has a special, existential dimension,’ said Ihne himself. Saying goodbye has many facets, and the most important facet is thanking the people with whom you have worked on a complex piece of work for a long time. And so the outgoing university president returned the thanks in his speech - to the laudators, the university community and the representatives from the region, the state and the federal level.

University is a wonderful thing, Ihne continues. ‘I have always considered it a privilege to be able to work in science. So many bright, capable people, of all ages, all genders, all backgrounds, all fields of knowledge! An inspiring, colourful world of ideas and visions, discourse and insights! And great freedoms. Always a breath of the future,’ he said. ‘I feel great gratitude for what I have been able and allowed to do.’

The two-and-a-half-hour ceremony was enriched by music from ‘Die drei Faltigen’ and three poetry recitations by actor Hanno Friedrich.

Background information:

Professor Dr Hartmut Ihne has been President of Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences for 16 years. He took office on 1 November 2008 as the first President of H-BRS, succeeding founding Rector Wulf Fischer. During his time in office, Ihne successfully developed H-BRS further and strongly characterised it. He stands for the development from a university of applied sciences to a highly research-oriented university of applied sciences (HAW). This change is also reflected in the award of the independent right to award doctorates for the NRW Doctoral College (PK), an institution of the North Rhine-Westphalian HAW. Hartmut Ihne fought for this for a long time - and he will continue to support this development as a member of the Board of the PK NRW. The H-BRS grew strongly during his time in office. In 2008 there were fewer than 5,000 students, today there are around 9,000. The range of courses on offer has been significantly expanded and there are now 41 degree programmes on offer at the three campuses in Sankt Augustin, Rheinbach and Hennef. The topic of sustainability, which he established at the university at an early stage and promoted throughout NRW, is a matter close to the outgoing president's heart. He believes that the applied sciences have an important role to play in shaping the socio-ecological transformation. Ihne also stands for the social responsibility of science. University President Ihne is now retiring at the end of the month. His successor at the helm of H-BRS is economist Marion Halfmann, who most recently worked as a professor at the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences.