22 years as President of HNEE: Farewell to Prof Dr Wilhelm-Günther Vahrson

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) bids farewell to its President Prof Dr Wilhelm-Günther Vahrson after more than 22 years in office. The farewell ceremony took place online due to the coronavirus pandemic and was broadcast on the university's YouTube channel for university members and staff. The farewell ceremony and handover of office to the new President, Prof. Dr Matthias Barth, with guests is planned for 27 May 2021.

Prof Dr Vahrson's term of office stands for the consistent and pioneering development of the former Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences into one of the highest-profile universities in Germany. A profile geared towards sustainable development, unique degree programmes, research strength and internationality are the hallmarks of HNEE today.

Science Minister Dr Manja Schüle paid tribute to the outgoing President: "Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development is not only Germany's 'greenest university' - with its clear profile and practice-oriented teaching and research, it is also a strong research institution and an important partner of the state government in the expansion of dual study programmes to secure skilled workers in Brandenburg. Wilhelm-Günther Vahrson, who led the university for more than 22 years with extraordinary commitment, expertise and great success, has played a significant role in the university's successful development. He has made a significant contribution to creating the future in Brandenburg. I would like to thank him very much for his great work!"

Wilhelm-Günther Vahrson joined the Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences, which was re-established in 1992, as a professor in 1993 and taught in the field of landscape science at the Faculty of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation. After his habilitation in physical geography at the Humboldt University of Berlin in 1996, he was elected Rector of the former Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences in December 1998. The university senate has confirmed him in this position a total of five times.

Prof Dr Alexander Pfriem, who accompanied Prof Vahrson for eight years as Vice President for Research and Transfer at HNEE, thanked the President on behalf of the entire university: "During his time in office, Prof Dr Vahrson provided and accepted numerous impulses, demonstrated courage and strategic skill in many decisions and thus made our university what it is today - a university with a strong profile and national and international visibility." The personal farewell was replaced by numerous greetings and video messages from politics, science, culture and HNEE employees - with the very best wishes for his retirement.

His achievements include the renaming of Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences to Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development in 2010, the broad network he created in the region and beyond, with institutions from science and society and in politics. The university owes the establishment and the high number of German scholarships to date to Prof Dr Vahrson. During his tenure, HNEE was also honoured twice with the European EMAS Award for its exemplary environmental management. In 2012, he initiated the "Eberswalde Sustainability Lecture" series of events. Numerous renowned speakers from the fields of science, business and politics stimulate discussion with an inspiring lecture on a current socio-political topic. This format offers guests and university members a unique opportunity to engage with current issues relating to sustainable development.

Prof Dr Vahrson has repeatedly been active as Chair of the Brandenburg Rectors' Conference and has worked with great dedication and enthusiasm in higher education policy and advocated for the interests of universities.

The Chair of the Brandenburg Rectors' Conference and President of Wildau University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr Ulrike Tippe, emphasised: "With his commitment, strategic foresight and, not least, his sense of humour, our colleague Prof. Vahrson has played a key role in shaping the meetings of the Brandenburg Rectors' Conference over many years and has always driven our joint work forward. He was responsible for the development of HNEE's special profile, which has helped the university to become well-known and highly regarded beyond the state's borders and has thus also played a lasting role in shaping our higher education landscape in Brandenburg. We thank him very much for this, will always remember him fondly and wish him all the very best."

Prof. Dr Vahrson will temporarily hand over the office to the Vice President for Studies and Teaching, Prof. Dr Heike Walk, before Prof. Dr Matthias Barth, who was elected by the HNEE Senate on 18 January 2021, takes over as President on 1 September 2021.

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