HNEE starts hybrid winter semester 2021/22
On Thursday, 23 September 2021, the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) will welcome its first-semester students at a hybrid event in the Wilhelm-Pfeil-Auditorium on the Waldcampus. The winter semester at HNEE started on 20 September 2021 with around 600 new students, including 43 international students.
The two campuses are filling up with life again: The majority of students have already arrived in Eberswalde. As the application deadlines for some degree programmes have been extended, the enrolment process is expected to continue until the end of October 2021. After three online semesters, all university members are eagerly awaiting a semester with more face-to-face meetings and direct dialogue. The plan is for around 50 per cent of courses to take place in person. Depending on the infection rate and vaccination rate, the proportion can either decrease or even increase. Participation in face-to-face courses requires a full vaccination, a negative test or proof of recovery from a coronavirus infection.
In cooperation with Johanniter, Regionalverband Nordbrandenburg, the university has also created another mobile vaccination programme on site. All university members interested in being vaccinated, but also Eberswalde citizens, will have the opportunity to be vaccinated on the market square on 23 September 2021 from 12 noon to 5 pm without making an appointment in advance. Vaccinations will be given using vaccines from the manufacturers BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.
During the current induction week at the HNEE, first-semester students can find out everything they need to know about their degree programme at various information events organised by the four faculties. In addition to cross-course lectures and the presentation of individual institutions represented at HNEE (start-up centre, International Office, etc.), the programme is supplemented by offers tailored to the respective degree courses. President Prof. Dr Matthias Barth continues the tradition of personally welcoming first-semester students to the faculties. The highlight of the induction week is the matriculation ceremony, which will take place this year on the Waldcampus in the Wilhelm-Pfeil-Auditorium as a hybrid event. From 10.30 a.m., the University President Prof Barth and the Mayor of Eberswalde, Friedhelm Boginski, will welcome the first-semester students. Prof Dr Arnim Wiek, Professor at the School of Sustainability and Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation at Arizona State University, will address the students with his keynote speech "Change Agents for Sustainability - Innovative Education at the Interface of Theory and Practice". Afterwards, all first-semester students will receive a sweet welcome from the city of Eberswalde directly in front of the Waldcampus cafeteria. The traditional reception organised by the City of Eberswalde on the market square, which is usually so popular and well attended, will not take place again this year.
Honouring the best
For the 21st time, the Sparkasse Barnim prize will be awarded to the best final theses in the four faculties.
This year, the 1,000 euro prize from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) goes to Irina Kirsanova, a Master's student on the Biosphere Reserves Management programme. Once a year, HNEE awards the DAAD prize to international students who stand out for their excellent academic achievements and social commitment. Ms Kirsanova not only achieves outstanding academic results, but also actively develops the degree programme herself. In addition to her involvement in university politics, she has also volunteered in the planning and realisation of an art project in the Schorfheide-Chorin UNESCO biosphere reserve.
For the third time in a row, the city of Eberswalde is awarding the Sustainability Prize, which is also endowed with 1,000 euros. The prize is awarded to a thesis that makes a special contribution to sustainable urban development.
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