Dear University of Freiburg Members,
We are nearing the end of a very challenging, yet successful year. 2022 was marked by major upheavals and new beginnings: The world around us is in turmoil, especially with the war against Ukraine, the climate crisis, and the ongoing consequences of Corona. At the same time, the University of Freiburg is in a state of upheaval of its own.
Starting last year, we set out on the path of renewal in our overall strategy process. In the meantime, the first interim results are available from our think tank of 10 working groups. Members from all groups of the University have been analyzing our strengths and weaknesses together with the rectorate for over a year while developing a vision for the future.
In the process, we are advancing our overall strategy while realigning the University’s research profile and mission statement. In the fall, we unveiled our new corporate design. In addition, scholars from all faculties have been participating in the development of excellence cluster initiatives for over two years now. The expertise, innovative power and networking performance of the initiatives reflect the future viability of our entire University. I would like to sincerely thank all those who have taken on the various challenges of the past months and years and who have contributed to the development of our university in a wide variety of ways.
I am particularly pleased that we have already been able to successfully implement a milestone of our overall strategy with the extension of our EPICUR alliance in the “European Universities” competition. A university can only be as innovative, responsible and sustainable as the people who shape it: in research, teaching and knowledge transfer, in operations and in cooperation with others. In this regard, I would like to thank all students, scholars and employees. Through your daily work, you make the University of Freiburg what it is.
Ongoing crises in 2022 have once again made us painfully aware of how important it is to stand up for democracy and freedom. Anti-democracy and anti-science movements in our backyard, the revolution in Iran and Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine have overshadowed this entire year. The war in particular has had a direct impact on our university – first and foremost, of course, on Ukrainian students and scholars, whom we have been able to support financially and through simplified visa extensions, but also on research collaborations and our measures in the area of sustainability.
As a university with a decided focus on sustainability in research, teaching and operations, it is essential for us to use resources sparingly anyway. The current energy crisis has once again reinforced the need for decisive, joint action to achieve this goal: our energy-saving measures can only be successful through the contributions of each and every individual.
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The way in which we are tackling the current crisis gives me hope for the future. In 2023 and the years that follow, we will continue to face challenges, first and foremost the climate crisis. The energy crisis forced by acute scarcity will continue. Innovative solutions from our research fields are needed in all areas of sustainability: ecological, economic, social. It is also our task to bring these solutions to the political, economic and social spheres. And this brings us full circle to our overall strategy, which is geared toward mastering these challenges as a university and assuming responsibility for the essential questions and issues of our time.
To this end, I wish us all enthusiasm, innovative ideas and the willingness to engage in constructive discussion with one another. But for today above all, I wish you and us a relaxing Christmas break in which we can draw strength and confidence.
Kind regards,
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein
Rector
