Strengthening Good Leadership and Cooperation
Freiburg, 14/01/2026
In the 2026 ‘Year of Leadership’, the University of Freiburg aims to integrate its leadership guidelines into the daily work of all employees with impulses, learning formats, and opportunities for exchange.
The University of Freiburg published its new leadership guidelines in summer 2025. The new guidelines formulate how good leadership and respectful cooperation at the University of Freiburg can succeed. They are the result of a broad participatory process including employees from academic, administrative, service, and technical staff, as well as the University leadership.
To firmly establish the leadership guidelines, the University of Freiburg has declared 2026 the ‘Year of Leadership’. To this end, a team from the Departments of Equity, Diversity, and Personnel Development and Strategic Personnel Development for Administrative, Service, and Technical Staff have developed several different formats in cooperation with other University departments, and all members of the University are invited to take part. The programme includes lectures, workshops, monthly impulses, reflection offers, and other events. One of the guidelines will be spotlighted each month. First up, in January, is the guideline ‘I embrace my leadership position and am aware of my responsibility as a role model.’
Guidelines make an important contribution to developing all employees to their full potential
‘At the University of Freiburg, we make it possible for people to acquire new competencies and develop their careers. Our leadership guidelines make an important contribution to developing all employees to their full potential’, says Rector Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein. ‘I’m looking forward to the Year of Leadership, because we will establish the leadership guidelines even more firmly at the University with the many different formats.’
Prof. Dr. Sylvia Paletschek, Vice Rector for University Culture, and Head of Administration Christina Leib are jointly responsible for the project. Paletschek emphasizes that good leadership is crucial for the university’s future viability, because it provides orientation and builds confidence: ‘What we want to do with our leadership guidelines is establish a common understanding of leadership and cooperation, based on the values of our mission statement: quality, responsibility, and openness.’ Leib adds: ‘The leadership guidelines invite us all to consciously shape good leadership and productive cooperation at our university. During the Year of Leadership, we will create opportunities to breathe life into this mindset together.’
A keynote speech will be held in February: Prof. Dr. Martin Daumiller, professor of educational psychology, will speak on 19 February 2026 in the event hall of the University Library at Platz der Universität 2. The topic is ‘Leadership as motivational architecture: How we can encourage learning, engagement, and well-being through the work environment’. Advanced registration is requested. The event will be held in German.
Further Information
For an overview of all formats as well as information on registration, please visit the Year of Leadership 2026 website.
If you have any questions, please contact fuehrungsleitlinien@zv.uni-freiburg.de