The keynote speech and panel discussion at the event focussed on the topic of ‘Between resilience and collapse - universities and science management in times of upheaval’ and current developments in the funding review system. The chairmen of the FORTRAMA association, Dr Jens-Peter Krüger and Dr Katrin Steinack, welcomed the guests in the large lecture hall S054, expressing their delight that the conference could take place at OTH Regensburg for the second time and expressly thanking the organisational team of the Centre for Research and Transfer (ZFT). Prof. Dr Oliver Steffens, Vice President for Research and International Affairs, shared their joy and thanks in his welcoming address. He spoke of a new departure in terms of research and transfer management, as a new transfer format, the Open Regional Campus, was launched just in time for the start of 2025.
Key note speaker Prof. Dr Frank Ziegele, Managing Director of the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHE), outlined current trends in universities: a movement away from rigid structures towards agile, flexible structures can be observed in all areas. This means more cross-faculty, interdisciplinary collaboration and more external co-operation with business, politics and society. Sustainable universities are moving in a panopticon of profiles between European university, blended university, open access university or, for example, a university as a driving force in the region. ‘But a single university can't do everything. It has to pick up on what suits it and remain true to itself in the process of change,’ said Prof Ziegele.
A varied supporting programme was provided: various city tours and an evening event on Danube boats brought the conference participants closer to Regensburg and the surrounding area. There was a very special insight into the brewing laboratory at the OTH site in Prüfening. In the rooms of the process engineering workshop, laboratory manager Siegfried Schrammel explained the beer brewing process to the participants - including beer tasting and small Bavarian catering.
