"It is a matter close to my heart," said Michael Thurner, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Friends of OTH Regensburg e.V., introducing his proposal for the election of honorary members at the association's general meeting on 23 July 2024. With an honorary membership, Michael Thurner would like to express his thanks and appreciation to the former Presidents of OTH Regensburg Prof. Dr Erich Kohnhäuser, Prof. Dr Josef Eckstein and Prof. Dr Wolfgang Baier as well as the former Chairmen of the Board of the Association of Friends of OTH Regensburg e.V. Dr Harro Lührmann, Johann Spieß and Eduard B. Wagner for their solidarity and commitment to the association and the university.
Prof Dr Erich Kohnhäuser was President of the former Regensburg University of Applied Sciences from 1990 to 2006. Kohnhäuser has been a member of the association for around 40 years. At that time, the association was still characterised by the outstanding personalities from the founding period. At that time, the association was an important supporter in the acquisition of donations in kind and money, the consolidation of contacts with industry and business and the promotion of students. "The Association of Friends of OTH Regensburg e.V. was indispensable for me during my 16 years as President and a valuable help in establishing and changing structures in the university sector as well as directly supporting students," said Prof Dr Erich Kohnhäuser.
Dr Harro Lührmann also joined the Association of Friends of OTH Regensburg e.V. in the 1980s. As Chairman of the Association from 2001 to 2008, he worked closely with Prof Dr Erich Kohnhäuser and his successor Prof Dr Josef Eckstein. For him, the association was always "a bridge between the university and the community in the Regensburg area."
Prof Dr Josef Eckstein was President of the former Regensburg University of Applied Sciences from 2006 to 2012. Prof Dr Josef Eckstein has supported the association as an assessor on the Board of Directors since 2014. During his term of office as President of Regensburg University of Applied Sciences, he campaigned for a link between the alumni network and the Friends of OTH Regensburg e.V. association. By integrating the management of the association into the newly created Alumni & Career Service centre in 2010, he set an important course here.
Johann Spieß was Chairman of the Board of the association from 2008 to 2014. In addition to maintaining close contact with the regional economy, Johann Spieß increasingly focussed on the university's alumni. Regular alumni get-togethers with company excursions and a newly introduced series of events on current topics entitled "Visiting Friends" aimed to promote networking between the university, business, students and alumni. "The Verein der Freunde der OTH Regensburg e.V. enabled me to maintain ties with my university beyond my studies and professional life," says Johann Spieß.
"The association is an integrative platform for everyone interested in OTH Regensburg," says Prof Dr Wolfgang Baier, President of OTH Regensburg from 2012 to 2022. He appreciates the lively network between students, academic and non-academic staff, alumni, retirees as well as politicians, the population and the economy of the East Bavarian region and maintains contact with the university beyond his active professional career through the association itself.
"For me, the former Regensburg University of Applied Sciences was a great enabler. My degree in business administration opened doors for me, for which I am very grateful," says Eduard B. Wagner, Chairman of the association's Board of Directors from 2014 to 2023. As an alumnus, he wanted to give something back to the university with his commitment as Chairman of the association's Board of Directors. During his time in office, it was particularly important to him to maintain close contact with the students, the association members of tomorrow.
The statements by the former presidents of OTH Regensburg and former chairmen of the board of the Association of Friends of OTH Regensburg e.V. gave the participants in the general meeting a brief overview of the history of the association. All the proposed candidates were then unanimously elected as honorary members.
