A-Z

Newsletter of the Rectorate - July2026

Dear Members of Ruhr University Bochum,

With this issue of our newsletter, we not only reflect on the achievements of the past weeks but also look ahead to the post-summer break period. On October 2, it will be announced which universities and alliances will soon bear the coveted excellence title – and we eagerly await this date. Together with TU Dortmund University, we are in the running as the Ruhr Innovation Lab. Whether we make it to the end or not, we have learned so much from each other that we definitely want to implement the measures. If you want to find out exactly what we have in mind and how we are preparing for the decision, listen to the podcast “Ask us anything” with the rectors of both universities. In this episode, they answer the questions you had sent in advance. More listening tips for the summer holidays with exciting podcasts from our Ruhr University Bochum community can be found at the very end of this issue.

We are looking even further into the future with a “Save the date” for November 18. At this year’s Academic Annual Celebration in the Audimax, we will thematically focus on the commonalities between art and science and their significance for a vibrant society. Please mark this date in your calendar now. You will receive an invitation with details about the program and registration options at the beginning of the winter semester.

A vibrant society and a vibrant democracy are close to our hearts. Especially now, when democracies around the world are under pressure, good advice is needed. For example, how should educators react when someone expresses anti-democratic views in a seminar? In a new guide, educators will find argumentation aids and concrete examples from our university everyday life. In June, after intensive consultation in two university commissions, we adopted this guide (German website, PDF) in the rectorate and recommend it to all persons involved in teaching at Ruhr University Bochum.

We wish you all a beautiful lecture-free time this summer, relaxing holidays, and a good start to the upcoming semester. The next issue of this newsletter will be a special edition on the decision in the Excellence Strategy at the beginning of October.

In this issue, you’ll read about:

  • AI in Higher Education: New Expertise Center Starts Work
  • Elected: Martin Paul Becomes New LRK Chairman
  • UNIC I: European Award for Anti-Racism Project
  • UNIC II: Submit Conference Contributions Now
  • Stronger Together: Films of the Research Centers and the College
  • Exchange: Preserving Academic Freedom
  • Research Explorer Ruhr: Thinking Research Globally
  • Positive: Our Result in the QS Ranking
  • New Task: Sascha Kwasniok is CIO
  • Podcast I: Kornelia Freitag on Transnational Personnel Development
  • Podcast II: Martin Paul in Interview with Scholars at Risk
  • News Recommendations for You
  • Finally…

AI in Higher Education: New Expertise Center Starts Work

We are proud that our university is taking the lead in the new, state-wide KI:Expertisezentrum.nrw. The center bundles the competencies of three existing projects and is funded with 15.4 million euros. The goal is to provide all students as well as researchers and administrators in NRW with reliable, data-protection-compliant access to generative AI models and to build AI competence. Read more about the new expertise center here. (German website)

Elected: Martin Paul Becomes New LRK Chairman

“In politically, economically, and socially challenging times, there is a need for a strong voice for universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. I am pleased to be able to represent this voice in the future as LRK chairman,” says our rector, Professor Martin Paul. The Rectors’ Conference of the Universities of North Rhine-Westphalia (Landesrektorenkonferenz NRW – LRK) unanimously elected him at the end of June 2026 (German website). Our partner in the Ruhr Innovation Lab and the University Alliance Ruhr, TU Dortmund University, is also represented in the new LRK executive board with its rector Professor Manfred Bayer. Congratulations and good luck!

UNIC I: European Award for Anti-Racism Project

A transdisciplinary teaching and research project by Ruhr University Bochum on cultural diversity, integration, and racism (from 2023) has been awarded the UNIC Best CityLabs Award 2026. The project Cultural Diversity, Integration and Anti-Racism developed new perspectives for dealing with diversity, anti-discrimination, and institutional racism together with the city of Bochum, students, and civil society organizations. We are delighted by the success of this great project! Read more about it here.

UNIC II: Submit Conference Contributions Now

We look forward to your contributions to the third UNIC Theme Conference “Entrepreneurial Learning, Arts and Creativity for Inclusive and Sustainable Urban Futures,” which will take place at Ruhr University Bochum from February 23 to 25, 2027. The conference consciously pursues a broad and interdisciplinary approach and welcomes contributions from science, public institutions, civil society organizations, cultural actors, creatives, and entrepreneurs. It aims to create a space where research, practice, experimentation, and social engagement can interact and enrich each other. The deadline is September 14. Here is the link to the conference website.

Collaboration: Films of the Research Centers and the College

A new video series showcases the people, ideas, and projects that shape the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr), its four interdisciplinary research centers, and the College for Social Sciences and Humanities. Whether trustworthy AI, sustainable chemical processes, future energy materials, health research, or social change – collaboration is the foundation of our actions. After the summary introduction, all contributions to the series are now available and can be accessed on this landing page.

Exchange: Preserving Academic Freedom

The College was also the host of the conference Sustaining Academic Freedom: Ilia State University and its Academic Partnerships with Germany together with the long-standing partner institution of the UA Ruhr, the Ilia State University from the Georgian capital Tbilisi. The meeting had a special significance for the UA Ruhr, as it provided space for exchange on the role that international university cooperations can play in times of political and social challenges. Here you can find impressions and an outlook on further cooperation.

Research Explorer Ruhr: Thinking Research Globally

The summer program Research Explorer Ruhr has once again brought international early career researchers from various disciplines to the knowledge metropolis of the Ruhr region. Organized by the UA Ruhr Research Academy, upcoming and early postdocs had the opportunity to get to know the research landscape of the University Alliance Ruhr – as well as the Ruhr region as an attractive place to live and work. Read more about the visit here.

Positive: Our Result in the QS Ranking

We are pleased with another outstanding result for our university in a ranking, this time in the current World University Ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS): Ruhr University Bochum is ranked 402nd among the more than 8,000 universities evaluated worldwide. Particularly noteworthy is the indicator International Research Network, in which we are among the top 200 universities worldwide (German website). Here, the diversity and scope of international research cooperations are evaluated – our partnership-based cooperation with numerous countries and the active maintenance and development of these cooperations are paying off.

New Task: Sascha Kwasniok is CIO

We have appointed the former head of IT.SERVICES, Sascha Kwasniok, as the full-time Chief Information Officer (CIO). With this, we are setting the course for a future-oriented digital infrastructure at Ruhr University Bochum. Kwasniok brings comprehensive expertise in managing IT organizations. The CIO reports directly to the rectorate and is responsible for the strategic and technical orientation of the university’s IT landscape. Read more about Sascha Kwasniok and his new tasks here (German website).

Podcast I: Kornelia Freitag on Transnational Personnel Development

Our Prorector for Teaching and Studies was a guest on the podcast “Learning to teach”. Professor Kornelia Freitag explains how transnational personnel development is embedded in the internationalization strategy of Ruhr University Bochum and its commitment in the European University of Post-Industrial Cities alliance (UNIC), how local priorities can be balanced with international cooperation, and what proven procedures exist in the field of transnational personnel development. Listen in here.

Podcast II: Martin Paul in Interview with Scholars at Risk

“Truth matters” is the motto in the anniversary year of Scholars at Risk. The international network of institutions and individuals protects researchers and promotes academic freedom. Goals that we at Ruhr University Bochum also stand behind without question. Rector Martin Paul says in the “Free to Think” podcast: “The pursuit of truth is a core task of every university.” You can find the podcast episode here.

News Recommendations for You:

Last but not least …

Speaking of podcasts: Vacation time is podcast time! Perhaps during the long car ride to the vacation destination or on the picnic blanket by the lake, you will find the time to listen to the many podcasts made at Ruhr University Bochum. You can find an overview here:

https://transfer.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/podcasts-rub

Or you visit some series directly by clicking here (German websites):

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