CAU presidency: Court stops election – ex-president calls for a restart!

CAU presidency: Court stops election – ex-president calls for a restart!

The situation at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel (CAU) is currently characterized by the failed appointment to the presidential office. Former President Prof. Gerhard Fouquet advises the responsible committees to re-advertise the presidency as soon as possible. In an interview, Fouquet said that the search process should be transparent and targeted in order to restore trust in the university. The administration had previously canceled the first tender due to serious procedural deficiencies, such as kn online reported.

The lid on the application process was lifted, among other things, by the Schleswig Administrative Court, which has temporarily banned the election of Professor Insa Theesfeld. The reason for this: The search committee had only recommended one person to the Senate as eligible, which violated the required minimum requirements. At least two people should be nominated for an election. This means that university committees are now under pressure to comprehensively revise the procedure. Loud ndr.de The university is now waiting for the written reasons for the judgment in order to plan the next steps.

Procedures and errors

The errors in the selection process are notable and not only affect the number of applicants proposed. The selection decision was also inadequately documented. An unsuccessful applicant has already filed a lawsuit, further complicating the situation. Reported at the same time ndr.de, that Simone Fulda, the former president, is facing allegations of manipulation and has announced her resignation.

Knud Hansen, chairman of the “Pro Universitate Board of Trustees”, emphasizes the need for clear leadership at the CAU. This uncertainty was exacerbated by the deficiencies in the search committee under Prof. Thisbe Lindhorst. The court found that the Senate Chairman was inadequately informed and that the documentation of the selection interviews was incomplete. These mistakes can significantly affect the position of Lutz Kipp, a losing candidate. His prospects of being selected in a new process are currently uncertain.

The relevance of higher education reform

These developments are not only important for the CAU, but also raise a larger issue: university reform. This reform movement aims to revise existing structures and content in the higher education system, which responds to social changes and the demands on science, universities and teaching. The higher education reform covers aspects such as access, quality, structure and financing of courses that are crucial for the future of higher education. Changes are also underway in connection with the Bologna Process that are intended to promote international mobility and simplify the recognition of qualifications. You can find out more about this in the comprehensive article on Higher education reforms read up.

A Senate meeting will be scheduled next Monday to decide how to proceed. The CAU has also not yet decided whether it will appeal against the administrative court's decision or reopen the selection process. However, according to experts, the chances of lodging a successful complaint are slim as the procedural errors identified are considered serious.