Prof. Dr. Volker Epping has been approved to continue heading Leibniz University Hannover as President after December 2020. A large majority of the Senate and the University Council re-elected Epping for a second term as President until the end of 2028 without advertising the position (see section 38 paragraph 4 subparagraph 4 of the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act). The university bodies therefore opt for continuity in top-level management. The President will be officially appointed by the Ministry of Science and Culture.
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mlynek, chairperson of the University Council, commented: "During his first term, Professor Epping was very successful in his role as President. In collaboration with his governing body, he shaped the university''s profile and expanded its research reputation through Clusters of Excellence. He succeeded in fostering the dialogue between LUH and Hannover Medical School in terms of research and transformed the partnership into an institutionalised collaboration across both universities, therefore creating the basis for a joint proposal in the Excellence Strategy within the scope of the funding line "Universities of Excellence / Consortia". With 25 tenure track professorships in the "Nachwuchspakt" to promote junior researchers, Leibniz University Hannover strengthened its research and teaching profile in future fields. By establishing the Leibniz School of Education, which attracted much attention in Germany, teacher education was implemented as a key topic at the university. The President''s activities in university politics - such as in the German Rectors'' Conference or in the university alliance TU9 German Universities of Technology - are instrumental in increasing the visibility of Leibniz University Hannover, both nationally and internationally. I would like to congratulate Volker Epping on behalf of the University Council and would be delighted to continue our valuable work together."
"Over the past years, Volker Epping shaped the university''s profile considerably - among other things through his policy regarding the appointment of professors. The Senate''s decision is a vote of confidence and acknowledges both the leadership skills and visionary strength of the current President and the entire Presidential Board. Over the next few years, it will be essential to initiate a dialogue on equal terms, as well as to further develop the university on its road to success with regard to research and teaching", said Prof. Dr. Holger Butenschön and Dr. Hartmut Lehne, spokespersons of the Senate.
Volker Epping thanked the members of the University Council for their trust in him and the Presidential Board. He also expressed his gratitude to the Senate, a key university body. The senate comprises thirteen members entitled to vote. On the basis of groups, members are appointed by direct election; therefore representing the entire spectrum of the university''s interests in a democratic electoral procedure.
Since December 2001, Volker Epping has held a professorship in public law, international law, and European law at the Faculty of Law at Leibniz University Hannover. From 2004 to 2007 and 2008 to 2009, Epping served as dean of the Faculty of Law. He was a member of the Senate of Leibniz University Hannover and the Niedersachsen Institutes of Technology (NTH) between April 2009 and March 2011. In June 2014, he was elected the new President of Leibniz University Hannover. He took office on 1 January 2015. Volker Epping is Vice President of the university alliance TU9 and deputy spokesperson of the universities represented in the German Rectors'' Conference.
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