Annual celebration Protecting the University as an Open Cosmos and Space for Discourse

In the spirit of its motto “Semper Apertus”, Heidelberg University is an open-minded, international cosmos made up of more than 40,000 people from over 120 nations. “This diversity is not only personally enriching but also an essential resource for our research, which draws on multiple perspectives. That is what constitutes a university and we intend to keep on expanding and protecting it,” underlined Prof. Dr Frauke Melchior, Rector of Heidelberg University, in her opening address at the annual celebration inaugurating the 2024/2025 Academic Year. Members of the university, friends, supporters and alumni attended this festive event, held traditionally at the start of the lecture period in the Great Hall of the Old University, and also marked the 638th anniversary of the founding of Heidelberg University. 

With respect to protecting and preserving diversity, said Prof. Melchior, the university must ensure that its members feel welcome and safe everywhere and at every place – whether it be in lecture theaters, working groups or in the administration. “Anti-Semitism, anti-gypsyism, hostility to Muslims, misogyny and other forms of discrimination must have no place at our university,” the Rector emphasized, at the same time calling for “maximum attention” to be paid the question of “how we can protect our university as a space for open discourse, a place in which everything may be discussed and elucidated as long as it serves the acquisition of knowledge – and this with a scientific approach and an attitude of mutual respect”. 

Excellence Strategy and hospital merger

In her address Prof. Melchior combined a review of the past Academic Year with a look to future developments and upcoming challenges. For example, the Excellence Strategy is already looming: now that Heidelberg University has submitted four full applications for clusters, at least two of them have to be successful for Ruperto Carola to be able to apply in August 2025 to extend its status as a University of Excellence. In a self-evaluation report it must explain that the instruments and measures proposed seven years ago for further institutional development have been effective and will also be suited to future advancement of the university. This report therefore requires continuity, noted Prof. Melchior. “We will not be able to propose revolutionary changes,” she said. 

Another topic of great relevance, according to the Rector, is the planned merger of the Heidelberg and Mannheim university hospitals and the accompanying amalgamation of the two Medical Faculties. This is a unique opportunity, she said, “to strengthen the efficiency, competitiveness and attraction of life science and medical research at Heidelberg University and in the region and to make them much more visible internationally”.

Students, professors and academic support units

At the opening of the new Academic Year, the Rector gave a positive assessment of the total student and fresher figures. While other universities already have to contend with falling student numbers due to the demographic transformation, Heidelberg University is growing. The increase was certainly also an expression and proof of “our strong brand and reputation”, said Prof. Melchior. She then also took a look at staff developments. Apart from the successful recruiting of 15 new female and five male professors who had joined the university since October last year, Heidelberg was very well placed not only with respect to gender equality but also the gender pay gap, she said. With professors under 50 years of age, the difference in income is currently half a percent – in favor of the women, the Rector explained.