Digitalisation, communication and healthy growth 

What will your first official act?
Strictly speaking, receiving the master key for all university buildings and adapting the IT infrastructure. Then I can get started.

With what exactly? What plans do you have for the University of Bayreuth?
The University of Bayreuth is in the midst of change and growth. There are some big projects coming up - the expansion of the seventh faculty in Kulmbach, the Bavarian Centre for Battery Research BayBatt, - to name just two. All of this must be driven forward without losing sight of the campus in Bayreuth.

What are your priorities for the projects you have started?
The top priority for me is day-to-day reality: the organisation of work, research, and teaching at the University of Bayreuth under pandemic conditions. We have to adapt operations to ever changing regulations, such as the very recent new federal law on infection control. We have to organise operations in such a way that all people who have to teach and learn, study and work on campus are safe, and that online teaching and teleworking can take place reliably.

What construction projects are coming up?
The documents for the tender for an overall contractor for the Africa Building are currently being finalised. In addition, the High-Tech Agenda has accelerated things, so the current focus is on advancing the project application for the new development project, and the documents for the further planning of the E&I Institute, so that the next steps can be taken. We are well on schedule.

One of the University of Bayreuth’s major goals is to become climate neutral. Where does that rank in your agenda?
The economical use of resources is automatically a major concern simply because of the job description of a university provost - which includes the economical use of taxpayers' money. Rest assured that the associated issue of sustainability is also on my mind.

How would you describe your leadership style?
I tend to lead situationally. But if you ask me about my characteristics, I would describe myself as a team-oriented and communicative person who appreciates the broad hierarchies at the University of Bayreuth and who seeks to support young people. I find networks particularly important. I see it as my job to actively bring people from different areas together. I believe that's how good things come about.

What do your friends say about you?
You would have to ask them that... but I would be surprised if they didn't call me reliable and honest, sometimes perhaps too honest. And if they didn't mention my strong will and great commitment to things that are important to me.

Where did you learn to take responsibility?
I grew up on a farm. You are given responsibility and business management knowledge at an early age, because a farm is also a business.

You also know the university business - from almost every perspective. How will that feed in?
Let's put it this way: the fact that I have already been a student, student representative, programme coordinator, worked in the service centre, as a personal advisor, and overseen the budget, gives me a holistic view of university operations, which I think is very helpful for the new task.

How do you see your role as the boss of about 1000 employees?
I would like to quote a colleague who, as university provost, once called himself the "head caretaker". Seriously, there are a lot of topics that will take up my time; the issues of construction, finances, and personnel will certainly be foremost. That only works well if you have a good team and support. We have good people in house, and I want to keep them and nurture them, I want to give our staff the freedom to fulfil their tasks. Because I think we thrive from the fact that people actually enjoy doing their job.

What will be different under your leadership?
In the past year, we have noticed what is possible. Virtual leadership, digital communication and transparent workflows have become increasingly important for us. Of course, I will be pleased when everyone can be here in person again and we can enjoy the beauty of our campus - the personal, friendly atmosphere. But I'll also be pleased if we can maintain what has been done so well online. This will benefit the two big issues that are particularly important to me: closer cooperation between academia and administration, and more intensive internal communication. Both will be easier with the digital tools we have discovered, and even move to new formats.