Bremerhaven
These changes took a lot longer than expected at the Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. But now the die has been cast: The former manager of the travel company TUI and most recently Dean of the Management and Information Systems Department, Professor Dr. Alexis Papathanassis becomes the new rector of the university.
Ten votes
The Academic Senate, made up of seventeen eligible voters, voted for the native Greek with ten votes in favor. He succeeds Professor Dr. Peter Ritzenhoff, whose contract as rector was surprisingly not extended.
As a result, the management position was advertised. Among others, a university professor from Trier with Bremen roots applied. His ideas for the further development of the university must have agreed with the Academic Council at the time, because the choice fell on the now 54-year-old Professor Dr. Udo Burchard.
Backed down
Weeks after his election, he caused a bang in Bremerhaven: Burchard declared that he did not want to take up the new office in Bremerhaven and would rather stay in Trier instead. A professor from the Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences had to take over the temporary management function at short notice.
Meanwhile, the position as rector of the university was advertised again. 13 candidates applied. Four of them answered questions from the senators in a public hearing at the university at the beginning of October. The applicants also presented their concepts for the expansion of the university and their administration.
Papathanassis, the in-house candidate, prevailed in the end. The future rector said on Tuesday: “I am very happy about the trust. that the Academic Senate brings to me with its decision. “
Papathanassis emphasized that he was very committed to the university and the city of Bremerhaven and was looking forward to taking on responsibility even in the difficult times of upheaval and upheaval.
Also studied in London
During his managerial work at TUI, the professor did his doctorate at the Leibniz University of Hanover. The native Greek studied management in London. “I would like the Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences to develop further, and for initiatives and ideas to be taken up and developed,” said the rector-designate.
