Science and administration: key to the future of universities!

Science and administration: key to the future of universities!

On March 28, 2025, the annual meeting of the State Working Group of College and University Administrations in Lower Saxony (LAKOG) took place at Leuphana University. Anja Thiem, the university's deputy equal opportunities officer, opened the event with a powerful image: The collaboration between administration and science at universities is like a bicycle that cannot move without wheels. This metaphor illustrates the current state and challenges facing higher education administration.

Thiem emphasizes that there is an alarming lack of awareness of the need for cooperation between science and administration. This topic was discussed intensively during the conference, as the two areas often operate in isolation. The lectures by Dr. Ulf Banscherus from the Technical University of Berlin and Dr. Jule Elena Westerheide from the University of Bochum made it clear that this isolation can cause tensions in performance evaluation and remuneration.

Impact and solutions

During the meeting, measures to bridge this gap were discussed. An interactive Knowledge Café led to important insights for the necessary structural change at universities. The participants agreed that a well-positioned administration, functioning technology and a modern library system are essential prerequisites for excellence in science and must create attractive study conditions.

A central point of the discussion was the finding that universities in Lower Saxony need specific strategies for successful collaboration. Thiem emphasized that the participation of university administrations in university development processes is crucial for their identification and visibility. Particularly from the perspective of equality, it is essential to reflect on the different rationalities of science and administration.

Thiem also demands that the administration pay more attention to further developments within the university and to equality policy at the state level. The challenges and solutions highlighted during this meeting could have far-reaching implications for future collaboration between different areas within universities.

The conference therefore represented an important step in raising awareness of the need for cooperation between science and administration and initiating concrete measures. An effective interaction between both areas could not only improve university culture, but also significantly promote the quality of teaching and research.

Further details about the conference and the topic can be found on the Leuphana University website here is accessible.