Universities in transition: Science as the key to the future!

Universities in transition: Science as the key to the future!

The role of universities as formative knowledge institutions is currently being discussed not only at the Justus Liebig University in Giessen, but also at many other universities in Germany. The university landscape is facing numerous challenges in a changing world, which is reflected in the President's upcoming lecture series, which will take place onOctober 27, 2025begins to be discussed. Under the title “Knowledge creates reality – the university as a motor of change,” the JLU invites you to take part in six lectures that are aimed at both the university community and the interested public. This series of lectures aims to find answers to the role of universities and their social significance and will begin with an opening lecture by JLU President Prof. Dr. Katharina Lorenz opens.

Universities have developed over the centuries, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. The first German universities were founded in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, with the oldest, the University of Heidelberg, being founded in 1386. Over time, the structure and function of universities has constantly changed. This evolution of higher education systems and the challenges they are currently facing will also be discussed as part of the lecture series at the University of Giessen, where well-known experts will have their say.

Important lectures in the lecture series

The lectures in the lecture series are aimed at various central topics in higher education:

• 10. November 2025: Prof. Dr. Christine Musselin – „Who drives change? Evolution of the interplay between the universities and the state“
• 24. November 2025: Alex Usher – „Does familiarity breed contempt? The rise of universal access and falling public esteem for universities across Europe and North America“
• 15. Dezember 2025: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Beywl – „Lernen sichtbar machen – ein Impuls für universitäre Lehre“
• 12. Januar 2026: Prof. Dr. Helge Braun – „Hochschulautonomie und Politik – ein Spannungsfeld“
• 19. Januar 2026: Prof. Dr. Michael Hüther – „Schöpferisches Team am Vulkan. Überlegungen zum zeitgemäßen Geschäftsmodell der Universität“

All lectures take place in the auditorium of the main university building in Giessen and begin at 7:15 p.m. In order to ensure broader accessibility, the events will also be broadcast as a live stream and will later be available on the JLU YouTube channel.

University and society

The relationship between the university and society is also a central aspect that is discussed in the lecture series at the Goethe University Frankfurt, where experts from various disciplines reflect on the university as an institution. The aim here is to deepen the understanding of the university in current, historical and social contexts. The reflection on the role of universities in society is supported by the creation of an essay for the lecture series.

Universities must face the challenges of the future. The Bologna Declaration of 1999, for example, initiated fundamental reforms in the German university landscape. These aim at internationalization and the creation of a unified European higher education area. Due to these developments, German universities are faced with the task of offering more autonomy and flexibility in teaching, while at the same time ensuring the quality of education.

The challenges in higher education are complex. Reforms, as well as the introduction of junior professorships and new salary structures, are intended to help improve the personnel structure. Nevertheless, research into the situation of universities in Germany and the development of their structures continues to be of great importance. The evaluation of teaching also plays a central role in sustainably increasing the quality of training.

The upcoming events at JLU underline how important it is to discuss current topics and present perspectives that affect both the university as an institution and the students. These dialogues are essential to position universities as engines of change and to promote the social relevance of education through critical reflection.

uni-giessen.de reports that the JLU lecture series is a significant contribution to current higher education. Meanwhile offers uni-frankfurt.de interesting insights into the institution of the university from different perspectives. Also analyzed bpb.de the historical development and current challenges of the German higher education system.