Campus festival at the FernUniversität: A day full of music and sustainability!

Campus festival at the FernUniversität: A day full of music and sustainability!

On September 6, 2025, the FernUniversität in Hagen celebrated a special milestone birthday with an impressive campus party. Under bright sunshine, thousands of visitors gathered to enjoy the events, which were characterized by a varied program. The university offered a party for the whole family until late in the evening, with a central meeting point at the large stage where live music could be experienced.

The musical highlight was the band Party Beat Breakers, who created an exuberant atmosphere with rocking sounds and an impressive light show. Previously, the band Puzzles let the audience relax with relaxing songs. The campus festival is an integral part of the region's event calendar and attracts people of all ages, which is also illustrated by the large-scale childcare. Here the little ones could express their creativity by applying make-up, making paper or climbing.

Diverse program and exciting discussions

The rector of the FernUniversität, Prof. Stefan Stürmer, spoke during the event and pointed out the social responsibility of universities. In particular, he appealed to those present to take part in the upcoming local elections on September 14th. His speech was part of an extensive program that included the lecture by historian Prof. Dr. Felix Ackermann about the role of Telegram in the Ukraine conflict and a public discussion about youth-friendly spaces. This discussion round was held in the new PoliTikTalk format and met with great interest among the young people.

The numerous facets of the campus were experienced during guided tours, while a sustainability walk led by Frank Wistuba focused on the university's ecological and social sustainability. This walk took participants to important stations such as photovoltaic systems, raised beds, wildflower meadows and barrier-free elevators. The BUND Marienhof was present with a stand that offered information about sustainable seeds and biodiversity.

A celebration for the future

The campus festival also offered information and action stands from various organizations, including the FernUni student advisory service, StudyFit and the district craftsmen's association. Career orientation was a central element that opened up new perspectives for visitors. Particularly noteworthy was the book flea market in the university library, which was very well received by the students.

For the first time this year, a homecoming event for former students also took place. Around 40 alumni took the opportunity to explore the campus and the nearby open-air museum and to experience the community, which is invaluable to many graduates.

The campus festival shows how deeply rooted the FernUniversität is in the region. In addition, the university is in line with overarching sustainability goals, as anchored in the context of the “traNHSform” project of the DG HochN. This project aims to promote the anchoring of sustainability in the German higher education system and is supported by the BMBF. As part of this project, over 30 universities are working on developing sustainable transformation paths.

Being involved in such a festival not only strengthens the local community, but also shows that education and society are closely intertwined. The FernUniversität in Hagen remains an important player in the university landscape that takes responsibility and actively contributes to sustainable development. The campus festival was not just a celebration, but also a symbol of a future-oriented university.

For further information about the festival and the program items, please visit the website FernUni Hagen, Fernstudie.net and DG HochN.