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New Center for Public Policy at the University of Cologne: Adenauer School starts!
The University of Cologne is founding the Adenauer School of Government to promote public policy and governance with an annual budget of ten million euros.
New Center for Public Policy at the University of Cologne: Adenauer School starts!
On June 5, 2025, the Adenauer School of Government (ASG) was officially founded, a groundbreaking initiative of the University of Cologne in collaboration with the Alfred Landecker Foundation. The main goal of this new institution is to establish itself as a leading, non-partisan center for public policy, governance and administrative sciences. This lays the foundation for an important academic institution that aims to intensively address the challenges of modern governance.
The ASG is supported on a permanent basis with an initial budget of ten million euros per year. Professor Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, the rector of the University of Cologne, emphasizes that the ASG will not only advance top-level international research, but also take advantage of the close geographical and academic connections to Brussels and Paris. “The ASG raises the profile of our university in research and teaching and enables us to attract leading international scientists,” explains Mukherjee.
Naming and management structure
The naming of the Adenauer School of Government honors Konrad Adenauer, the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and former mayor of Cologne. The management of the ASG is in the hands of Professor Dr. Axel Ockenfels, who works as a professor of economics at the university.
Dr. Peter Harf, Chairman of the Alfred Landecker Foundation, highlights the urgency of science-based governance. “In order to meet the challenges arising from the global political landscape, sound research is essential,” says Harf. This view is also shared by Science Minister Ina Brandes, who emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary research and teaching in times of change.
Integration of academic initiatives
The academic program of the Alfred Landecker Foundation, which was launched on the International Day in Memory of the Victims of National Socialism, provides an additional framework for the ASG. The focus of this program is to examine the persecution and protection of minorities in Europe and the values and institutions that underpin democratic societies. Central to this is the Alfred Landecker Professorship of Values and Public Policy, which is held by Professor Jonathan Wolff.
The Alfred Landecker Memorial Lecture takes place annually on International Day in memory of the victims of National Socialism. This lecture is an important element of the academic work that deals with the challenges and duties of today's society regarding the culture of remembrance and the preservation of democracy.
The founding of the Adenauer School of Government is not only a significant step for the University of Cologne, but also an important contribution to strengthening the research landscape in Germany. With a clear focus on governance and public policy, the ASG aims to serve as a lifeline for future generations seeking solutions in an increasingly complex world.