Hochschule Geisenheim University and VEG - Geisenheim Alumni Association e. V. celebrated their joint New Year's reception on Monday, January 13, 2020, together with staff, students, representatives of committees, ministries, companies and associations. In his welcome address, alumni association President Robert Lönarz referred to Geisenheim's huge potential based on its "combination of academic excellence and solid teaching of practical skills". Given Geisenheim's strengths, such as a thirst for knowledge, a sense of community and an extensive network, this potential can continue to be tapped in the years ahead; teaching and research have developed positively, particularly in the face of new challenges.
Professor Hans Reiner Schultz, President of Hochschule Geisenheim University, also focused on the challenges facing society and how to tackle them. With a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein: "Not everything that counts counts, not everything that counts is countable," he emphasized the institution's social responsibility. The University should not and will not rest on its laurels, but will work on continuely improving. For instance, plans for a consistently sustainable reorganization of the University will be initiated in 2020.
"With its research and study facilities, the University has to, can and will contribute to solving major agricultural, environmental and food-related issues," said Professor Georg F. Backhaus, Chairman of the University Council and former President of the Julius Kühn Institute. The University's researchers are working in "exciting fields with great potential for the future," while the University is also ideally suited to making the research findings accessible for practical application, he added.
Frank Kilian, District Administrator of the Rheingau-Taunus district, and Christian Assmann, Mayor of Geisenheim, expressed similar sentiments in their speeches. Kilian called the University a "unique treasure", in that it develops and communicates sustainable strategies at the cutting edge of teaching and research. "Society as a whole stands to gain from the knowledge acquired here," he continued. Assmann said he was "proud" of the University's progress and noted that the region itself is also set to benefit from it, for instance, through the recent establishment of the Rheingau Start-up Center.
Beate Reichhold-Appel from Landesbetrieb Landwirtschaft Hessen - LLH (agricultural center run by Hesse's Department of Agriculture) announced that in the new year, the further education courses offered by LHH were to be enhanced and become even more attractive, especially for students, in order to contribute to promoting the positive development of Geisenheim as a study location.
In his speech, Dr. Franz-Josef Jung, former Federal Minister and Chairman of the Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Hochschule Geisenheim (GFHG) (association promoting Hochschule Geisenheim University), referred to the quality of teaching and research and the strong international character of the University as its defining features. To be in a position to sustain this "spirit of the educational institution" in the years and decades to come, the will and motivation to live up to the expectations placed on it is essential, concluded VEG President Robert Lönarz. The New Year's reception once again demonstrated that Hochschule Geisenheim University's success is thanks to the strong support of its partners from diverse areas.
