18. November 2020

Sabine Kunst confirmed in office as the President of the Humboldt-Universität

For the first time in the history of the HU, the Council elects a female president for a second term of office

Sabine Kunst © Matthias Heyde, HU Berlin

Prof. Dr-Ing. Dr Sabine Kunst will start her second term of office in May 2021 for a further five years. Photo: HU Berlin/M. Heyde

Prof. Dr-Ing. Dr Sabine Kunst was re-elected by the Council of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) on 17th November 2020, with 30 votes in favour, 18 against, and 5 rejected votes. Sabine Kunst has been President of the HU since May 2016. Her second term of office begins in May 2021.

Sabine Kunst on her re-election: “Over the past few years, we have got a lot off the ground at the Humboldt, such as structural change and success in the Excellence Strategy. It will now be a matter of positioning our university so as to be even stronger for the future. An absolutely essential part of this will be developing our three campuses into interdisciplinary research landscapes, digitising teaching and administration, and further opening up the university to society. To achieve this, we need strong internal cohesion – especially during these difficult times of the coronavirus. I am sure that we will succeed in this, and I look forward to the next few years with all Humboldtians.”

Over the coming five years, Sabine Kunst also wants to focus on further networking the HU within the region. In addition, the topics of staff development, inclusion, diversity and family friendliness are to be anchored even more firmly within the university.

Prof. Dr Alexander Nützenadel, Chairman of the Council of HU: “I congratulate Sabine Kunst on her re-election as president. The council re-elected Ms Kunst because it is convinced that she will continue to develop the Humboldt-Universität over the next five years and make it even more visible on the national and international stage.”

Edelgard Bulmahn, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the HU: “Sabine Kunst is a terrific president and university manager who has further advanced the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin’s position among both the national and international competition. From the point of view of the Board of Trustees, the Council made a good decision. Under the leadership of Sabine Kunst, the Humboldt-Universität will remain an outstanding location for excellent teaching and research.”

Before her time as President of the HU, Sabine Kunst was Minister of Science and Culture in Brandenburg and President of the University of Potsdam. In 2010, she received the “University Manager of the Year” award from the Centre for Higher Education and the Financial Times Deutschland. Before that, the doctor of engineering and political science held various managerial positions at the University of Hanover; among others, she was Director of International Affairs there, as well as Vice President for Teaching, Academic Programmes and Further Education.

From 2010 to 2011 – as the first woman ever to hold the position – Sabine Kunst was President of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the largest organisation for worldwide exchange between researchers and students.

In 2013, she received an honorary doctorate from the American Jewish University, Los Angeles.

Further information

Interview with Ms Kunst about what motivates her and her goals for a second term of office (in german)
Photographs of Ms Kunst (download)

The Council of the Humboldt-Universität elects the members of the President’s Executive Council at the suggestion of the Board of Trustees, decides on issues relating to the constitution and electoral rules, and discusses the annual report of the President’s Executive Council. The tasks of the Council are regulated in section 8 of the HU’s constitution.