December 12, 2019
He spent more than ten years at Jacobs University: first as a professor of Systems Management, then as Managing Director and finally as Chairman of the Executive Board and President. As part of a ceremony, "his" university bid farewell to Prof. Dr. Michael Hülsmann. Among the approximately 200 guests were employees and students, long-time companions, supporters and friends of Jacobs University as well as representatives from the academic world, the Jacobs Foundation, and the City of Bremen, including Dr. Claudia Schilling, Senator of Science, Ports and Justice.
Professor Dr. Antonio Loprieno, who has been the new President of the international university since December 1st, welcomed the guests in the festively decorated Conference Hall of Jacobs University. He thanked his predecessor for his services to Jacobs University, particularly during the difficult consolidation period, and paid tribute to him as one of the most important personalities in the university’s history.
In her speech, Senator Dr. Claudia Schilling welcomed the new President to Bremen and emphasized the city's close relationship with the international university. Jacobs University is an integral part of Bremen as a science hub, and outstanding teaching and research performances are achieved on campus, said Schilling. The Senator stressed in particular the good cooperation between the three partners of the Trilateral Treaty: the Jacobs Foundation, Jacobs University, and the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen: "I want to continue this path hand-in-hand with all of you and lead it to a successful result".
On behalf of the Jacobs family, the Jacobs Foundation, and the Board of Governors, Lavinia Jacobs, Chairwoman of the Board of Governors, and Sandro Giuliani, Delegate of the Jacobs Foundation Board of Trustees, thanked Professor Michael Hülsmann for his commitment and work. He assumed entrepreneurial responsibility for Jacobs University at a difficult time. His motivation in all these years has been to make education accessible to young people regardless of their background and to work for international understanding. His office had been more than just a "job" for him.
In their speeches, Professor Sebastian Springer and Professor Alexander Lerchl looked back on years spent together and many successful projects with outgoing President Michael Hülsmann from the perspective of Jacobs University’s Faculty and the Works Council.
In his farewell address, Prof. Hülsmann talked about the commitment of the Jacobs Foundation and the State of Bremen, which enables 2,000 people every year – students, professors, lecturers, staff members – to learn, do research and work together in the field of higher education; and they do this with an attitude of the greatest possible openness.
He thanked the faculty and staff members as well as the students for their dedication, energy and open-mindedness. With an appeal to secure the freedom of science in the future and a request to continue supporting Jacobs University, Prof. Michael Hülsmann concluded his role at the University.