On Friday afternoon, she symbolically received the key to The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR): Professor Dr Susanne Meyer is the new President of HSNR. Around 250 guests from the worlds of politics, science, business and culture attended the ceremonial handover of office on the Krefeld West campus.
Prof Dr Susanne Meyer succeeds Dr Thomas Grünewald, who is retiring after almost six years in office. "We are saying goodbye to a President who has shown us how to lead with expertise, foresight and a deep inner calm. And we welcome a President who is ready to continue on the path we have taken - with innovative strength, energy and the will to lead The Hochschule Niederrhein into a successful future," said Dr Armin Knors, Chairman of the University Council, in his opening speech.
In her inaugural speech, Meyer emphasised the importance of permeability in the education system: there is no longer just one traditional route to university, but many - for example via professional qualifications or continuing education. "If we want to build bridges - into professional life, into our university environment or into our region - we have to be flexible in the design of our degree programmes and emphasise practical application and project orientation," said Meyer.
The subsequent panel discussion with the Lord Mayors of Krefeld and Mönchengladbach, Frank Meyer and Felix Heinrichs, AStA representative Isabelle Müller and the two presidents focussed on current topics such as the housing situation for students and the visibility of the university in urban society.
Frank Meyer, Lord Mayor of the City of Krefeld: "Professionally and personally, I very much regret that Thomas Grünwald is leaving The Hochschule Niederrhein. His open and approachable manner, his energy and his ideas have contributed a great deal to bringing The Hochschule Niederrhein closer to the city and to networking it even more closely. I have already had the pleasure of getting to know his successor Susanne Meyer briefly and I am very much looking forward to working with her. I wish her all the best in her new role."
Felix Heinrichs, Lord Mayor of Mönchengladbach: "The university has an impact on the city and I am grateful to Thomas Grünewald for his personal involvement in projects such as the Wissenscampus and the JuniorUni. With Susanne Meyer, we will continue on the path of making the university and, above all, the many students visible and opening up new spaces for them."
"It was a fulfilment for me to be able to make a contribution to education and research in a liberal and open society," said Dr Thomas Grünewald in his farewell speech. He thanked the staff, friends and partners of the HSNR - and not least his family - for their support.
Susanne Meyer is a lawyer and is moving to the HSNR from the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR). She will officially take office on 1 December 2025.
