New Chancellor joins Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (press release)

On October 26, 2017, the University Election Assembly unanimously elected Michael Strotkemper as Chancellor of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Mr. Strotkemper, an experienced business administration specialist, fills the final remaining vacancy in the University’s Executive Board. His term in office is eight years.

Dr. Heide Naderer, President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, looks forward to working with the Executive Board’s newest member: “In Michael Strotkemper we have found a very capable Chancellor whose substantial knowledge and experience will undoubtedly benefit Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in the years to come.”

Since 2012, Mr. Strotkemper has served in numerous positions at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), most recently as Deputy Chancellor. As the new Chancellor of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, he joins Dr. Heide Naderer (President), Professor Dr. Jens Gebauer (Vice-President for Research and Outreach), Professor Dr. Marion Halfmann (Vice-President for Studies, Teaching and Continuing Training) and Professor Dr. Georg Hauck (Vice-President for Personnel and Organisational Development, Diversity) to form the Executive Board of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

A native of the town of Attendorn, located in the picturesque Sauerland region of southeast North-Rhine Westphalia, Mr. Strotkemper earned a degree in Business Administration at the University of Siegen. In 2008 he began his professional career as a consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers AG in Siegen, before assuming a position as an accounting advisor at the University of Duisburg-Essen in 2012. There he served in various functions within the University’s administration, most recently as Acting Chancellor during the current chair holder’s period of absence.

Election Process

In accordance with the Higher Education Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (Hochschulgesetz–HG  NRW), in force since October 1, 2014, a University Election Assembly was constituted on February 9, 2017 as a new body of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Its key function is the voting in and out of members of the Executive Board.

One half of the University Election Assembly is composed of all members of the Senate, the other half of all members of the Board of Governors. Voting power is granted to all external members of the Board of Governors as well as to all members with voting power in the Senate.

The election of the Chancellor was an agenda item of the University Election Assembly’s meeting on October 26, 2017. Preceding the election, both the Senate and the Board of Governors had each delegated three members to form a Selection Committee. Their duties included preparing and overseeing the call for applications and selecting the best candidate, who presented himself in person to the gathered University Election Committee.

As the number of Senate members exceeds that of the Board of Governors in the University Election Assembly, individual votes are weighted such that both parties are afforded equal voting power as required by law (Section 22a (1) HG NRW).