On 22 October 2014, the University Council of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences elected Dr Heide Naderer as President of the university. The university’s Senate confirmed this decision today in a special meeting by a narrow majority.
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 5 November 2014: The current Chancellor of Babelsberg Film University in Potsdam is a higher education administrator and has successfully held a number of positions within the higher education sector throughout her career to date: Among other roles, she has worked at the Secretariat of the German Science Council, the Accreditation Council, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and as Head of International Affairs at RWTH Aachen University. She also taught at the City University of New York. With her election as President of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, she is now returning to her home region, the Lower Rhine. As the successor to Prof. Dr Marie-Louise Klotz, whose term of office ends on 30 April 2015, Dr Heide Naderer is expected to take up the post of President following her appointment by the Ministry for Innovation, Science and Research (MIWF) on 1 May 2015.
Prof. Dr Gerard J.M. Meijer, Chair of the University Council and the Selection Committee, presented the committee’s deliberations and findings to the Senate. On behalf of the Selection Committee, he paid tribute to the outstanding achievements of the outgoing President. The establishment of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, the rapid development of the two campuses in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort, and its international focus were, he said, primarily due to Prof. Klotz’s strategic vision and tireless commitment. Her name would forever be associated with Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences.
Commenting on the selection committee’s decision, he explained that the committee’s deliberations had shown that the university had completed its start-up phase. The consolidation phase now beginning would be characterised by different tasks and challenges and would therefore require a different leadership style, tailored to this process.
At today’s meeting, Dr Naderer introduced herself in person to the Senate and a wider audience, before the Senate proceeded to a vote following a thorough and heated discussion. Immediately after her election was confirmed by the Senate, Dr Naderer said: “I am delighted to have been elected and look forward to the new challenges as President of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences; together with the entire university team, I will set the course for the future direction of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences.”
