Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences has a new Executive Board. Alongside the President, Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen, and the Chancellor, Michael Strotkemper, the new board now comprises Vice-Presidents Professor PD Dr Tatiana Zimenkova, Professor Dr-Ing Peter Kisters and Professor Jörg Petri.
On 2 July 2019, the University Electoral Assembly of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences elected a new Vice-President and two new Vice-Presidents. Alongside the University President, Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen, and the University Chancellor, Michael Strotkemper, the new executive committee will comprise Professor Tatiana Zimenkova, PD, as Vice-President for International Affairs and Diversity; Professor Jörg Petri as Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Teaching and Continuing Education, and Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters as Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer. The remit of the latter two vice-presidencies will remain unchanged. “However, Professor Petri and Professor Kisters will set new priorities within their respective vice-presidencies, as retaining students and strengthening research, innovation and cooperation are of paramount importance for the further development of our university,” explains Locker-Grütjen. The third vice-presidency is undergoing a shift in focus and rounds off the new priorities. “As the third pillar and a key focus of our university, the new vice-presidency covers the areas of international affairs and diversity. This holds great potential as a unique selling point for our university, which Professor Zimenkova will now promote. Furthermore, this structure demonstrates the collegial networking amongst the vice-presidents, as all three core themes of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences can be viewed from a horizontal perspective,” Locker-Grütjen continues. The Executive Board will take office in this composition on 1 September 2019. Until then, the current Executive Board will remain in post.
Professor Jörg Petri
Born in Mannheim-Neckarau, Professor Jörg Petri trained as a typesetter and studied computer science at the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Berlin. He was awarded a Dr. phil. in the classification of typographic typefaces by the Braunschweig University of Art (HBK) in 2019. From 2005 to 2010, Professor Petri served as an artistic and research assistant to the Design Committee in the field of typography and book design at the HBK Braunschweig. Furthermore, he has worked and continues to work on a freelance basis in various fields as a graphic designer, designer and typographer.
Since 2010, Professor Petri has held the Chair of Media Production at the Faculty of Communication and Environment at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. He is a member of the Senate of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences and a member of the university’s Planning and Structure Committee. Outside the university, he is active on the Typefaces Standards Committee of the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN), within the German Society for Design Research and Transfer (DGTF), and at the International Institute for Information Design (IIID).
Professor Petri is taking up the post of Vice-President for Studies, Teaching and Continuing Education at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. His areas of responsibility include, amongst other things, further enhancing the quality of teaching, improving study conditions and introducing university-wide measures to ensure academic success.
Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters
Born in Geldern, Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters studied mechanical engineering at Ruhr University Bochum, where he obtained his doctorate in the same subject in 2001 and held various positions at the university’s Chair of Drive and Conveyor Technology from 1996 onwards. Following his doctorate, Professor Kisters was Head of Development and Calculation at the IBAF Institute for Construction Machinery, Drive and Conveyor Technology in Bochum from 2001 to 2004. He then took over as Head of Research and Development at AUMUND Fördertechnik GmbH in Rheinberg, where he was responsible for conveying systems for the cement and power station industries, bulk material handling technology for the steel industry, and for patents and trade marks.
Since 2011, Professor Kisters has been teaching and conducting research as a professor of mechanical engineering, specialising in product design, at the Faculty of Technology and Bionics at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. During his first five years at the university, he also served as an endowed professor for the regional economy. He is Vice-Dean of the Faculty and Programme Director of the Bachelor’s programme in Mechanical Engineering. In addition, he is a board member for the Education and Science division at the VDI Lower Rhine Regional Association, as well as a jury member for the ‘Schüler machen MINT’ initiative at the Duisburg Entrepreneurs’ Association.
Professor Kisters is taking up the post of Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. His responsibilities include, amongst other things, promoting and establishing inter-faculty research areas, as well as developing tailored support and service offerings for professors. Furthermore, engaging with and initiating collaborations with businesses, schools and community groups is a key aspect of his role.
Professor PD Dr Tatiana Zimenkova
Born in Leningrad (now St Petersburg), Professor PD Dr Tatiana Zimenkova studied sociology at St Petersburg State University and obtained her PhD in this subject in 2006 at the Institute for Science and Technology Studies at Bielefeld University. She subsequently conducted research and taught at Bielefeld University in the field of political participation and civic education. Furthermore, between 2005 and 2012, she served as the German Director’s representative at the ZDES (Centre for German and European Studies in Bielefeld/St Petersburg). In 2014, she took up a junior professorship in diversity and difference in subject didactics, as well as in school and teaching research, at the Dortmund Centre of Excellence for Teacher Education and
Teaching/Learning Research, TU Dortmund. She completed her habilitation, thereby gaining the right to teach sociology, at the Faculty of Sociology at Bielefeld University in 2016 and acts as a consultant in the areas of ‘Diversity and the Police’ and ‘Diversity and Schools’.
Since 2018, Professor Zimenkova has held the post of Professor of Sociology at the Faculty of Society and Economics at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. She is a member of the Faculty Council and a member of the extended regional executive committee of the German Society for Political Education (DVPB NRW). In addition, she is active in various associations and societies – for example, the European Sociological Association and the Society for Political Didactics and Political Youth and Adult Education.
Professor Zimenkova is taking on the role of Vice-President for International Affairs and Diversity. Her responsibilities include, amongst other things, further promoting diversity across all areas of the university – not only in terms of gender – and strengthening the university’s international profile.
In preparation for the election of the Vice-President, a selection committee was set up, comprising an equal number of members from the University Council and the Senate. The committee’s task was to draw up a recommendation for the University Electoral Assembly. “I am delighted that the University Electoral Assembly has followed the selection committee’s recommendation. It shows that everyone involved is convinced by this choice. Chancellor Michael Strotkemper and I congratulate the female candidate and the two male candidates. With the new Executive Board, we will be able to successfully drive forward the development of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences,” emphasises Locker-Grütjen, who looks forward to the future collaboration with great anticipation.
