University President Prof. Dr. Eva Waller welcomed the guests to the Reinhard Ernst Museum in Wiesbaden and made it clear what makes the HSRM special: "Our higher education institution is not an island. It is a place in the middle of society. And that is exactly where it wants to have an impact - committed, creative, connecting. We not only provide qualifications through high-quality education, but are also a close-knit knowledge community that enables and supports technological, economic and social transformation. Together, we shape the future by promoting talent and answering the current questions of our time with passion, innovation and solutions."
"Equal opportunities and permeability in the educational system"
Timon Gremmels, Hessian Minister of Science and Research, Art and Culture, explained: "Hochschule RheinMain initiates and supports social transformation processes. It stands for high-quality teaching and successful transfer to business and society. With its projects and students, it has an impact on urban society and ensures liveliness. At the same time, Hochschule RheinMain ensures and supports broad access to studies and thus plays an important role in a topic that is particularly close to my heart: Equal opportunities and permeability in the educational system."
Shaping change
Gert-Uwe Mende, Lord Mayor of the City of Wiesbaden, said in his welcoming address: "Our cities are facing major challenges - from climate change and urban infrastructure to social cohesion. However, these challenges also offer the opportunity to make urban areas more liveable and sustainable. Universities such as Hochschule RheinMain make an indispensable contribution to this by qualifying young people to shape this change and providing innovative impetus to urban society. I am therefore delighted that we have a higher education institution in Wiesbaden that is actively contributing to this transformation with its research, teaching and networking in the city." The Mayor of Rüsselsheim am Main, Patrick Burghardt, also praised the cooperation with HSRM: "We are working closely and well with Hochschule RheinMain on innovative projects and the topics of tomorrow in order to make the city of Rüsselsheim fit for the future. Especially with regard to the development of the Opel site, an exciting urban transformation is currently taking place in Rüsselsheim, which we are supporting in close cooperation."
City in transition
In his keynote speech on the topic of "Urban Transformation - City in Transition", Prof. Volker Kleinekort, Professor of Urban Development at HSRM, made it clear that urban transformation is a task for society as a whole. Due to the complexity of this task, solutions can only succeed with the involvement and participation of all stakeholders in the neighborhoods and cities. The architect and urban planner gave an overview of the various strategies of urban transformation, which affect both existing and new districts, and gave an outlook on what the future of cities could look like.
Ceremonial presentation of the DAAD Prize 2025
Bilasan Al-Thihli, a student on the Bachelor's degree program in Interdisciplinary Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, received the DAAD Prize 2025 for outstanding achievements by international students at the Annual Political Reception. In his laudatory speech, HSRM Vice-President for Education and Sustainability Prof. Dr. Christian Schachtner emphasized the commitment of the student from Oman, who actively supports other students and helps new students to find their way around the higher education institution. Since the beginning of her studies, she has volunteered in the activities offered by the International Office for international students and actively contributes her ideas to the university society and, as an integration pilot, also to the city society in Rüsselsheim am Main.