Ten good reasons for choosing Martin Luther University
Vice-Chancellor looks back on a gratifying first year in office at annual press conference
Roughly 2,600 young people will begin their studies at Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), in the coming weeks, some 600 more than last year. At today`s annual press conference, MLU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Wulf Diepenbrock and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Christoph Weiser claimed to be delighted by the number of places taken up in a year when there were two Abitur classes. At the same time, however, they left no-one in any doubt that the University would have to sell itself to prospective students increasingly in the future, and suggested ‘Ten good reasons for studying in Halle`.
Vice-Chancellor Diepenbrock was pleased with his first year in office. "We have been able to revitalise the University`s four key research areas in the fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, Oriental studies and Enlightenment research. We have also strengthened our partnership with business and grammar schools. Naturally, our excellent position in the league tables has also boosted our self-confidence." MLU shared first place with the other universities in Saxony-Anhalt in the excellence ranking of the Centre for Higher Education Development, and, along with the University of Leipzig, was the best-placed east German university in the internationally renowned Shanghai Ranking. "This has made Martin Luther University an even more attractive prospect," said Diepenbrock. "We also reached the final of the excellence initiative - so we are hoping for more good news on 19 October." Together with the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, the MLU submitted an application for an excellence cluster entitled ‘Enlightenment Laboratory`.
As far as enrolment figures were concerned, Prof. Dr. Christoph Weiser, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Study, Teaching, Further Education and International Relations, said, "We had nearly 20,000 applications for the winter semester, which was roughly twenty-five percent up on last year. This was in line with our expectations in a year with two Abitur classes." However, many sixth-formers had applied to several universities. "So we are delighted that 2,600 young people will still be coming to our University, considerably more than this time last year. We have good reason to be satisfied with this uptake. It is in line with the target agreement drawn up with the state of Saxony-Anhalt."
Many fewer students from Saxony-Anhalt are expected to apply in future years because of demographic changes. But the number of sixth-formers in the states of western Germany is continuing to rise. "Against this background, we will intensify our marketing strategies and increase our efforts to attract sixth-formers from the western states," announced Wulf Diepenbrock. After all, the east German universities are bound by the University Pact 2020 to maintain study places at their present level.
"We have compiled a list of ten good reasons for studying in Halle, which are presented in an entertaining countdown style on a specially designed web page at www.studier-in-halle.de," explained Diepenbrock. These include the proximity to one another of ‘bed, books and beer` and the symbiosis of ‘technological advance and tradition`, the demonstrably high standard of teaching and mentoring, the practical relevance of studies (‘Learning for Life`), the reasonable living costs and the good transport connections ("Easy to get to and from!"). From this week, the ‘ten good reasons` have also been displayed on billboards in Riebeckplatz, Halle; these were designed in collaboration with the city`s Burg Giebichenstein College of Art and Design.
"To create a broad base for our marketing activities, we have also commissioned a survey of prospective students, which will be followed up by seeking the views of current students and non-applicants," continued Vice-Chancellor Diepenbrock. "Early results indicate that we are right to place the emphasis on our ten good reasons." Depending on their subject, applicants prioritised practical relevance, a personal atmosphere, a wide choice of fields of study and good mentoring. As far as the University itself was concerned, course fees, ambience and reputation mattered most, while in terms of the city, living costs, leisure opportunities and transport links were important criteria. The survey was carried out on behalf of the MLU by the Halle company Conomic Marketing & Strategy Consultants.
"We will evaluate the existing and future results and incorporate them in our marketing strategy," says Professor Diepenbrock. "Then next year, we`ll be campaigning to enhance our image. Watch this space!"
October 5th, 2007
Additional information on the internet:
http://www.studier-in-halle.de
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Wulf Diepenbrock, Vice-Chancellor of Martin Luther University
Tel.: 0049-345-5521001
rektor@uni-halle.de