For the second time, the Academic Senates from Bremen and Oldenburg met together. At the meeting, which took place on December 10 at the HWK in Delmenhorst, the university executive boards discussed the further strategy in the competition for the title of excellence with the AS members.
The Academic Senates of both universities met together again. In the future, they will do this once a year as set forth in the recently renewed cooperation agreement. With this regular exchange, the Universities of Oldenburg and Bremen reaffirm their solidarity. Last December, the two senates had already met together and unanimously voted in favor of jointly applying for the title of excellence.
Application for Excellence: “Northwest Alliance: Connecting for Tomorrow”
The universities of Bremen and Oldenburg have been working together for decades. Earlier this year, they formed the Northwest Alliance (NWA) and in November submitted the joint application for excellence entitled “Northwest Alliance: Connecting for Tomorrow.” Their vision is to develop the Northwest into a vibrant scientific region, creating ideal conditions for future-oriented cutting-edge research and teaching, and redefining the relationship between university and society.
“With the submission of the application for a network of excellence of our two universities, an important milestone has been reached,” emphasizes Jutta Günther, President of the University of Bremen. “Now that this first step has been taken, it is time for the process to take shape. For this, we need all members and status groups of our universities. The different perspectives are very important to us, because it is about strategically positioning the universities for the next generation of scientists.”
“Our two universities complement and strengthen each other in an excellent way – this also benefits the entire northwest region. Now it is important to further expand our network and convince international experts of the high quality of our cooperation,” says Prof. Dr. Ralph Bruder, President of the University of Oldenburg.
The members of the two Academic Senates intensively discussed the next steps: the further development of the Excellence Consortium as well as the inspection of the Northwest Alliance by the experts of the German Council of Science and Humanities in April.
Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg important partner of the Northwest Alliance
The two universities regularly choose the Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg in Delmenhorst as the location for strategic consultations, but this is not only due to geographical considerations. The HWK plays an important role in their shared history and in the Northwest Alliance. Its internationally oriented fellowship and postdoctoral programs promote both existing scientific focuses and new areas of research.
If the application of the Northwest Alliance is successful, Bremen and Oldenburg will receive funding for their strategic future concept beginning in 2027. A decision will be made in October 2026.