Kiel University is fighting again for the title of excellence – opportunities and strategies!

Kiel University is fighting again for the title of excellence – opportunities and strategies!

These are exciting times at the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel (CAU). As kn-online.de reports, the CAU officially submitted its third application for the title of “University of Excellence” today. In a race with 15 other universities and five university associations in Germany, the CAU could receive this prestigious status from January 1, 2027. Chancellor Claudia Ricarda Meyer describes the university as a “charming outsider” in the competition and emphasizes the great importance of this title for the university’s development.

As part of this application, a team of experts and consultants, supported by two project groups, worked hard on a strategy. This strategy brings the CAU's location on the Baltic Sea into play: with research focuses on topics such as energy transition, environmental protection and the security situation, the university would like to position itself as a "Baltic Hub" and promote inter- and transdisciplinary projects. A highlight will be half-yearly programs on Baltic Sea topics that promote networking among scientists.

Success with existing clusters of excellence

The CAU's professional team has nothing to worry about - the university has already proven that it can hold its own in the competition. Two of its existing clusters of excellence have been extended until 2032, as reported by zeit.de. These clusters, which focus on precision medicine for chronic inflammatory diseases and archeology, will each receive around 70 million euros in funding. Schleswig-Holstein also supports these efforts with co-financing of 25% of the funding amount.

The Excellence Strategy itself is a key program for strengthening Germany as a science location. The federal and state governments agreed to launch this program back in 2016. The aim is to increase the visibility and competitiveness of universities, which the CAU now wants to actively implement. The funding from the excellence competition could bring the CAU up to 15 million euros annually, which will then flow specifically into research, study and educational projects.

A future-oriented approach

In order to be successful in the application, the CAU has learned from the experiences of previous applications and defined five key focuses: internationalization, research, transfer, teaching and talent promotion. These pieces of the puzzle are intended not only to improve study conditions, but also to attract skilled workers to the north and provide new impetus for the regional economy.

The decisive reviews of the applications will take place next May, while the final decision on the universities of excellence will be made in October 2026. The criteria are high: universities must be involved in at least two clusters of excellence or in association with at least three in order to be recognized as a university of excellence. The CAU can rely on its existing successes and is optimistic about the future.

In this intensely competitive situation, it becomes clear that collaboration and networking at the CAU must go hand in hand. It is all the more important that the university recognizes its strengths and opportunities in the national and international context and acts self-confidently. A successful label of excellence could not only increase the reputation of the CAU, but also make a significant contribution to the development of the region.