Kiel University without a president: Court stops election due to procedural errors!

Kiel University without a president: Court stops election due to procedural errors!

The Christian Albrechts University of Kiel (CAU) is facing an unexpected forced break in management. The administrative court in Schleswig stopped the election of the new president, Professor Insa Theesfeld. This means that the university will likely remain without a president for at least six months. The court's decision was made due to significant procedural deficiencies that emerged in the selection process. Loud kn online the competition for the office would have required more than just one female candidate.

Former president sues

Insa Theesfeld was elected in November 2024 after another candidate withdrew shortly before the election. Former President Lutz Kipp had also applied for the office and sued against the election because the search committee's selection interviews were not sufficiently documented and the election was therefore illegal. The selection fell on Theesfeld, even though the university statutes require at least two applicants. The court made it clear that without documentation of the selection process it could not be understood why Kipp was not included on the list of proposals. The search committee is currently not commenting on the allegations and is examining the decision.

Reactions from the university community

The situation is causing excitement not only among the university management, but also among the students. The General Student Committee (Asta) supported the search committee and sharply criticized Kipp. These developments could have serious implications for the future of the university. As a result of the court decision, the CAU now sees three options: lodge a complaint against the judgment, accept the decision and conduct new selection interviews with the previous applicants or advertise the presidential office again. The latter could take up to a year and further destabilize the university, as reported by ndr.

University law and regulations

The legal framework for elections at the CAU is anchored in the University Framework Act (HRG), which lays down the foundations for university organization in Germany. Loud educational server Universities have state-specific regulations that are intended to guarantee a fair and transparent process when selecting managers. A violation of these norms is not only legally questionable, but could also undermine trust in the institution itself.

In conclusion, it remains to be said that the CAU is now faced with a groundbreaking decision. It remains to be seen what the University community and the relevant authorities will decide to resolve the matter as quickly as possible and find a suitable leader. Until a decision is made, it will be a time full of uncertainty and challenges for the university.