In addition to the annual address by TH OWL President Professor Dr. Jürgen Krahl, who reviewed the past twelve months at all three campuses and the two Learning Sites from the university's perspective and presented figures, data, and facts, the focus of the reception was on structural reform. The other members of the Presidential Board took the microphone in turn and reported on completed, current, and upcoming developments. The path to the further development of the Höxter campus was also presented to the public for the first time.
This was followed by speeches from the Board of Trustees and University Advancement, as well as the traditional presentation of various awards, accompanied by videos of the award winners. The university choir, sponsored by the Lippe District Location Security Foundation and conducted by Sebastian Stake, also performed Justin Bieber's lively song "Love Yourself." The program was hosted by Daniel Hobein, known from Radio Lippe.
"What drives us, what does the future development of a university look like?" asked President Krahl with regard to the restructuring. "We know that this is an area of tension." At the same time, he emphasized that the process, at the end of which a "new TH OWL" will emerge, is dedicated solely to the target group – the students.
In addition, against the backdrop of demographic change and growing competition, the aim is to sharpen the profile of TH OWL, further increase its attractiveness, and strengthen academic success. The university also owes this to its partner companies in the region, which are in urgent need of well-trained young professionals.
"We are also succeeding in this with the help of the campus associations that we have been able to establish in Detmold and Lemgo. In Minden, there is RailCampus OWL e.V., and the city is soliciting proposals for a Science-to-Business Center." Progress is also being made at the Herford Learning Site, where the bachelor's degree program in Digital Management Solutions is offered. "A campus association has now been initiated there," reported Professor Krahl.
Furthermore, the TH OWL President emphasized unequivocally: "The Höxter campus will remain!" Despite an attractive range of degree programs, student numbers there are declining. Currently, 109 new first-year students (as of October 9) have completed the matriculation process for the nine degree programs. A look at the bachelor's degree programs shows a decline from 98 (2024) to 82 students. The development in recent years has fallen far short of expectations. Therefore, the degree programs in Höxter are to be relocated to Lemgo and Detmold in the future, once a new utilization concept has been developed. A schedule is being worked on, and students will be informed with sufficient advance notice.
The university committees also support the structural reform, which affects not only Höxter but the entire TH OWL. "In addition to the faculties – currently ten, which will become seven new ones as of January 1, 2026 – the structural reform also affects the university administration. This is a huge project," said TH OWL Chancellor Nicole Soltwedel. "The administration is an important and active partner in this change process."
Vice President Professor Dr. Yvonne-Christin Knepper-Bartel added: "Our university is on the way to the future. But that is only possible if everyone pitches in. We are working intensively on quality management in teaching. We are not only concerned with capacity utilization and efficiency, but much more with innovative teaching formats and interdisciplinarity. Interdisciplinarity is demanded by students as an added value of the structural reform and is also necessary for a successful examination of the pressing issues of our time and sustainability."
Professor Knepper-Bartel continues: "In other words, we are also promoting the topic of education for sustainable development (ESD). Furthermore, the university is setting out to go one step further: we are combining sustainability and participation with the common good. This development is particularly fitting for the region around Höxter, which plays a pioneering role in the economy for the common good. It is therefore more than obvious to further develop the Sustainable Campus into a 'Common Good Campus' as part of the concept that is now emerging. We are counting on the participation of the entire region and see the approach as an umbrella under which a multitude of ideas can be brought together. This means that everyone is welcome to contribute to this dynamic concept." Professor Krahl added: "Our future is not created by structures, but by passion – for our new TH OWL."
Klaus Böhme, deputy chairman of the Board of Trustees, was clear in his speech: "The structural reform aims to make our university fit for the future, ensure the quality of research and teaching, and strengthen competitiveness in both a national and international context." In doing so, it is important to seek dialogue with all stakeholders and deal with resistance constructively.
According to Böhme, in order to be attractive to the skilled workers of tomorrow, in addition to qualified lecturers and well-equipped laboratories, a functioning municipal infrastructure and the commitment of cities to present themselves as attractive university locations are also necessary.
"The decision to relocate individual degree programs from Höxter to Detmold and Lemgo was made after careful consideration and taking into account the less than encouraging results of the Corvey feasibility study. [...] We are aware that this step will entail significant changes for the affected campuses. Resistance and critical voices are an expression of attachment to the Höxter campus – they deserve respect and open dialogue. However, arguments and actions that attack TH OWL as a whole and damage its reputation do not help to find constructive solutions. This is not the way to attract students and prospective students; it jeopardizes the future," Böhme emphasized.
TH OWL is committed to transparency, the participation of all stakeholders, and a joint effort to find the best solutions. Böhme: "However, this must not be rejected, as is unfortunately currently the case in Höxter outside our university. The minister's hasty and, in our view, unnecessary guarantee of the location has raised public expectations that do not reflect the real circumstances. Such commitments should only be made after careful examination and in close consultation with the university in order to ensure trust and planning security."
Awards
The 2025 annual reception of TH OWL also provided a festive setting for awards. This year's annual award from University Advancement went to Mattes Schürfeld from the Faculty of Detmold School of Design. The award was presented by Volker Steinbach, President of the University Advancement. Schürfeld has been committed to the student body and university politics with extraordinary consistency for many years. As chairman of the Student Parliament, he played a key role in reforming the student body's statutes, strengthening its social media presence, and initiating university policy discussion formats. He also organized the 2023 Federal Student Council Conference and was involved in the 2024 Collective Days. Outside the university, he is also committed to diversity and participation in CSD Lippe e.V. With his strong communication skills and empathy, he is a central voice in student life at TH OWL.
This year's Teaching Award from the (TH) OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts was presented to Professor Dr. Michael Minge from the Faculty of Economics. The award was presented by Professor Dr. Yvonne-Christin Knepper-Bartel, Vice-President for Education and Sustainability. Minge stands for a teaching style that focuses on students and promotes them individually. Since his appointment in 2020, he has been developing didactic concepts that focus on dialogue, motivation, and practice-oriented learning. He demands a lot, but gives just as much back by encouraging students to take responsibility, publish their results, and work across disciplines. Open to new technologies, he promotes a reflective approach to digital tools and designs his teaching as a collaborative learning process. In doing so, he embodies the motto "Student-centered teaching – Focus on the learners."
The 2025 Research Award went to Professor Dr. Klaus Maas, who has been shaping TH OWL with his interdisciplinary work since 2009. The award was presented by Professor Dr. Stefan Witte, Vice-President for Research and Transfer. Maas, Professor of Environmental Information Systems, combines engineering, digitalization, and sustainability in an exemplary manner. As founding director of the Holzminden-Höxter Future Center (ZZHH), he developed strategies for climate adaptation in rural areas, including practical concepts for flash flood prevention. In addition, as head of the OWL Graduate Center and director of the NRW Doctoral College, he strengthens research and the promotion of young talent. International projects, for example in South Africa and Mongolia, testify to his global perspective. Maas stands for research that combines scientific excellence with social responsibility and human integrity.
Nathalie van Walraven received the DAAD Prize for Foreign Students from Professor Dr. Uta Pottgiesser, Vice President for Culture, Communication, and International Affairs. The doctoral candidate is conducting research in the Applied Biochemistry Working Group at TH OWL in cooperation with the University of Limerick on the development of cosmetic active ingredients from agricultural industry by-products – a project that combines scientific excellence with sustainability. Her academic results are outstanding: she was already among the best in her class during her master's studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In addition to her research, she is involved in international development projects and in the local community in Lippe. Van Walraven, a Norwegian with Dutch roots, stands for intercultural openness, professional brilliance, and social responsibility – a young scientist who builds bridges between countries and disciplines.
The student body award went to Sebastian Schütte, who is considered the central pillar of the technical lending service in the Faculty of Media Production. Due to vacation, his colleague Carolin Krallmann accepted the award from Nils Isendahl, chairman of the AStA. Schütte conveyed his thanks in a humorous video message. With great dedication, he modernized the lending system, introduced a user-friendly booking portal, and ensures that students can work with professional technology. His patient advice and quick support make him a reliable contact person for students and lecturers. Whether it's questions about cameras, microphones, or studio equipment, Schütte stands for competence, helpfulness, and team spirit. His commitment contributes significantly to ensuring that projects at TH OWL can be realized at the highest level.
The official part of the annual reception lasted just under two hours – but due to the wealth of topics, the time flew by. Afterwards, guests and university staff had plenty of time to chat and round off the day with refreshments.
Click here for the speech by Klaus Böhme, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of TH OWL.
Here you can find the videos about the 2025 award winners.
