“Farewell to Ivory and Ivy?  Universities in the Global Age”: Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs Dr. Helena Finn speaks at Gießen University

Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs Dr. Helena K. Finn

November 30, 2007. Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs Dr. Helena K. Finn gave the keynote speech on “Farewell to Ivory and Ivy?  Universities in the Global Age” at a ceremony at Gießen University’s old assembly hall on November 30.  The event was the concluding highlight of a series of events celebrating the university’s 400th anniversary and included the awarding of major academic prizes for exceptional scholarly achievements, among them the prestigious Röntgen-Prize.  The highly distinguished audience included the entire university leadership, professors and students, representatives of the Hesse state legislature, the Gießen city parliament, the Gießen Lord Mayor and representatives of private foundations and industry sponsoring the various prizes.

Playing the leading role in the university’s restructuring as a result of the German excellence initiative and the Bologna-process, university president Hormuth told Dr. Finn in front of the audience that he and his colleagues will take to heart many of her insights from an American and global perspective as they proceed further in the reform process.