Posters by DMP students go under the hammer

To mark the end of its 50th anniversary celebrations, Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences invited partners from the city, politics and business to attend. ‘Five decades – that's much more than just a number,’ said the recently re-elected rector, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Alexis Papathanassis, as he opened the reception on the university campus. 

Stories from 50 years of university history and an anniversary film

University staff and guests reviewed the eventful anniversary year over champagne and finger food: Highlights included an anniversary concert with the Bremerhaven Philharmonic Orchestra on campus, a big anniversary party with the popular band RAUM27 on SAiL weekend, and a station theatre performance on the history of the Karlsburg building, now University Building K, whose varied history was brought to life by actors from the ‘Letztes Kleinod’ theatre group.
Faraz Heidari and Mika Roesler are both studying digital media production at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences and have impressively captured the university's anniversary in photos and videos. The best photos and a successful short film can be viewed on the university website at www.hs-bremerhaven.de/jubilaeum. Exciting stories from 50 years of university history are told in the commemorative publication ‘50 Years of Broadening Horizons’, written by university spokesperson Isabelle Epplé, which can be read at www.hs-bremerhaven.de/festschrift.

Students inspire with posters about the future of the campus

Things got interactive when presenter and rector's assistant Merle Pohlabeln invited computer science student Franjo Gießel onto the stage. With hammer and humour, he auctioned off twelve impressive posters designed by digital media production students in a course taught by Prof. Nicole Slink on the topic of ‘The Future of the Campus’. All of the designs went under the hammer and can be viewed in a picture gallery below this article.

Award-winning: Students honour their favourite teachers

The highlight of the evening saw Prof. Patrick Frohberg, Vice-Principal for Teaching and Student Services, and Prof. Ulrich Sander, Chairman of the Association for the Promotion of Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karin Vosseberg to the stage to present her with the Teaching Award 2025 (see the report from 6 November 2025). "Karin Vosseberg embodies the idea of a university where learning takes place on an equal footing. Where technology is not viewed in isolation, but always in the context of its social impact. Where diversity is not only tolerated but actively promoted. Where teaching is not only about imparting knowledge but also about character building – a professor who not only teaches computer science but also exemplifies humanity," said the laudators in praise of the professor of computer science, who has been teaching at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences since 2009 and not only supports students academically but also works with them to successfully shape their course of study. Even in challenging situations, such as with students who have children. Prof. Dr. Emina Ćudić and Prof. Dr. Benedikt Klobes were also honoured for outstanding achievements in teaching. Students had nominated their favourite teachers for the awards.

Rector Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Alexis Papathanassis finally had some sad news to announce: ‘Professor Frerich van Dieken, the first chancellor and third rector of our university, recently passed away.’ Those present remembered him with a minute's silence. Van Dieken was Rector from 1981 to 1986 and shaped the growing range of courses and the academic and spatial development of the then still young University of Bremerhaven.

Translated with DeepL.