Bei der Immatrikulationsfeier am 20. Oktober 2023 konnten über 3.600 Erstsemester der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena willkommen geheißen werden. Universitätspräsident Prof. Dr. Walter Rosenthal begrüßt im Video alle „Erstis“ im vollbesetzten Jenaer Volkshaus und verweist in seiner Begrüßungsrede auf die Freiheiten der Studierenden. Willkommen!
Auf folgende Programmpunkte könnt ihr euch freuen:
00:00 Begrüßung durch die Moderatorin Lea Deubner
02:30 Einzug des Senats
05:15 Begrüßung durch den Präsidenten der Universität Jena Prof. Dr. Walter Rosenthal
14:20 Festrede von Prof. Dr. Dirk von Petersdorff
28:00 Studierendenchor der Universität Jena
35:40 Film zu den Studieneinführungstagen zum Wintersemester
37:30 Vergabe Urkunden an Erstsemester aller zehn Fakultäten der Universität Jena
57:20 Gesprächsrunde
01:12:30 Vergabe der Examenspreise durch die Vizepräsidentin Frau Prof. Dr. Weichold
01:23:30 Vergabe des DAAD-Preises an Matteo Zenteno Torres
01:29:20 Auszug des Senats
Mehr Informationen rund um ein Studium an der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität 👉 https://www.uni-jena.de/studium
A warm welcome here at the Volkshaus and of course hello to everyone watching in Hörsal 1 on Carl-Zeiß-Straße who are currently tuned in via the live stream and there are probably some students watching from their shared rooms or from home too Parents –
Of course you are also welcome to this event today! Before we really get started, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Lea Deubner and I did my bachelor’s degree in communication and political science here at the University of Jena. I’m now doing
My master’s degree in environmental and science communication at the University of Augsburg, but I’m always happy to have a reason to come back to Jena because there are so many wonderful student memories associated with my time here. Yes, and today as
An alumna, i.e. a former student, I can guide and moderate you all through the program. Back then, about 7 years ago, I felt the same as you. dear freshmen. I was sitting here in this venerable folk house, which by the way dates back to the Art Nouveau period. I was
Super excited then too. It was a new city, a lot of new challenges and of course I was excited about this new phase of my life. In a few minutes everything will officially begin with your ceremonial matriculation – namely when the senators
Move in through the central aisle. And I would like to ask all of you when you hear the festive music that you will all stand up. The executive board and the deans of the ten faculties will then also move in and you will recognize them by their festive gowns. If
You are now wondering, as I was back then, what is that – it is academic festive clothing that has its origins in the Middle Ages or early modern times. Each faculty, these ten faculties, have their own color and their own beret. Since the 1990s,
The university has thought that a bit of tradition was nice and we are now starting again with this festive clothing. This as additional information. Now I don’t want to keep you in suspense any longer and let the event begin. [Applause] [Music] We just listened to the piece Rondeau by Henry Purcell from the suite to the play Abdelaza from 1695 and once again a very warm thank you for this great musical start the academic orchestra association. I would now like to add, so that it doesn’t get lost in the applause, that
The academic orchestra association is under the direction of Sebastian Krahnert. A small note at this point: The new program for the symphony concerts is currently being rehearsed and for anyone who is interested, now is the ideal time to get involved. If you feel like it, you can
Stop by the Academic Orchestra. Exactly, dear freshmen, now and dear guests, I would now like to introduce you to the president of our university and warmly welcome Professor Dr. Walter Rosental here. [Applause] Dear first semester students, dear guests, welcome to Friedrichs Schiller University.
You have decided to study at one of the oldest universities in Germany . The entry of the deans of the Senate and the Presidium and the wearing of gowns and scholar’s caps are early modern traditions. It was just briefly mentioned. They remind us that this university was founded during the Reformation and the
Reformation is also very important for this university. So if my hat, which I have just taken off, reminds you of Luther, then you are not entirely wrong. By the way, the story “Luther and the University” is a very exciting one that I
Learned here in Jena when I came to Jena and I am sure you will also learn more about it. The first student began his studies here in 1548. The university didn’t exist then, but the high school had existed since 1548. And he probably felt the same as you. I imagine that he
Entered the still-preserved gate of the Jense College with curiosity and expectation; that he suspected that his life would now change fundamentally and that, like you now, he certainly felt celebratory about his immersion. I think he also felt a sense of awe at what was to come and wondered about
The academic freedom that studying would bring him. Academic freedom or academic freedom is a term that you will often come across and that combines many freedoms. The idea behind universities is that they are places where people can think freely and where people can speak freely, where different positions
Can be discussed and argued about. This was called a disputation at the time our university was founded. This meant the public battle of words between scholars on a defined topic. In the early modern period, this was the usual way of scientific exchange. The participants were invited to do so with a display
Of theses. You may remember: Martin Luther opened the Protestant Reformation by calling for a disputation about his 95 theses on October 31, 1517. And these 95 theses were nailed to the church doors in Wittenberg. Today we still use the term disputation when defending a doctoral thesis orally
And prefer a panel discussion for the public exchange of arguments. However, to this day, disputing is a hallmark of science, which constantly searches for the truth, knowing full well that there is no one truth or eternal truths. Science therefore thrives
On critical discourse and competition for the best idea. It lives from the fact that we constantly question everything we know so far and it is often the surprising and unorthodox ideas that lead to scientific breakthroughs and innovation. Therefore, take a look at other subjects, look to the right, look
To the left. This gives you a new perspective on things. The university offers you every opportunity to develop beyond the boundaries of your subject. It also supports them in traveling across national borders and experiencing a semester abroad and seeing how other cultures think, research and live. The classic
Educational trip was once a valuable commodity. The path to this was only available to very few people in the past centuries . Today, scholarships make longer stays abroad possible for many people. I can tell you from my own experience that if you leave your comfort zone to study abroad,
You will be rewarded with freedom and you will also have a lot of support from the university and the International Office. But here at our university you will also meet an international community. You are now studying at the University of Jena together with over
17,000 students who come from all over the world. No matter which continent or country you come from, whether you come to us from New Zealand or from Neustadt an der Orla, you will find here the intellectual freedom that our academic community has enjoyed
Since the university was founded in 1558 that is, for 465 years. Where different cultures, world views and mentalities meet, it is inevitable that different opinions and different values come together. It is important that we all can discuss controversial issues together without barriers. Recognizing each other’s freedom of expression can
Be challenging, but freedom of expression is a central component of academic freedom. It is also in danger at universities worldwide today. You will also meet scientists and students who were forced to leave their country in order to be able to research or study freely. We are currently experiencing regressions in academic freedom in
About half of the countries. In 22 countries, the situation for research and universities has deteriorated significantly over the past ten years, as the current Academic Freedom Index shows. In Germany, however, we are worried about something else. While some continue to push
The boundaries of what can be said , they also claim that one cannot express one’s opinion freely. This doesn’t add up and, if I may say so, is nonsense. A look at social media, platform X, the former Twitter, or Facebook shows that
A wide range of opinions can be represented. However, freedom of expression has its limits where others are hurt by hate speech or insults. And the criminal code is responsible for hatred and violence. Our free society can withstand everything else, but calls on us to contradict and defend freedom where it is in danger.
As an internationally operating university, we are obliged to defend our values where they are attacked. However, I advise you not to judge too quickly and in any case to listen carefully to those who think differently, but above all to join in the discussion and argue. Don’t avoid the dispute by avoiding it or
Trying to drown out the other person. Argue with style, question everything, including your own position. This is the core of science. The Friedrich Schiller University offers you the freedom to do this. I wish you all to feel the power of academic freedom and to think freely with passion. Welcome to our academic
Community. We only come to the ceremonial speech and we are very happy that the German scholar Dirk von Petersdorf will give this academic celebratory speech. He has been professor of new German literature at the Friedrichs Schiller University since 2008 and has since turned down several honorable calls to Bochum and Heidelberg. We are
Very happy that he rejected it and is still here and you can also see that the University of Jena is a good choice. Dirk von Peterdorff was not only very successful academically as a literary scholar, but also as a writer. I can particularly
Recommend his novella “Gewitter Guests”, published in 2022, I think it is one of around 20 books . If you would like to read more from him after his speech. Mr. von Petersdorff. [Applause] Dear Mr. President, dear Senators , dear Mayor, ladies and gentlemen and, above all, dear students, you
Have begun a new phase of your life here at Friedrich Schiller University this week. I would like to ask you an initial question: Do you actually feel free? I can imagine that at the end of the first week of study you have completely different things on your mind, that you
Are excited about the many new things in your everyday life, that you perhaps also feel overwhelmed by what has been thrown at you, that you Struggling to sort through all the announcements, announcements and expectations of the last few days. And maybe they even feel
A little unfree. You follow a timetable that determines which event you have to attend, when and where. There they have probably already presented him with a semester plan and even half-threateningly pointed out the final performance at the end of the semester. And outside of your studies,
You also have to take care of a lot in a new place: getting set up, maybe even earning money in a part-time job. Then you have friends who want to meet up, maybe they’ve decided to play sports. Your parents always want something from you anyway… So
All in all it’s rather unfree? However. I would like to spend the next 15 minutes thinking about freedom with you and convincing you that we are all freer here than we often feel under the pressures of everyday life. Of course I need some arguments and I’ll start very simply. The very
Fact that we can gather in this hall with a few hundred people is a sign of freedom. Why could you respond now? You may have thought along the way that it is clear that we can come together here. No, it’s not, because we don’t have to
If you think back for a long time, there were years without ceremonial matriculation. As a first-year student, the corona pandemic hit you with all the restrictions on your freedom during school time and I am sure that you will still have strong memories of it. In the Thuringian regulation of the Corona measures,
It was correctly stated at the bottom which fundamental rights were restricted by this regulation. Fundamental rights are freedom rights and numerous freedoms simply did not exist during this time. This is not about the debate as to which restrictions on freedom
Were actually necessary and how the relationship between the benefits and harm of these measures should be assessed in retrospect. Today, I think we can simply be happy that so many people can meet face to face again at the start of the semester. So on
To the next point for freedom. The fact that they can go to university is, I would argue, a sign of freedom. Why could one object again? Did you perhaps think after school: it’s clear that I can study now if I want.
But it’s not that clear, at least not if you look beyond our conditions and those that are closer in space. If you follow the news, if you deal with other parts of the world, then you know of states and societies in which young
People naturally do not have this freedom to start studying. There are regions where there is war and therefore no regular study activities can take place. There are countries in which parts of the population
Are denied access to studies for political reasons, and there are social situations around the world that make it impossible for young people to decide to study because their families are poor and they have to contribute to the family income. I just said deciding to study and with this concept of
Decision we come ever closer to the core of freedom. Because what does it actually mean to be free? There are different definitions of freedom. Definitions. different definitions. That ’s part of science – different definitions of freedom. One possibility, which also
Corresponds quite well to our attitude to life in everyday life, is that a person is free when he or she can make a choice between alternatives in a certain life situation and is not determined by external constraints. So I am free if I
Can make a choice between alternatives in a certain situation and am not determined by external constraints. Referring to your situation as a first-year student: After graduating from school, you made a decision , namely to start studying. The fact that there are alternatives is
Particularly obvious at the moment, because you are constantly walking past advertising and offers from companies and institutions that urgently need workers like you and attract school leavers with interesting training prospects. So they could have done something else. It wouldn’t
Have been difficult at all, waiting for her. But you have decided to study. Of course, I can’t judge in each individual case whether they were free from external constraints ; B. Parents and the speeches in your life, but let’s just assume that you have largely freely decided to study. This will probably also
Correspond to the attitude towards life of most of them. What about freedom during your studies? I’ll stick with this simple concept, according to which freedom exists when we can choose between alternatives in a life situation. There are probably philosophers
In the room here who would object that there is another and more complex idea of freedom and perhaps there are also scientists present who consider freedom to be illusory because our so-called decisions are actually only part of causal processes
And we only ourselves imagine that they can vote, when in reality the outcome of the election was already determined. But for today’s reflection on freedom and study, I think it’s enough We’ll leave out this simple, easy-to-use idea and the counterarguments. So what about
Freedom in your studies? Doesn’t the course consist of so many rules and regulations, sample study plans and module exams that you go through it largely under external control? Again, of course, I would like to argue against this, because the course itself, even if it
Is pre-structured, increases your own freedom. Why is that like that? Freedom, we have seen, consists in being able to choose between alternatives. In order to get into this situation at all , alternatives must exist, you must have gotten to know such alternatives or
Have created them. If I don’t have any alternatives, then I can’t choose freely and that’s exactly what studying is for, at least among other things. In this phase of life you learn so many new things that the number of options you can choose from significantly
Increases. What does it mean to learn a lot of new things? It is obvious that you add new knowledge to what you already had. But it’s not just about knowledge and new knowledge, but also about something like ways of thinking and previously completely unknown descriptions
Of reality, about access, about forms of access to phenomena that you ‘ve never heard of before. This is one of the eye-openers of studying. If you think at an event : Aha – that’s how you can see, describe and interpret things, I would n’t have
Come up with the idea myself or have never thought of it before. In this way, your horizons are broadened through your studies. You actually see further and you don’t just see in one direction, but at some point you are surrounded by many possibilities like in a semicircle or circle
. This broadening of horizons through the study phase not only affects the technical knowledge or approaches, but also, for example, B. also social contacts. In many lives it is probably the case that in childhood and adolescence the social space in which one moves is rather limited.
It’s also good, there is also stability. As you study, this space becomes larger and, above all, it becomes populated with more different people. In childhood and adolescence, the experience that others are similar to oneself or at least
Not entirely dissimilar may dominate. When you move to a university town like Jena, you get to know people who sometimes seem familiar to you and that is nice, but sometimes unknown, strange and even irritating. These are people who, for example, B. dress completely differently,
Eat completely differently, have strange opinions, come from far away countries, say things that are foreign to him and much more. Such encounters can be strenuous, but they are just as enriching because they also increase the number of alternatives that you know
And perhaps a behavior, belief or a completely different way of life that was previously alien becomes a bit more apparent also your own based on a free decision. Our president also spoke about this irritation. We didn’t discuss this beforehand
. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’re both talking about it, because it’s certainly a special, social challenge at the moment to endure this irritation and I think the university is a place that, among other things, is there to learn that, To endure irritation
And then deal with it productively. But I would like to make one final point for freedom . Even if in the everyday routine of the semester it sometimes seems as if there is no time left for anything else. Sometimes this time and opportunity is there, even if time is often really short, to
Expand your horizons even more, to get to know more new things, to look around, even outside of everyday study life. I teach German literary studies and when it comes to a lecture, for example. For example, when it comes to Franz Kafka
, I sometimes ask: Have you ever been to Prague? This is the city where Franz Kafka lived. Why not go to Prague? It’s actually not that far from here. Because I When I say something like that more often, where to go, people sometimes laugh as if I were
Some kind of travel agent, but that is also part of the freedom of the study phase: moving around in space, specifically in space, more independently than in childhood and adolescence , which goes beyond the city and the surrounding
Area. First of all, you can get to know Jena and its surroundings – there was already a small advertising film there – in which you can, for example, B. can go hiking really well. If you like that, Jena is a really excellent city. Then you might notice that if you look, Leipzig
Isn’t that far away. You can even go there for an evening and Berlin, if you look, isn’t really that far away. All you need is someone where you can stay overnight for free and then a world is open to you again. And so your own radius becomes larger. In addition to
The radius of thinking, also the radius of the space in which one can move. There are all kinds of tickets that make this possible to some extent. What you actually decide to do and where you go, what you watch or listen to, who you
Want to get to know – of course I won’t say anything about that now, for heaven’s sake, because that’s exactly what your freedom consists of. I would like to end with a verse from a poem. It has to be that way because I
‘m responsible for literature. Now I’ll end with a poem, but I’d really like to do that too. This poem comes from Friedrich Hölderlin, was written around 1800 and is called “CV”. Even back then there was already something called a “curriculum vitae”. Today we all think a lot about our CV.
Hölderlin did that around 1800, is a modern term. This Hölderlin had a very difficult life: he did not find the recognition as a writer that he had hoped for and deserved, at least not during his lifetime, but later. He sometimes felt professionally
Humiliated and a great hope for love failed. So it’s more of a problem-filled CV. He also speaks about this very clearly in this poem “CV”, but he still ends with a praise of freedom, even if in his case this freedom tends to
Result in pain. That is also part of freedom. That of course also opens you up to painful experiences. In the last stanza of the poem it is Praise of Freedom that it says: Man checks everything so
That he is well nourished, gives thanks for everything he learns and understands the freedom to go wherever he wants. Read out again: “Let a person check everything so that he is well nourished, learns to give thanks for everything
And understands the freedom to go wherever he wants.” With this in mind, I hope that you feel strongly nourished by our university. We will do our best to ensure that they examine everything that is offered to them and do not forget the most important thing, which the poem
Puts at the very end because it is the most important thing. Just the freedom to go wherever he or she wants. Thank you. Thank you very much again from me for this great speech, Professor von Petersdorff. I think this speech gives us all another reason
To think about our own freedoms and privileges and perhaps, depending on how our studies go, to think about choosing alternatives. Next in the program we hear the student choir Collegium Vocale under the direction of Fabian Pasewald. This part always gives me particular pleasure
Because I was also active in the choir for a long time during my studies and as a graduate I can tell you, dear first-year students, that it is really worth getting involved far away from the lecture hall
And thinking outside the box. which we have already heard, let’s take a look outside. Whether in the choir or on campus radio or in university sports and other things. Personally, I still have great memories of it. Yes, I’m digressing a bit, but
More on that later anyway. Below you will first hear the two titles Brus Mc Rous, which is a Gaelic chant arranged by Uwe Henkhaus, and secondly a very traditional Jena student song “Ja in Jena” and now have fun with the student choir. [applause] choir [applause] [music] [music] [applause] [music] [music] [ music] [music]
[music] [music] [applause] While the choir is still slowly going away, I’ll continue program, but also a big thank you from me for this great musical performance, and of course again to Fabian Pasewald, who leads the choir. Yes, being a first-year student usually means
Taking a completely new path. First away from home, to a new city, often lots of new friends – yes and then of course starting your studies. That’s a lot of milestones at once and to make this whole hurdle a little easier for you,
The study introductory days for the newcomers take place in Jena every year and the market of opportunities is always a special part of it every year. And it introduces you to all the diverse offerings that there are to discover at Jena University, but also outside of it,
So that you have an overview of what you can do here. We were there with the camera and captured a few impressions for you. Film off! [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Ladies and gentlemen, now it’s getting more formal. Dear freshmen, now we come to the core of this event, namely your ceremonial matriculation. You are
Just beginning your studies at the Friedrich Schiller University and are now representing one of the ten faculties. What admission into the academic society actually means, when the history of the University of Jena even began and why you, dear freshmen, decided to study at this university, we will
Now find out with our Vice President Professor Steinbeck. Thank you very much for the introduction! Dear newly enrolled students, dear parents, friends, acquaintances, valued attendees, with today’s ceremony you, our newly enrolled students , are embarking on an exciting journey in which you will acquire a lot of new and interesting
Knowledge a personal development that cannot yet be estimated for them . The studies ahead of you – as Mr. Rosental said at the beginning this morning – will certainly change your life fundamentally, because this exciting phase will not only be about the pursuit of knowledge, but also about making friends and making friends
Can last a lifetime. It’s not just leafing through books, but also navigating through the vastness of thought, ideas and discourse and as was already said, this discourse can sometimes hurt, but enduring it is really one of the most important things You may still be able to learn or deepen your knowledge here.
This journey through the world of knowledge and the university community will certainly be inspiring, but it can also be challenging and may be associated with the need for courage – even to go beyond one’s own limits. All I can say to all freshmen here
Is to please remember that you are not alone. You are now part of a community of learners, researchers and explorers and when you catch yourself feeling lost and alone, reach out to the people around you, not just your fellow students, but also your professors and female professors. Every year,
Ten women and men are ceremoniously accepted into the community of almar mater genesis to represent the newly enrolled students at Friedrich Schiller University . Each and every one of you represents one of our ten faculties. And those elected paint a really good
Portrait of the diversity of our range of subjects and our student body here in Jena. It is now a very special pleasure for me, I have already had the opportunity to get to know them all, to
Welcome and introduce these ten women and men, selected from a total of 2,380 students for the first university semester, to newly enrolled students may. First, I would like to introduce you to Mr. Hannes Rother on behalf of the 23 new students who will begin their studies at the Theological Faculty. After graduating from
High school, he decided to attend a short Bible school for six months and he would now like to continue his educational journey at our university. He ultimately moved to Jena because his girlfriend also started here in the winter semester of 2023/24 and I think that is an extremely good motivation to decide
To study in Jena . Mr. Rother has enrolled in our theological faculty – one of the four founding faculties of our university, this faculty, which is firmly anchored in the tradition of Luther and the Reformation, has an important
History, as we have already heard, stretching back over 500 years. Mr. Rother and the other students at the faculty become part of this vibrant community that not only imparts knowledge, but also values and responsibility. Dear Mr. Rother, I am convinced that you
Will not only receive an education here, but also enrich yourself through the people you meet and the ideas you will encounter. Welcome! [Applause]
Ms. Amélie Schönwald stands here for the Faculty of Law, which is represented by a total of 166 newcomers this year . Ms. Schönwald was introduced to the world of law at a young age by her mother, an experienced lawyer. She began her journey through the various
Aspects of law with books on this topic specifically designed for children. This is a beautiful story. Over time, she devoured increasingly sophisticated texts, which underscored not only her intelligence but also her passion for the law. Her enthusiasm then found concrete
Expression when she completed an internship at KPMG Lord Dresden. There she was not only able to put her theoretical knowledge into practice, but also began to discover and narrow down her interests in certain areas of law. Through a Pentecost holiday
Here in Jena, Ms. Schönwald has come to love our city. This now also reflects your decision to become part of our university family. Dear Ms. Schönwald, we are sure that our city and our university will offer you an excellent start to your academic
Journey full of personal development, knowledge and the pursuit of justice. [Applause] Welcome! The next student I would like to introduce to represent the 274 newly enrolled students at the Faculty of Economics is Mr. Moritz Kneuer. Mr. Kneuer comes to us with strong convictions and a clear vision for his academic
Future. With a completed degree in administration under his belt, he decided to broaden his horizons and enter the world of economics . After leaving Bavaria, he moved here to our beautiful university town, which he has already learned to love through several visits on vacation. But it wasn’t just the
City as such, but also the excellent placements in the renowned Shanghai rankings and positive reviews in the StudyCheck portal that showed him that he would enroll at an institution that was not only local, but also international enjoys an excellent reputation. We
Are convinced, dear Mr. Kneuer, that your wish for good support during your economics studies can be fulfilled. [Applause] Welcome! I would now like to introduce Ms. Carla Gonzales to you for the total of 603 first-year students in the Faculty of Humanities. She comes from Mexico and therefore represents the total of 1,787 newly
Enrolled international students in Jena this winter semester. It only takes a short conversation with Ms. Gonzales to convince yourself of her impressive language talent. In addition to her native Spanish, she is fluent in English, German and French.
She does not keep these language skills for herself, but has worked as a teacher in various countries employed. Four years ago she finally moved to Germany and, as she said, she came to stay. Dear Ms. Gonzales, I am convinced that
You will be able to continue pursuing your language passions at the University of Jena and that your stay in Jena will be a fulfilling time. [Applause] Next in line is Ms. Hanna Riedel. Ms. Riedel represents the 859 newly enrolled students in the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Ms. Riedel
Is not only a new and inquisitive student, but also an athlete. She had her first contact with martial arts at the tender age of 5 because her father wanted her to be able to defend herself. It looks like the wish came true.
Here on stage today we have the U18 world champion in karate and the six-time German champion in this discipline. I would like to take this opportunity to recommend our university sports to all of you. As a central service facility, university sports organizes a very diverse range
Of sports and exercise for all students and employees of the university, starting with A for acrobatics, capoera, hang gliding in the south of France, fitness boot camps and Zumba training at the other end of the alphabet. There’s something for everyone and I can say that I’ve benefited a lot from it, even if
You don’t see it that way anymore. Dear Ms. Riedel, it is a pleasure for us that you are starting your studies in sports management and economics in Jena as a stop on your sports career and we warmly welcome you to our university family. [Applause]
Now I would like to introduce you to Mr. Pio Hotzel, representing the 216 students in the first semester at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science. Mr. Hotzel moved to the Schloss Belvedere music high school in Weimar for the ninth grade. He plays the violin there. Since the school
Was very focused on musical perfection, he ultimately decided against studying music – perhaps at first, after all, life is still long. However, he was fascinated by the connection between music and mathematics. That’s why he decided to study mathematics. Yesterday I happened
To come across a quote from the American mathematician Jay Willard Gibbs, who is said to have said that a mathematician can say whatever he likes, a physicist must have at least a little sense. Dear Mr. Hözel, may this
Be a guiding principle for you and may you let your mind wander freely during your time here in Jena. [Applause] Nice, then let’s get to physics. Next, let me introduce you to Ms. Lilly Schmidt. She represents the 167 newly enrolled students in the
Physics and astronomy faculty. Ms. Schmidt has been involved in many social activities in the past, e.g. B. during voluntary service in Iceland, Ireland and Romania. She then took part in a voluntary social year in science, technology and sustainability in a school laboratory at the
Helmholtz Center Berlin. The decisive factor in her decision to go to Jena was not only the university’s excellent ranking, especially in physics, but also the committed and supportive environment that the student council has built up in this area. My
Congratulations to the student council if this is already making such a big impact. She was particularly impressed by the offer of exam preparation weekends organized by the department, because this offer has enormously reduced the failure rates in the first exams. That’s a
Very good argument for it. This is a living example of how important it is for students to get involved during their studies here at the university. Dear Ms. Schmidt, I am convinced that you will receive the support you need on your academic
Journey and wish you much success in your studies! [Applause] Did they bring your fan club? The next in line is Mr. Jonas Kocum. Here he represents the 285 new students of chemical engineering Geosciences Faculty, my own faculty,
And also for the 2,898 teacher training students who have enrolled in Jena. After graduating from high school, the Erfurt native decided to take an unusual step and completed a ten-month teaching assistantship at a Catholic school in Bergen, Norway. There he not
Only taught German, but also took on numerous substitute lessons in other subjects, supervised exams and accompanied school trips. Welcome back to Germany and welcome back to the University of Jena! It’s already happened, but I would still like to take this opportunity to encourage you all to take your chance
To do a semester abroad. There are a lot of opportunities for this here at the university and please take the time to think outside your box and get to know other cultures further. Mr. Korcum, welcome to our university. [Applause] Then we have Mr. Sami Hamza, wonderful. Then we continue our journey with
Mr. Sami Hamzer, whom I would like to introduce on behalf of the biological-pharmaceutical faculty with its 443 new students. After Mr. Hamzer completed his high school diploma in Altenburg in 2022, he wanted a change of perspective and gained experience during a voluntary social
Year at the Altenburger Land Clinic. This time not only served to broaden his horizons, but also served as inspiration for his next step in his educational journey. He is now starting his pharmacy studies here in Jena. Right now my microphone is failing. Pharmacy combines his diverse interests in medicine and the
Natural sciences. It is a mixture of both worlds, which led him to start this course of study here in Jena. Mr. Hamzer has prepared excellently not only academically, but also in terms of his living situation.
He took the initiative early on to apply for a place in a dormitory and got it straight away. At this point I would like to expressly thank the Studentenerk Thüringen for their constant support in finding accommodation for the students here in Jena.
This is really a fantastic achievement and I am very pleased, Mr. Hamzer, that it worked out excellently and promptly for you. [Applause] So, last but not least, Ms. Elisabeth Irl is now on stage, representing the 404 students in the first semester of the Medical Faculty. Ms Irl gained university entrance through a
Professional qualification. A senior physician in whose clinic Ms. Irl worked in Landsut had also studied medicine in Jena and recommended the information to her. In the meantime, Ms. Irl has already gained experience in Jena and explicitly praises the very
Friendly overall image of the employees here in Jena. Dear Ms. Irl, may your entire studies and life afterward always be characterized by kindness and humanity. [Applause] Finally, all I can do is wish you all a wonderful journey here at the Friedrich Schiller University. Jena is a truly charming place with character and the
Friedrich Schiller University is a university that gives you the opportunity to make the most of it. Please be brave, be curious and be open to new experiences. Always remember that education is not only a means to an end, but also a way to
Become a more beautiful person in a humanistic sense. So now set out on the path that we would like to take with you and we will look forward to celebrating with you as graduates here again in a few years. I’m sure you ‘ll always remember
The time until then as one of the most beautiful times of your life. Welcome! [Applause] [Music] Once again, I would like to welcome you here to this university and of course also to everyone who is watching from lecture hall 1. It’s great that you are now
Studying at the University of Jena. The program now continues with a small round of discussions and is there including the president of our university, Professor Rosenthal, and other guests. And then I will find out for you, dear guests, what awaits you here at the university and in the city of Jena
. Join me on stage to welcome Professor Rosenthal, the President of the University, and next, Dr. Nietzsche, our mayor, please come on stage. Then Thorsten Schubert, the head of the Thuringia Student Union, who we have just heard very praise for, and two students – Pia Sophie Weber and Matteo Zenteno Torres. [Applause]
Let’s start with you, Mr. Nietzsche, the University of Jena has been part of the city’s history for more than 560 years and I would be interested to know what significance all the students here in the city have – we have heard that there are more than 17,000 – what significance
They actually have for Jena. Yes, first of all, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to everyone who has now come to Jena to study here, and possibly to stay here later. The university and the city have been a symbiosis since the university existed and we
Both always say, Mr. Rosenthal and I, that one without the other is not worth half of what they are together and in that respect. You can also experience that, the university is in the middle of the city, not somewhere out in the open on a green field, and
You can see what that means, that such a large proportion of the population are students, when the semester holidays are over. The cityscape is changing. Many say, gentlemen, how young the city is, how dynamic the city is, and it owes a lot of that to the students. And that’s why
Our role is to ask the question: Do they actually feel free – that was the question before – we then like to ask the students the question: Do they actually feel comfortable? And we hope that in addition to learning, studying and researching, we
Can offer framework conditions that make them feel comfortable. That’s a nice job. This shows us how important the students are for the city. I would like to follow up on this with you, Mr. Rosenthal, and would like to know why the Friedrich Schiller University
Is a good place to study. Well, I think that the Friedrich Schiller University, as was already expressed in the mayor’s words, really plays a very central role in this city. The city is a small city, which means it has quite a lot
To offer. On the other hand, it is manageable and you can meet each other. It is different than in the very large metropolises, where even the largest university with 50,000 students has no significance for the entire city. I always say that it doesn’t really matter whether
You’re a student or a scientist, you’re a commuter. Here you are in the city, which is relatively compact. People also meet each other outside of courses, even outside the laboratory, the seminar room or the office, and that’s why, I believe, there is a special, lively community here that needs the framework conditions that
Prevail in Jena. That’s why I think Jena is something very special. That sounds very good and somehow a reason to feel good in the city. But if students are to feel really comfortable in the city, concrete offers and support options must of course
Be offered in some way. What are there for the new residents, Mr. Nietzsche? After what was said here about university sports, I think we can also say from the city side that anyone looking for offers in this area
Will find very, very many. We also call ourselves a sports city and a lot of things have been added this year . If you’re interested in football, you’ll know what I mean. If you want to practice athletics yourself, you will know what I mean. We have
New facilities here, a new swimming pool that just went online a few weeks ago. You can now swim there at 50 m. Sport is one thing. It was said before that you can also experience the wonderful interplay between urbanity and nature. There is excellent hiking around Jena
, now also excellent: Germany’s most beautiful hiking trail is here and anyone who appreciates it will know how to use it. Then of course the advice from the city – I hinted at it earlier – in addition to learning and research, there is also life
Late in the evening. You will quickly learn to appreciate the gastronomic offerings and we have a lot to offer culturally and just yesterday, Mr. Schubert and I, the student union and the city, together with partners, presented an expansion of the culture ticket. From now on , students here in Jena can not only
Go to the Philharmonic Hall, the theater or the city museums free of charge, but also to the two arthouse cinemas. In this respect, my hope: Be here to feel good. Maybe they will stay there after their studies and when they leave, they will become ambassadors for this city and the
Great life they have found here in addition to the excellent studies. This is a diverse offer that I can only agree with because I used a lot of these offers back then and personally it made me feel very comfortable. But of course these are not the only offers that
Are available for new students – the keyword for Thuringia’s student union was just mentioned. Personally, the first thing I always think of is the food in the cafeteria or the student dormitories, but then what other services and advice are there, Mr. Schubert? It’s actually nice that you think about it, because
The canteens of course make a big difference, especially in Jena. We have a lot of very nice canteens and food options. I studied at the FSU myself, back in the 90s. It tastes much, much better today . Don’t listen to what your parents say, give it a try! We try
A lot of new things, vegan things, are experimenting and need your feedback on that too. We always warmly invite you to do so . We are here for you, give us your feedback. But we are
Also – your question is precisely – there for you in situations where it is not so easy. There is social counseling. There is psychosocial counseling – we provide legal advice so that you don’t have to pay anything at the beginning. Easy if you are looking for help. These are my
Colleagues here for you. Feel free to find the way. There are information centers – especially here at Abbeplatz, for example. B. Of course, if you have problems with your apartment, which we do of course – thank you for the kind praise. I’m very happy to pass this on – where the team
Works intensively. We can’t help everyone, we don’t have that much living space either. We try to preserve it, we try to make it worth living in. Therefore, if you have a question, please contact us. We are actually the student union. Half of our committees are students
From StuRa etc. So, we see ourselves as representatives of you. The mayor also mentioned this and we can also negotiate such offers for you. So, we are not an office, not an institution. Even if it sometimes seems that way when it comes to BAföG
. Thank you! Yes, I can only agree. Offers such as psychosocial advice have perhaps become even more important, especially at times like these, and I personally benefited from the legal advice back then. Sometimes as a student you have problems with
Your landlord. What I’m also thinking about is where there are a lot of offers from the student union, right around the corner is the “Haus auf der Mauer”. I think it’s definitely worth checking out. That’s absolutely true, although it
Is a student initiative. We only offer the framework together with the universities. So also with the Erste Abbe University next to the Friedrich Schiller University with the city of Jena, which also supports. So there are several partners, companies that come together to create this framework for what is then more of
A self-managed project. But of course there are also cultural events in this context, so A cultural café, so to speak, where other cultures are also invited to introduce themselves. Just take a look. Honestly – sorry for the advertising – it’s worth
Taking a look at our website, but I think it’s all explained well there. Yes, I always found it very nice there. Now I would also like to talk to a few students: Pia, we already know each other from our time together in the psycho choir, which I always remember fondly, and
You are now studying math in your first master’s semester and have therefore just successfully completed your bachelor’s degree. Would you like to tell us how you decided to study ? Yes, I’m happy to do that. In fact, I think I was like many
Others. For a long time I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, but it was always the case that I really enjoyed the subject and was also very encouraged by my math teacher at the time and then I thought to myself: Well, why not right away Study this subject if I
Enjoy it so much and it worked well. So I got my bachelor’s degree and I’m still there. So, it might be nice to see a woman here in math and science. Maybe that will take away some others’ fear
Of going into that area. I would also be interested in you Mattheo, you come from Bolivia and are now studying physics with us for a bachelor’s degree. Why did you choose the University of Jena and the city here? Thank you for the question. There are actually different
Reasons why I chose Jena. One of them would be that I had the opportunity to take part in the university’s trial course in 2020. This is an event that was offered by the International Office and back then I was able to experience a bit of
What student life is like in Jena. I really liked that, so I would like to take this opportunity to briefly thank the International Office for the fact that such projects even exist. On the other hand, I would also like to mention that the University of Jena
Has a very good position in the field of physics in the CHE ranking. That’s something I really liked back then and of course it shows that there are very good study conditions here in Jena and that we also have very good professors. Yes, very nice. Have you already
Formed an opinion about Jena? How do you like the city? I actually like the city quite a bit now. I think that Jena is not too big, but not too small either, in my opinion. It is also a very international university. You can
Get to know people from so many cultures, but you can also find many university groups on campus where you can meet interesting people and hear a lot of diverse opinions. Yes, that
Also helps you feel good and you can also see that with you Pia, you have not only been singing in the choir since your first bachelor’s semester, but you are also active in university sports, which has already been praised here several times. Can you also recommend something to our new students? I
Don’t want to recommend anything specific. There are just so many offers. What has always helped me a lot, especially during the semester break, is to book the university sports card, because that’s when you’re on vacation and stuff like that. With the university sports card you can just
Try out different offers and yes, I can try out a lot of new things. You have to say, I’m a village child. There weren’t that many options for me before. There was perhaps a choir in the village, there was perhaps a sports group and I was very happy when
I came to university and then had so many opportunities here and I’m still trying things out. So I always like to do the dance courses, volleyball, everything that I offer. Yes, I can only agree, the Unisportcard hasn’t been around for ages and
It’s a very flexible, diverse offer that you can use very cheaply. I can too recommend. Finally, I would like to turn to you again, Mr. Rosenthal. I remember a quote you once said. That says: “Life is a journey of discovery and this is truer at no time than when studying.” Would you like
To explain to us again what exactly you meant by that? I try it. I come from a non-academic family and that’s why I think studying was a completely new world for me. I’m a doctor, so I studied medicine and didn’t plan on doing that while I was at school. I was more into
Math. I had already taken an introductory seminar in set theory back then, but then I worked as an ambulance driver in a very small hospital. You also have to help with the operation. So you were somehow responsible for everything and it just made me curious
About medicine. I applied, it just worked out with my average and then I studied medicine. It was the case again that at first I actually thought: Well, you work in a hospital and in a practice and then science got in the way and that
Actually continued throughout my entire scientific life in such a way that new horizons opened up and then I I also used it and went there with stays abroad during my studies – a year in England, I always say it was the best year of my studies, the
Most interesting. Even though it has often been said that you can’t say it enough, plan a semester abroad now. So a lot of things come your way and you then have the opportunity to enter new spaces and I would like to encourage you to do that.
Thank you very much for these beautiful final words. In summary, I think you can say that it is worth taking advantage of the city’s diverse offerings, the university, the student union, and university sports, and to think outside the box. There are also great
Opportunities for you to take additional modules, not only to study in your own subject, but also to expand your reach into other areas. Yes, thank you very much for these insights. Another very nice tradition that takes place every year at the matriculation ceremony
Is not only to welcome the first-year students, but also the graduates and to recognize them for their outstanding academic achievements. Thanks to our Friends and Supporters Association of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena, there is also the chance to honor the best theses with prizes. Maybe you, dear
Freshmen, will stand here again at some point at the end of your studies and receive a prize like this – as a little incentive. These prizes are presented by the Vice President for Studies and Teaching, Professor Karina Weichhold, and Wilfried Lang from the support association.
I would now like to ask the following graduates to come forward. This is Theo Pach, Kristin Paul, Lisa Gersdorf, Nele Otterbach, Mareike Sproll, Anny-Marleen Hisbach, Tobias Hössel, Dr. Maximilian Römer and Antonia Runge. Yes, dear freshmen, I also extend a warm welcome here in Jena, here
At our University of Jena. Today is the start of your studies and yes, maybe you are still asking yourself, where can the journey go? We have already heard about the motive of the journey of discovery and where can the journey go? An important milestone has been reached for you, dear graduates
, and we would like to recognize it here today on this occasion. The Examination Prize of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena is an award for graduates who have achieved outstanding achievements in their studies and have thereby promoted the reputation of the Alma Mater Jenensis. It is
Donated annually by the Association of Friends and Supporters of the University. At the suggestion of the faculties and the Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research, the examination prize is awarded to graduates who completed their studies in the previous calendar year with an achievement worthy of an award
. Unfortunately, not all award winners can be there today but I’m still very happy that most of them can be here in person today and that we can present these prizes to him in person. I would like to thank you very much that a
Representative from the Association of Friends and Supporters can be present today and will then hand over the certificates to you. We start with the first prize. The University of Jena’s examination prize goes to Mr. Theo Pach at the suggestion of the Council of the Theological Faculty
. Mr. Pach graduated with the best degree in his class in the bachelor’s program in religious studies, world religion in history and the present. During his studies, he participated in a one-year study program at Fukuoka University in Japan. His academic thesis was on the topic of immanent and transcendent aspects of Shinto –
Gateway to Japanese spirituality. Dear Mr. Pach, congratulations! [Applause] At the suggestion of the Council of the Faculty of Law, Ms. Kristin Paul receives the examination award because she completed the first law examination as the best in her year. She summarized her work on the topic of Covid-19 infection in SGB 7 between
Prevention, accidents, illness and long-term consequences: Is accident insurance open to new viruses? During her studies, Ms. Paul showed an interest that went far beyond the curriculum. For example, she successfully participated in an English-speaking moon court and was involved in paralegal student legal advice. After completing her studies, Ms. Paul
Began a doctorate in the field of social law. Ms. Paul, congratulations! [Applause] Ms. Lisa Gersdorf receives the examination award from the University of Jena at the suggestion of the Council of the Faculty of Arts. After completing her bachelor’s degree in the core subject
Of history and the supplementary subject of folklore and cultural history, she continued her studies at the University of Jena with a master’s degree in modern history. Her final thesis on the topic “Acceptance and stigmatization of mental disorders in the Weimar Republic:
A patient story using the example of Jürgen Diederich as reflected in patient files and family letters from 1918 to 1926” received top marks from both reviewers. The work represents an above-average research achievement and it used untapped source material .
Ms. Gerstdorf is currently doing her doctorate in history at the University of Jena. Dear Ms. Gerstdorf, congratulations! [Applause] At the suggestion of the Council of the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, i.e. my faculty, Ms. Nele Otterbach and Ms. Mareike Sproll will be
Awarded the examination prize from the university. Ms. Otterbach and Ms. Sproll completed their bachelor’s degree in sports science, performance and health with a jointly written thesis . The topic of the bachelor’s thesis is the influence of the menstrual cycle on the physical performance of active female athletes. For this extraordinary research work,
Both of them put a lot of effort into collecting complex empirical data and then elaborating, processing and analyzing it. Both are continuing their master’s studies in sports science at the University of Jena. Dear Ms. Otterbach, dear Ms. Sproll, congratulations from me too! All the best!
The Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science nominated Ms. Anny-Marleen Hisbach for the examination prize. Ms. Hisbach completed her master’s degree in computer science with the thesis “Realtime visualization of black holes for the Planetarium Software Uni View” . She has set herself the ambitious goal of impressively showcasing black holes
, understanding their physical background and making them immersive. In collaboration with Zeiss, she developed a corresponding software solution for planetariums that is used worldwide. Congratulations from my side too, dear Ms. Hisbach. At the suggestion of the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, the University
Of Jena’s exam prize this year goes to Mr. Tobias Hössel. For his master’s thesis in physics on the topic “Conformal blocks on the plane from essolator responsive representations”. With its outstanding In his final thesis, he managed to carry out existing calculations much more efficiently and to achieve important new results that
Go far beyond the current state of the specialist literature. Mr. Hössel continues his research work as a PhD Fellow at the University of Jena. Dear Mr. Hössel, congratulations [applause]. At the suggestion of the Medical Faculty, Dr. Maximilian Römer awarded the examination prize. He
Passed the state examination in human medicine with an overall grade of very good 1.0 and, in addition to his studies, he has already written his doctorate on the topic “The use of ketogenic diets in cancer patients systematic review”. Since this year he has been undergoing specialist training in
The Department of Radiation Therapy and Radiation Oncology at the University Hospital of the University of Jena. Dear Dr. Romans, congratulations! Let’s move on to the last winner. At the suggestion of the teacher training committee of the Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research, the prize for the best teaching examination is
Awarded to Ms. Antonia Runge. Ms. Runge completed the first state examination for high school teaching in the subjects of mathematics and physics with distinction. Her final thesis entitled Stochastic Pandemic Models deals with deterministic and stochastic models for describing pandemic courses, which
Were of particular interest during the Covid-19 pandemic, but are also suitable for modeling other pandemic courses. In addition to her studies, Ms. Runge worked as a trainer and tutor and advocates for the interests of students in institute and faculty committees. Dear Ms. Runge,
Congratulations! [Applause] Finally, I would like to thank the award winners who unfortunately could not be present today. They are Ms. Elisa Stumpf, Mr. Konstantin Schellenberg and Ms. Sandra Weber. We would also like to congratulate you on your exam award. The certificates will be sent to you. To you again, congratulations! [Applause]
Congratulations from me too! As our graduates leave the stage, I would like to introduce you, dear audience, to another award winner. We got to know him briefly in the discussion group earlier . It’s Mateo Zenteno Torres. Please come to me on stage again .
This year you will receive the DAAD Prize from the German Academic Exchange Service. This award is presented by our president, Professor Rosenthal. Mr. Mateo Zenteno Torres has already introduced himself a bit. This is pretty deep here, but I hope you can understand me. This is the prize we
Have to award from the German Academic Exchange Service for outstanding performance by international students and this year it goes to you. We’ve already heard a bit about what led him to Jenna, but I’d like to introduce him in more detail. He once had excellent academic achievements
And was also a specialist author and university ambassador, which convinced the selection committee and he is also committed to promoting tolerance among students from different religious institutions. Mateo Zenteno Torres is 21 years old and is in his third semester studying physics in the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy. He was
Born in Sucre, the capital of Bolivia, in 2002 and began learning German in the fourth grade. His enthusiasm for the subject of physics was also awakened at school in the tenth grade by a Spanish physicist Javier Santaolalla, who
Was obviously able to explain physical phenomena in an exciting way via YouTube. At the end of his schooling, Mateo Zenteno Torres took part in a trial course, which he has already mentioned, that is aimed at Latin American learners of German and then decided to study at our university. Before that, he was
At the state college in Nordhausen, which prepared him for studying in Germany, partly at night, by studying online from Bolivia. He then successfully applied for a scholarship the support initiative of German foreign and partner schools and began his studies
In Jena in the summer semester of 2022. Because of his outstanding achievements, he was appointed very early on as a specialist tutor for mathematics in his subject of physics, and that is quite remarkable for a foreign student. In addition, he was a
University ambassador abroad to study in Jena and helped look after groups of students who came to our university for a taster course. For him, intercultural communication is important so that students can get to know different cultures and other perspectives. As a member of the Studentenmission Deutschland eV, Mateo Zenteno Torres advocates
For more tolerance towards all religious institutions, a current topic at the moment – and therefore organizes meetings and joint film and barbecue evenings and is thus actively involved in the integration of students. The prize is worth €1,000. Congratulations ! [Applause] Congratulations, from me again of course! Dear students, dear
Guests and of course to everyone who is watching from lecture hall 1 or from your shared room or living room, we have almost reached the end of this event, but first I would like to point out a particularly beautiful tradition, which always
Takes place after this event. Every year we plant a tree for the new students and yes, you are all warmly invited to take part. You can all see some very beautiful plants left and right and I didn’t bring them from my shared room, but they come from the Botanical Garden, which is also
Part of the University of Jena. Yes, at this point I would like to thank you again for the fact that this hall is decorated so festively and beautifully with plants every year. A little tip to all students at this point: You have free entry to
The Botanical Garden and it’s definitely worth stopping by, whether to simply continue your education or to switch off for a while. This is really nice! Exactly, this year the tree planting will take place very close to the Volkshaus here, namely right around the corner on
Ernst-Abbe-Platz. In about 10 minutes we will meet outside the Volkshaus exit and go there together if you all feel like it. We would of course be happy if you accompanied us there in large numbers. By the way, a crab apple called
Red Jade will be planted this year and yes, at the end the Academic Orchestra Association will play again under the direction of Sebastian Krahnert. The piece Air. While the orchestra plays, the Senate will be the first to leave the hall and I would ask everyone to stand up again
And then we will all leave the hall together. Dear freshmen, I wish you all a good start here at the university and I wish you dear graduates all the best for your future journey and I hope that you
Will continue to carry the university and Jena in your hearts and yes, thank you, dear audience Thank you very much for your attention and now I wish everyone a wonderful day! [Music] [Applause] [Applause]