HAW Hamburg University Senate
The members of the university elect the University Senate. Each member group (professors, students, academic staff members, technical and administrative staff members) elects its own representatives to the senate. The professors hold the majority in this body.
The senate meetings are generally open to all members of the university; however, personnel-related matters are handled confidentially.
Responsibilities, members and meeting dates
Responsibilities
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The responsibilities of the University Senate are outlined in Section 85 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act (HmbHG). Accordingly, the University Senate is involved in all fundamental matters pertaining to HAW Hamburg's self-governance. For example, it approves the HAW Hamburg university statues, elects the president and can convene the University Advisory Board. It confirms the vice presidents, issues guidelines and policies, and elects the representatives for equal opportunities and for students with disabilities and chronic illness.
It is also involved in the preparation of the business plan, in questions related to structural and development planning, and in the implementation and dissolution of organisational units and institutes. Additionally, it makes recommendations regarding the implementation or discontinuation of degree courses and the university's legal regulations.
Members
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The composition of the University Senate is stipulated in Section 8 of the university statute as well as Section 85 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act (HmbHG):
Elected voting members:
- Nine professors
- Three students
- Three academic staff members
- Two members of the technical, library and administrative staff
Students are elected for a term of one year. The other members are elected for a period of two years.
Advisory members:
- President (chairperson)
- Vice presidents
- Head of administration and finance
- Equal opportunities commissioner
- Faculty deans
Current University Senate members:
Professors (Term: 1 October 2024 – 30 September 2026)
Member | Faculty | Deputy | Faculty |
|---|---|---|---|
Dr. Julia Neumann-Szyszka | MGM | Dr. Friedrich Ohlendorf | NIW |
| Dr. Michael Gille | MGM | Dr. Susanne Busch | G |
Dr. Tim Tiedemann | INF | Dr. Martin Schultz | INF |
Dr. Thomas Schiemann | LS | Dr. Bernd Flick | LS |
Dr. Hans-Joachim Schelberg | NIW | Dr. Udo Pulm | NIW |
| Dr. Petra Naujoks | G | Dr. Markus Riemenschneider | LS |
| Dr. Peter Schulz | EMI | Dr. Hardy Gundlach | MGM |
| Dr. Michael Erhard | EMI | Dr. Florian Wenck | EMI |
| Dr. Simon Günter | SuK | Dr. Susanne Vaudt | SuK |
Students (Term: 1 October 2025 – 30 September 2026)
| Member | Deputy |
|---|---|
| Lutz Lorenz | Leonie Corinth |
| Sabine Derboven | Erik Matthiessen |
| Raoul Klein | Johanna Zimmermann |
Academic staff members (Term: 1 October 2024 – 30 September 2026)
| Member | Deputy |
|---|---|
| Ute Korn | Jan Dieckhoff |
| Christine Hoffmann | Birgit Helms |
| Simon Dewert | Nour-Eddine Louchène |
Technical, library and administrative staff members (Term: 1 October 2024 – 30 September 2026)
| Member | Organisational unit | Deputy | Organisational unit |
|---|---|---|---|
Marko Heyner | HV/SZ | Sabine Witting | LS/AV |
| Peter Meyer | HV/FR | Janine Klatt | HV/FR |
Equal opportunities commissioner |
| ||
| Prof. Hanna Klimpe | Prof. Julia Neumann-Szyszska, Prof. Jessica Finke |
Meeting dates
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Winter semester 2025/2026
| Meeting date | Dispatch of documents |
|---|---|
| 09.10.2025 | 30.09.2025 |
| 13.11.2025 | 04.11.2025 |
| 11.12.2025 | 02.12.2025 |
| 22.01.2026 | 13.01.2026 |
Summer semester 2026
| Meeting date | Dispatch of documents |
|---|---|
| 09.04.2026 | 31.03.2026 |
| 07.05.2026 | 28.04.2026 |
| 11.06.2026 | 02.06.2026 |
| 09.07.2026 | 30.06.2026 |
Meeting times and locations are indicated in the invitation to each meeting.
