On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, the University Election Assembly of Fachhochschule Dortmund elected a new Rector: Prof. Dr. Tamara Appel from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will succeed Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Schwick in the first half of 2023. She has been Vice-Rector for Teaching and Studies since 2019.
Prof. Dr. Tam(Opens in a new tab) ara Appel achieved the required majority in both parts of the committee, both from the members of the University Council and from the senators.
"I am delighted that, in Professor Appel, we have gained a personality who will take on the challenging task of leading Fachhochschule Dortmund with commitment," said Guido Baranowski, Chairman of the University Council. "Among other things, she sees her focus in further development in the areas of educational equity and educational opportunities, social responsibility, application-oriented and sustainable teaching and research."
Designing learning conditions for students
Incumbent Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Schwick, who will retire in the first half of 2023, also warmly congratulated his successor on her election: "With Ms. Appel, the university electoral assembly has elected a new rector who has worked with great commitment in the interests of all in the extremely difficult corona period. From her point of view, shaping the learning conditions for our students was a particular concern. I am delighted with her election and I particularly appreciate her initiatives to further develop excellent, practice-oriented teaching."
Prof. Dr. Tamara Appel herself outlines her vision for Fachhochschule Dortmund: "I envision an honest and sustainable university that achieves a clear stance through diversity, that has an impact on society, that deals openly with mistakes and grows from them, that shapes transformation agendas for people and the environment with meaning and thus gains in profile."
The new Rector will now present her team of Vice-Rectors, which the University Election Assembly will decide on at a further meeting in November.
Experience in industry and at the university
After studying chemistry and completing her doctorate, Prof. Dr. Tamara Appel initially worked at Thyssen Krupp Steel AG and the medium-sized company Zapp AG. In 2012, she was appointed Professor of Chemistry, Surface Technology and Corrosion at Fachhochschule Dortmund. Here she also held the position of Vice Dean in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and was active on various committees, for example as a member of the Senate. As Vice Rector for Teaching and Studies, she played a key role in keeping an eye on everyone's health during the pandemic. The importance of teaching is reflected, among other things, in the establishment of the Institute for Higher Education Didactics(Opens in a new tab) , in which didactic support structures for students and teaching staff are bundled, as well as in the introduction of a new quality management system for system accreditation.
The Ministry of Culture and Science NRW has confirmed the election.