HOLGER SOMMERFELDT NEW RECTOR OF THE IUBH

Erfurt, 8 March 2021 - The Senate and the Managing company of the IUBH International University of Applied Sciences have appointed Professor Dr. Holger Sommerfeldt as the new Rector. On 8 March, Sommerfeldt will succeed the founding Rector, Professor Dr. Peter Thuy, under whose leadership the IU has developed into one of Germany's largest universities.

Holger Sommerfeldt has been teaching Management at the IUBH since 2008. As Vice-Rector, he has been responsible for the distance learning programme at the IU from the very beginning and has developed it into a successful digital model. He has thus contributed significantly to the continued growth of the IU.

Successful studies through apps, online exams, and learning sprints

Under Holger Sommerfeldt's leadership, the IUBH has built up its current comprehensive range of online and face-to-face study programmes with over 200 study programmes that flexibly adapt to students' personal needs. In addition, Digital tools such as learning apps and online exams as well as didactic innovations such as learning sprints support students and further increase the quality of studies. In the future, the university will continue to focus on translating progressive digitalisation into didactic innovations, both online and offline, according to the new Rector.

Enabling more people to study

"With our innovative forms of study, we make education possible for all. At any time, at any place - flexibly tailored to the student's needs," explained Sommerfeldt. "I am very much looking forward to continuing Peter Thuy's work and, as Rector, to further expanding the IUBH's role as a pioneer in digital education together with our students, staff, and professors. My goal is to enable all prospective students to study in the best possible way, whether in face-to-face or online classes so that they can grow personally. Because in doing so, we fulfil an important function - for society and for the individual students, who will continue to be the focus at the IUBH in the future." 

IUBH Managing Director, Dr. Sven Schütt, adds: "I am very pleased that the IUBH, with Holger Sommerfeldt at the helm, will continue to set standards with innovative digital education formats - in Germany and internationally. The success of our distance learning programme is largely based on Holger's strategic foresight, coupled with rapid implementation to the benefit of our students. With Holger as Rector, the IUBH as a whole will benefit from his qualities - and so will all our students."

Holger Sommerfeldt: "The mission of the IUBH is to offer high-quality academic education to everyone who wants to grow. With innovative digital teaching and learning formats, we give many people the opportunity to study in the first place! Whether it is a student without a high school diploma, the first member of the family to attend university, or a woman in a scientific or technical subject: Everyone should be able to pursue their interests and successfully develop areas of knowledge that are important for society and in demand on the labour market. That's why, in the further development of our degree programmes, we also focus on future topics such as artificial intelligence, data science, and coding, but also sustainability and care, among others - and on subjects that are just emerging but will shape our society in the coming years."