University of Bamberg

History

The history of the University of Bamberg dates back to 1647, when the Academia Bambergensis was founded, initially focusing on philosophy and theology. In 1773, it was expanded into the Universitas Ottoniano-Fridericiana, also offering law and medicine. However, following secularization in 1803, the institution was reduced to a Lyzeum, losing its law and medical faculties. In 1923, the institution transitioned into the Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule, continuing its focus on philosophy and theology. Parallel to this, between 1958 and 1972, the Pädagogische Hochschule (School of Education) operated as a separate entity of the University of Würzburg. Both institutions were united in 1972 (Gesamthochschule). This transition ended in 1979 by officially (re-)attaining university status. Further advancements followed in the 21st century, with the establishment of the Department of Information Systems and Applied Informatics (WIAI) in October 2001. In August 2012, the university expanded with the opening of a new building at the location of the former Regional Garden Show 2012.

Campus

The university is partly housed in historical buildings in Bamberg's Old Town. These include the former Jesuit college (Theology), the former Hochzeitshaus (History), the old slaughterhouse (Earth Science), and the former fire station (Oriental Studies). The departments of Languages and Literature are partly housed in buildings which once belonged to the Kaiser-Heinrich High School. The Social Sciences and Economics department, which accommodates a large proportion of the students, are in Feldkirchenstrasse. The former ERBA cotton mill, on an island in the Regnitz, has been acquired to create student apartments in the red-brick building, as well as in an adjoining new 14,000m2 building.

Gallery

File:Bamberg, An der Universität 7, von Norden, 20150918, 001.jpg| Central Campus File:Uni Bamberg WE5, ERBA 01.jpg| Computer Science Department File:201609 KDGS nr08.jpg | Social Sciences and Economics Department File:Aula der Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg.jpg| Assembly hall (former church) File:Bamberg, Wilhelmsplatz 3-20170103-002.jpg| Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) File:Rektori hivatal, Bamberg.jpg| President's Office

Organization

The university today has four faculties:

• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics and Business Administration
• Faculty of Human Sciences and Education
• Faculty of Information Systems and Applied Computer Science

An agreement between Bavaria and the Vatican saw the faculty of Catholic Theology restructured as an institute which places a greater emphasis on teacher training. In 2005, the Social Work course transferred to Coburg University of Applied Sciences.

Academics

Disciplines

• Language-based area studies, including Oriental Studies and Slavonic Studies
• Medieval Studies; Archaeology (Prehistoric, Roman Provinces, Medieval); Cultural Heritage Conservation
• Behavioural sciences: Sociology, Political Science, Psychology
• Economics and Business Administration, with an emphasis on European Economics
• Applied Computer Science

The main areas of curricular focus, to which subjects across faculties contribute, are:

• Education and Life Planning
• The Individual and Society
• Languages and Cultures
• Business and Markets

Rankings and reputation

In the 2012 Wirtschaftswoche ranking, the Faculty of Social Sciences, Economics, and Business Administration is ranked 20th in business administration (Betriebswirtschaftslehre) and 11th in economics (Volkswirtschaftslehre).

Partner universities

The University of Bamberg currently has cooperation agreements with approximately 300 academic institutions in more than 60 countries (March 2018).

The European network includes the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. The University holds partnerships in Australia with the University of Sydney, in the US with Harvard University, as well as in Asia with the Chinese Xi'an Jiaotong University, the Korea University, and the Japanese Sophia University.

Johann Baptist von Spix International Professorship

The University of Bamberg created the Johann Baptist von Spix professorship in 2015. The professorship is named for an alumnus of the university and eminent biologist and ethnographer. The professorship was created in an effort to increase the institution's international scholarly collaboration. Recipients of the professorship teach a class, conduct research, provide professional development opportunities to graduate students, and offer public presentations.

Notable faculty

• Thomas Weißer, ethics
• Gerhard Vinken, heritage conservation

Notable alumni

• Riccardo Basile, German television presenter
• Lisa Badum, member of the Bundestag
• Nabila Espanioly, Palestinian-Israeli clinical psychologist and activist
• Alexander Filipović, German ethicist, focusing on media and the digital transformation
• Meinolf Finke, German writer and poet
• Nora-Eugenie Gomringer, German and Swiss poet and writer
• Tommy Jaud, German author
• Brigitte Mohn, German businesswoman and entrepreneur
• Wolf-Dieter Montag, German physician, sports medicine specialist, mountain rescue doctor, and international sports administrator
• Franz Naegele, German obstetrician
• Ursula Reutner, German linguist
• Andreas Röschlaub, German physician
• Corine Schleif, professor and art historian
• You Xie, Chinese-German politician, journalist and author
• Emmi Zeulner, member of the Bundestag

References

References

1. "Search".
2. "Die Universität Bamberg in Zahlen".
3. "Chronology of the University of Bamberg".
4. "WIAI Faculty History".
5. (10 April 2012). "Die Auf- und Absteiger unter Deutschlands Unis". [[Wirtschaftswoche]].
6. "Partner Universities".
7. Sinn, Verena. "Johann Baptist von Spix: Ein Bamberger Alumnus, der die Internationalität liebte". University of Bamberg.