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HNU Annual Review 2025

15.12.2025, Researched:

People who make a difference, ideas that grow, and successes that bring us together: in the HNU annual review, we look back on the past year.

Happy Holidays

HNU wishes you enjoyable reading and extends its best wishes to all students, staff, partners, and supporters for a joyous holiday season and a healthy, successful 2026!

All figures are current as of November 30, 2025, unless otherwise indicated.

The year in facts and figures

  • 77.600

    is the number of views of the YouTube tutorials from the HNU library. 

  • 26.598

    Zoom meetings took place: Mal hat es Zoom gemacht:  54,048 participants spoke to each other for a total of 8,207,718 minutes on the video communication platform.

  • 18.868

    media items were borrowed from the HNU library in 2025. 

  • 12.378

    portions of chips and wedges were served at the counter in the canteen in 2025.

  • 4.987

    individual digital examinations were completed in the HNU computer lab.

  • 1.828

    were welcomed at HNU in the summer and winter semesters. 

  • 1.532

    new customers were registered by the HNU library this year. 

  • 576

    international full-time students studied at HNU in 2025.

  • 367

    three people completed one of the continuing education programmes and courses at HNU. New this year: three new AI programmes. 

  • 237

    HNU students have spent time abroad. 

  • 201

    international exchange students have spent or are spending one or two semesters at HNU.

  • 145

    publications by HNU scientists were recorded in the E-Prints publication database in 2025 – over 7 per cent more than last year. 

  • 89

    different nationalities are represented among HNU students.

  • 58

    is the age of the oldest member of the HNU student community. 

  • 56

    öffentliche Anträge hat der Bereich Projekt- und Forschungsförderung allein in diesem Jahr begleitet. 

  • 44

    new employees have joined HNU this year, including 23 administrative staff, one trainee and 20 research assistants. [1 December 2025]

  • 37

    start-up teams received active coaching at HNU's Founders Space this year.

  • 27

    tandems consisting of 27 female students and 27 mentors took part in this year's BayernMentoring programme at HNU.

  • 16

    s the age of the youngest member of the HNU student body. 

  • 11

    welcome packs were distributed to newborn children of HNU members in 2025. 

  • 8

    international universities have become new partners of HNU this year, including universities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, India, Israel, Croatia, Austria, the Philippines and South Africa.  

  • 7

    new professors have started work at HNU this year.

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The most successful LinkedIn posts in 2025

As of 5 December 2025

1st place

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A highlight every year – and once again at the top of the winners' podium this year: the report on this year's graduate gala.
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2nd place

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Great response to the upcoming change in leadership: The post on the presidential election lands in second place.
Go to the LinkedIn post (opens in a new window)

 

3rd place

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Third place goes to Prof. Dr. Heiko Gewald, who was the first HNU professor to obtain his habilitation during his time at the university.
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Did you know...?

A special farewell

This year's graduation gala at the Congress Centrum Ulm was a special event not only for the former Bachelor's and Master's students, but also for HNU President Prof. Dr. Uta M. Feser: she bid farewell to the last class of her term of office. In March 2026, the incumbent president will retire after more than 20 years at HNU.

Record-breaking

In 2025, HNU surpassed itself in many ways: For example, the 2025/26 winter semester began with a historic high of 4,400 students, and this year's IT Congress Neu-Ulm | Ulm attracted 600 visitors, more than ever before, to the Wiley Campus to learn about AI, cybersecurity and other topics.

Behind the scenes: ongoing content production

The HNU marketing team published a total of 2,321 posts on social media channels this year – an average of more than six posts per day. Instagram leads the way in terms of post density with 1,655 posts.

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News highlights of 2025

News and press releases from the last twelve months

January 2025

HNU once again recognised as a family-friendly university

For the sixth time since 2008, HNU has been awarded the certificate by the board of trustees of berufundfamilie Service GmbH – a testament to its continued development in terms of family- and life-stage-conscious personnel policy and family-friendly working, research and study conditions.

What else was going on

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February 2025

Founding team takes off with digital learning and examination platform

Tailor-made learning plans, AI-generated exams and a simplified application process for students from abroad: with its ‘Campus Ready’ platform, the HNU team secured a start-up grant as part of the BMWK's EXIST funding programme.

What else also going on

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March 2025

First HNU alumni return to the university

At the end of the HNU anniversary year, more than 90 alumni from the university's early days met again at their former place of study in Steubenstraße and exchanged ideas with other alumni, former professors and former and current HNU staff.

What else was going on

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April 2025

New HNU institute brings together expertise in sales and sustainable business

Under the leadership of Prof. Alexander Kracklauer and Prof. Tassilo Schuster, the former Competence Centre for Growth and Sales Strategies is dedicated to forward-looking research at the interface between sales, digital transformation and sustainable business models.

What else was going on

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May 2025

HNU establishes Founders Board

The HNU Founders Board is opening a new chapter in the strategic development of the start-up ecosystem at the university: representatives from the university, business and regional institutions will work together in future to further develop entrepreneurship and start-up topics at HNU.

What else was going on

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June 2025

HNU's first Science Slam brings research to the stage

At HNU's first Science Slam, eight slammers competed against each other with entertaining short presentations of their research projects. The jury prizes were presented by Katrin Albsteiger, Mayor of Neu-Ulm; the IHK Schwaben Academy also provided an audience prize.

What else was going on

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July 2025

HNU professors establish German Society for Game Studies

The establishment of the association aims to give this interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scientific discipline institutional independence. Prof. Michael Hebel is a member of the executive committee; Prof. Dr. Dr. Rudolf Inderst and Prof. Guido Kühn are co-founders.

What else was going on

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August 2025

HNU research on digital innovation receives international impetus

Mattie Bryant, a doctoral candidate at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA, conducted research together with HNU Professor Marten Risius and other IDI colleagues on topics related to digital innovation and the social impact of information systems.

What else was going on

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September 2025

All-time high: HNU has more students than ever before

For the 2025/26 winter semester, HNU has 1,150 new students and a total of 4,400 enrolled students – a historic high despite the G9 gap.

What else was going on

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October 2025

FLOAT student project wins international games competition

The team competed at the renowned Student Games Festival in Warsaw with their game, which supports the development of intelligent prostheses. With great success: FLOAT prevailed among 17 nominees in one of four categories and won the ‘Meaningful Game’ award.

What else was going on

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November 2025

BioTech Initiative Bavaria: HNU intensifies international cooperation

Bavaria and the South African province of Western Cape are launching a biotech initiative to promote international research – with the active participation of HNU: President Prof. Dr. Uta M. Feser signed the agreement in Stellenbosch, and a partnership with Stellenbosch University was also established.

What else was going on

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December 2025

Prof. Dr Julia Kormann elected as next president of HNU

Change of leadership at the university: After five terms as Vice-President, Prof. Dr Julia Kormann will take the helm at HNU in March next year. She replaces the current President, Prof. Dr Uta M. Feser, who is retiring after more than 20 years at HNU.

What else was going on

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The HNU campus on Instagram

The most popular Instagram posts of 2025

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Slay! The most popular reel on the HNU Instagram channel: Prof. Dr Julia Kormann's introduction to the degree programme.

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The most popular post: Halloween atmosphere on the HNU campus.

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Accreditation and certificates

Logo System-Akkreditierung der Stiftung Akkreditierungsrat
Logo of the Accreditation Agency for Study Programmes in the Field of Health and Social Services
Logo of the accreditation agency ACQUIN
Logo of the National Code for the Study of Foreigners (Code of Conduct)
Logo of the HRK Audit
Logo of the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation