Presidium calls on OB candidates to further strengthen the University of Kassel

The future head of the city should therefore work together with the university to ensure that concepts for future-proof and sustainable regional development that have already been developed are now implemented together with politics, science and business. Secondly, the settlement of new ambitious research institutes should be supported - both the documenta Institute and in other scientific fields. Thirdly, to further enhance the attractiveness of Kassel as a place to study, the university management is striving for a housing guarantee for students. And to promote successful educational biographies in Kassel, - fourthly - an educational campus is to be created in the northern part of the city with daycare centers, schools, the university and adult education. Finally, the university would like an even closer spatial connection with the city. The potential of a spatial interweaving of Nordstadt, the city and the university must be actively exploited. The Executive Board also sees room for improvement in good public transport connections and a safe network of bicycle paths and pedestrian routes.

The letter concludes with the question of what the candidates for mayor want to do for science and the university, what accents of cooperation they will set and with what ideas and visions they will approach the University of Kassel. "We are very happy to be available for this exchange," the signatories Prof. Dr. Ute Clement, Chancellor Dr. Oliver Fromm and Vice Presidents Prof. Dr. Sonja Buckel, Prof. Dr. René Matzdorf and Prof. Dr. Michael Wachendorf end their letter.

The letter in wording:

In the past, the cooperation between City Hall and the University has given rise to innovation, social and societal development, and a vibrant culture for Kassel. The social, economic and cultural quality of Kassel as an upper center with metropolitan flair is inconceivable without the university. In the coming years, it will now be important to focus even more strategically on Kassel as a science location.

Since its founding in 1971, the university has been inextricably interwoven with the development of the city of Kassel in many ways.
- The city made a central campus possible, which moved the university into the immediate vicinity of the city center.
- Diverse research and teaching projects address challenges in nature, technology, culture and society in the city and region.
- Together, the university and the city are shaping the transformation toward a future-proof society. Through research and development, the university contributes to the innovative strength of the region's economy, with a particular focus on sustainable development.
- The University of Kassel opens up life and career prospects for thousands of young people in positions of responsibility and, especially in a heterogeneous city like Kassel, enables many to advance in education. In this way, the university makes a significant contribution to the prosperity of the city.
- For example, the art academy, but also departments such as architecture/landscape planning, traffic research or ecological agricultural sciences have a structuring effect on the region. Social institutions and schools work closely with the university. Service learning combines study and voluntary work. In joint institutions, the city and the university support start-up activities, but also scientific education, sports and cultural life in the city. Through public lectures, the guest student program, the diverse cooperation of our academics with the institutions of the city and its civil society organizations, as well as the internationality of its members, the university contributes to a culturally attractive, lively and liberal urban society.
- Last but not least, the university is one of the largest employers in the city.

As university management, our goal is to expand this cooperation even further for the benefit of the city. Strategically, we ourselves have concrete ideas on the following topics to strengthen Kassel as a location for science and research:

Bringing future-proof regional development into implementation
In recent years, concepts for the sustainable further development of the city and the region have emerged in various cooperations and projects between the city society and science. In the coming term of office, the task now is to test these together and to develop sustainable cooperations between society, business and science for their concrete implementation in the medium term. The Science Park can be seen here as an example of successful cooperation that can also be extended - in the form of real laboratories - to other fields of research & development. The university's focus on sustainability and the Kassel Institute for Sustainability offer a variety of starting points for this.

Expanding Kassel's research landscape
The good cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute IEE points to the potential of Kassel as a future science location. The documenta Institute should now be established as quickly as possible as an independent research institute for exhibition studies and integrated into a productive working relationship with documenta Archiv and documenta gGmbH. Our goal is to add further institutions in the future, for example on ecological agricultural science and resilient energy systems.

Exploringa housing guarantee for students
Kassel is a great place to live. A housing guarantee for students could make this clear to the public in the future and offer a real advantage for Kassel as a university location. Together with the student union, the city, the district and private providers, we should look for ways to gradually establish such a guarantee and thus attract young academics to Kassel.

Establishing an educational landscape in the north
In cooperation between the university, the slaughterhouse and the Hegelsberg school, as well as with the Elisabeth Knipping School and the adult education center, an educational landscape can be created in the north of the main campus that offers individual educational paths for a very heterogeneous population. From daycare centers to general education and vocational schools to universities and adult education, this would link together offerings for successful educational biographies for very different population groups.

University to be more spatially integrated with the city
The university and the city center are to be more spatially integrated in the future. The establishment of the Kassel Institute for Sustainability will expand university activities toward the city center. The planned buildings for the natural sciences will develop the North Campus. In addition, an academic forum as an outpost of the university in the city center is to become a place of encounter with science. The aim is to actively exploit the potential of this spatial interweaving of Nordstadt, the city and the university. Good accessibility of the campus by public transport, by bike and on foot - also from the surrounding areas of the city - is of vital importance for life on campus after the pandemic.

As a university, we are interested in what you, as candidates for mayor, want to do for science and the university, what accents of cooperation you will set, and with what ideas and visions you will approach us. We are very happy to be available for this exchange.

gez. The Presidential Board of the University of Kassel

The answers of the candidates (in alphabetical order)

As of February 28, 2023

Violetta Bock (The Left)

I'm in!

As a society, we are facing great upheavals and find ourselves in a time of overlapping crises. Old ways of neoliberalism have led the guarantee of our services of general interest to the limits, the climate catastrophe requires new approaches in energy supply, urban development and transport planning. Global crises are having a concrete impact on local communities. For contemporary responses, we need knowledge, lessons from the past, new approaches, sound think tanks and trained professionals. The university as a place of research and teaching is therefore a great treasure for Kassel and the entire region and an annual attraction for students who begin their studies in Kassel. The university and its branch in Witzenhausen are close learning and scientific spaces. So far, this has not played a role in Kassel's city marketing or in the regional management of North Hesse, and I would like to change that. I appreciate very much that our university is not an ivory tower. With its new institutes, an impulse center for more climate-friendly futures can emerge here - I would like to see this reflected and strengthened in city politics and city hall.

The Presidium demands: Bringing future-proof regional development into implementation.

My attitude: From my point of view, such cooperations are very significant - also because in them lie opportunities to resolve entrenched patterns of behavior and conflicts of interest in a new way. The university has a great deal of expertise, for example, in the area of transportation change and in ecological agriculture. These are also fields in which I can well imagine more cooperation. Just as I would like to see the city become a pioneer in social-ecological transformation, I also hope that the university will do the same as a public institution, for example in the management of its own properties.

The presidium demands: Expand Kassel's research landscape

My position: I welcome the strengthening of Kassel as a science location. With regard to the Documenta Institute specifically mentioned, the cooperation between the various players, from the institute to the art academy and university, documenta gGmbH, the archive and the city, must finally be raised to a new level. What has led to failure in recent years must be made up for quickly. Agreement on concept and embedding, determination of the location with genuine participation, in order to bring the work already begun to fruition. I see independence as a central prerequisite for research. Equally important to me is mediation and accessibility.

The President's Office demands: Explore housing guarantee for students.

My attitude: It would be great if we had a housing guarantee for students. Anticipatory collaboration should be started quickly so that we are not surprised each fall by how many are looking for housing. In order to realize a housing guarantee beyond the circle of students, a change of direction in Kassel's housing policy is necessary. In order to make it worthwhile for young academics to change their place of residence after graduation, more permanent positions would also be desirable.

The presidency demands: Establish educational landscape north

My attitude: I like this perspective very much! Especially in North Holland as the largest district, this could ensure a greater interlocking of the university and the surrounding area, providing education for different age groups. Since GWG Pro is already in the process of planning the Hegelsberg School and the Elisabeth Knipping School, cooperations could already be consolidated in this phase. Interests can thus be reconciled when it comes to the soccer field at the slaughterhouse, which is to be preserved, or the social-ecological planning of the buildings. In addition, new funding opportunities could open up.

The presidium demands: University to be more spatially intertwined with city

My attitude: The social-ecological traffic turnaround in our city is one of my most important concerns. Especially where car and truck traffic impede everything else, we must finally intervene. And Holländischer Platz is a good example of this. The proposals and designs are there. What is missing so far is the will to finally create more space and freedom of movement for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. I am therefore also in favor of continuing the open-air experiment on Untere Königsstraße. At the same time, as mayor, I will develop measures to ensure that the expansion of the university does not become a gentrification factor. Especially in the Nordstadt, rents have risen at an above-average rate in recent years. This can be counteracted with milieu protection statutes and other measures.

Dr. Isabel Carqueville (SPD)

Bringing future-proof regional development to fruition

The Science Park is a successful concept that should definitely be continued, if not expanded. The University of Kassel has always had an impact on the regional economy with its spin-offs and start-ups. This work, which makes sense for everyone involved, should be continued and supported. The area of sustainability in particular is already an important field for the university and UniKasselTransfer, in which extraordinary points of contact can be developed for the region through the project that is just beginning, a new thinking laboratory between science, business and society.

Expanding Kassel's research landscape

The resolutions and the survey on the location of the Documenta Institute have been in the drawer for a long time. The task now is to get them out of the drawer and put them into practice. The location can be discussed, but it is important that this project, which has been put on the back burner for a long time, is implemented promptly.

Kassel should become a location that takes on a pioneering role, especially with regard to future topics and technologies. The University of Kassel has a special responsibility here, for example, to create the transfer to society. The overarching cooperation of the various institutions in the scientific field are an enriching matter for all. With the topics of sustainability - both in the SDG Center and in the new innovation project at UniKasselTransfer.

Exploring housing guarantees for students.

Kassel cannot guarantee what is not there. The construction of thousands of apartments in Kassel is on the brink of collapse due to a sharp rise in material costs and, unfortunately, a standstill in city hall when it comes to housing construction. Investors wait, as also the HNA reported, apparently partly years to get even a concrete answer. Two things I will implement: First, I want to give priority to housing construction in City Hall again, it has to happen faster. Second, I want to double Kassel's share of social housing subsidies to make the decision easier for potential investors. In addition, it will also be a matter of promptly drawing down existing federal and state funds for young housing and thus creating targeted housing for students and trainees. 

Establishing an educational landscape in the north

A worthwhile idea. One should definitely discuss what conditions for success it requires for implementation. I can well imagine that associations that support a wide variety of groups could also be involved here. As a social democrat, creating opportunities is particularly important to me. And as an educational scientist, I know that an important foundation stone for equal opportunities can be laid for educational biographies as early as early childhood education in daycare centers.

The University of Kassel is very well positioned in teacher education, among other things, and also in childhood research. As an educational scientist, I dream of the University of Kassel perhaps having a university school at some point in the future, where theory and practice in teacher training can be even better interlinked and things can be tried out. But a university school would also be an interesting undertaking for educational research. The new building of the Hegelsberg School in the immediate vicinity of the university could provide an occasion for such considerations.

Spatially linking the university more closely with the city

The 2021 traffic trial on the lower Königsstraße had a great deal of positive feedback, which is also reflected in the evaluations. This trial phase should now be followed by a steady change in traffic routing & thus upgrading the street. This would bring the city center and the campus even closer together and provide an important impetus for urban development at this central connection point in the city. The expansion of public transportation is necessary for climate protection reasons alone. But it also helps in particular to connect affordable housing for students so that it does not have to be located directly on campus.

I can well imagine an academic forum in Kassel as a branch of the university in the city center. A science office that acts as an interface to promote stronger and more visible networking between the university, research institutions and urban society. Specially developed offers for students and scientists, cooperation with the media and cultural institutions as well as the regional economy could promote the dialog between science and urban society in Kassel.   With new formats of science communication, Kassel is increasingly presenting itself as a young, creative science city. The city's existing cooperation with the Galeria department store is already a place where a low-threshold offer can be made to determine demand.

Christian Geselle (independent)

Bringing future-proof regional development into implementation

As you correctly state in your open letter, the extremely positive development of the university and the city of Kassel are closely linked. As you know from our good cooperation in the past years, I have always supported the development of the university in my roles as city councilor and parliamentary group chairman, as treasurer and as mayor where the city could make a contribution, over the past 16 years. Like you, I am convinced that the city of Kassel would not be as well positioned today as it is without the university. Just as the university has been able to rely on the city. I would like to continue this cooperation in the coming years. I am always ready to discuss further approaches to testing and expanding sustainable cooperation between society, business and science, and I look forward to continuing the dialog with you in this regard.

Expanding Kassel's research landscape

I welcome your intention to create further university facilities and that, in addition to development in a northerly direction, you are also striving for greater spatial integration in the direction of the city center. The science location Kassel lives through your constant new impulses for the practice-oriented and future-oriented further development of the university. I am happy to continue the dialog with you on this topic as well.
As you know, we have a joint concept for the documenta Institute. I continue to stand by this. I agree with your statement that the good accessibility of the campus is of vital importance for the university. However, I believe that the connections to the various means of transportation are already extremely good. With the further expansion of the bike path network in the city and into the surrounding area of Kassel, for which more than 60 million euros have been made available, we will make even more progress here in the coming years.

Exploring housing guarantees for students

I am skeptical about a housing guarantee for students for various reasons. But I'm sure we agree that housing for everyone - and not just for individual target groups - is an issue of great relevance. To make progress here, we need to (even) step up the pace of construction. This can subsequently make a significant contribution to easing the housing market for students as well.
We must succeed in putting areas that are earmarked for development and those that have the potential for development to their intended use. Active land development - inside and out - in dialog with the city's citizens is the decisive factor here. And we are well positioned in this respect. Areas in Nordshausen, Wolfsanger and Bettenhausen are currently being developed, supplemented by projects such as the Jägerkaserne barracks, the former supply office or the planned internal development in the Brückenhof housing estate.
In the administration, additional positions have already been created in the Office of Urban Planning, Building Inspection and Monument Protection, and I intend to continue this to the extent necessary.

Developing the North Education Landscape, integrating the university more closely with the city in spatial terms

With the development of the North+ Comprehensive School on the former "Louis Scheuch" industrial site as a replacement for the Hegelsberg School, we are already one step along the path to the North Education Landscape, which you name as a topic in your letter. The continuation outlined by you in the restructuring of the district and the educational landscape could usefully complement and continue the development that has already begun.

Stefan Käufler (Party)

As Lord Mayor, I will immediately work to guarantee adequate, WG fair housing for students, as well as the upgrading of the Kunstuni Rundgang. For the students of the University of Kassel there will be with me above all far-reaching exceptions from the night rest, in order to establish the legendary Kassler study and WG parties as general cultural property socially.
Beyond that, as always, there is no politics to be made with us.

Eva Kühne-Hörmann (CDU)

Putting future-proof regional development into practice

As a member of the state parliament and former Minister of State, I have closely and intensively accompanied the University of Kassel from 1995 to the present day and, especially during my time as Minister for Science and the Arts, supported it. I am therefore very aware that the university shapes and advances our city in every respect. The numerous new courses of study, research projects, initiatives and focal points ensure that we are increasingly becoming an innovative, younger city. The networking of regional partners from business and the skilled trades are playing a greater role and creating sustainable jobs   .

Expanding Kassel's research landscape

The city's networking with the university and the Fraunhofer Institute has been sluggish in recent years, without the major lines in the area of climate change, renewable energies, the educational landscape and many other areas being concretely realized in urban projects. My goal is to dovetail the university and the Fraunhofer Institute and the documenta Institute with concrete projects in the city and to have a more intensive exchange.

Exploring a housing guarantee for students

I could well imagine a housing guarantee for students.

Building up the North Education Landscape

The Northern Education Landscape will be developed. This was decided in the coalition agreement of the Jamaica coalition, which I initiated and negotiated.

Spatially integrate the university more closely with the city

The campus must be more spatially intertwined with the city center. We cannot tolerate a public drug scene downtown, next to schools or the university. We need more joint actions with the city police and the state police and we need a better offer of outreach work.

Dr. Sven Schoeller (Green Party)

Future-proof regional development
You quite rightly refer to the existing regional networking structures between politics, science and business, which have already enabled important cooperation projects in the past, such as the Science Park. I am expressly open to ideas for further expansion of this important transfer facility as well as increased municipal start-up support. This applies in particular to the areas of environment, climate and energy, and digitization.

Expanding the research landscape

Your ambitious goal of establishing new research institutes in the vicinity of both facilities has my full support. The topic of resilient energy systems could certainly draw on existing structures in Kassel, while the topic of ecological agricultural science would probably be located in the vicinity of the university location in Witzenhausen. I am very interested in hearing your thoughts on this. (...) Your wish that the documenta institute quickly establishes itself as an independent, non-university research institute and thus visibly enriches the Kassel research landscape also has my full support.

Housing guarantee for students

The question of under what conditions and with what precise content guarantee promises could be made is connected in detail with a wealth of points to be clarified. We also have to bear in mind that the need for housing is not exclusive to students. We have a mandate to ensure adequate housing at affordable prices for the entire population. I am also very interested in your ideas and opinions on this.

Building an educational landscape in the north

Perhaps, as part of one of your future reallabs, cooperation between different institutions can be tested here, as you would like, from daycare centers to general and vocational schools to universities and adult education. I expressly support this approach and, if necessary, will be happy to work towards its realization. The idea of a Northern Education Landscape can make a decisive contribution to developing a formerly industrial neighborhood into a lively and attractive place.

Linking theuniversity more closely (spatially) with the city
If I am elected, over-planning the inner city ring will be one of my core projects in the area of urban development. We need an urban development concept for Kassel's old town that reduces the barrier effect of, for example, Kurt-Schumacher-Strasse between Entenanger and Pferdemarkt. This would also help to better connect the university campus to the city center. As for the university's traffic connections for bicycle and pedestrian traffic, you speak from my heart. An overarching goal of my tenure will be a more equitable distribution of transportation space in the city.

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