By Professor Ada Pellert, Rector of University of Klagenfurt
When you are young, as we are, you grow and learn quickly. The advantage of youth lies in the ability to adapt to everything new with agility, openness, and optimism. Since the beginning of December, I have had the privilege of leading one of these young, dynamic YERUN universities as Rector of the University of Klagenfurt. I look forward to getting to know all the other young members of this network over the next few years, so that we can accompany and support each other as we grow and learn.
A university has always been a place where young people can learn together, inspire one another and often build lifelong networks. The University of Klagenfurt’s commitment to providing its students with an outstanding environment for intensive educational experiences and vibrant exchange on a well-equipped campus has been recognised multiple times already. We are thrilled that around 13,000 people now choose our university to lay the foundation for their future educational and career paths.
However, we do not see youth as a question of age. We firmly believe that the youthful joy of learning and growing can and should accompany us throughout our entire lives. To approach the challenges of the present in a solution-orientated and optimistic way, we need both: youthful creativity, innovative strength and openness paired with accumulated experience. These principles apply equally to individuals and institutions, regardless of the year of our birth or the laying of our foundations.
As a university, we have set the goal of positioning ourselves as a pioneer in lifelong learning in the coming years. More than ever, we aim to offer educational opportunities for all stages of life, bring curious people together for exchange, and provide flexible frameworks that enable joyful learning and growth. In doing so, we can build on a broad international network in research and teaching.
As the new year approaches, I wish all of us a 2025 filled with surprises and new beginnings! Enjoy the holidays and let us look forward together to a New Year filled with fruitful encounters!
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Photocredit: © The photographer of the picture is Volker Wiciok.
