’Together, open, historically aware and forward-looking - this is how I want you to experience your university and its leadership’

Julia von Blumenthal , Photo: Philipp Plum - HU President Julia von Blumenthal welcomes students on taking office Dear students, Some of you will be starting your studies at Humboldt-Universität as freshmen in a few days, others are just returning to our university. After four exciting years at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder), I have also returned to Berlin and would like to welcome you today as the new President of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The tasks we face are enormous - for society, the city and also for the university. The acute consequences of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the pandemic that continues to accompany us, climate change as well as social cohesion and democracy affect us all very directly. As students, you in particular are suffering from rising rents, energy prices and inflation. Restrictions due to the pandemic have hit your lives particularly hard in recent years. As a university, we often cannot provide direct relief here.