 Universität Duisburg-Essen CAMPUS:INTERN Service & Internal News from UDE March 26, 2026 |
Dear colleagues,
at the virtual Campus Meeting with nearly 450 employees in technical and administrative services last week, I had the opportunity to look back on the past year and direct our gaze forward. My impression is clear: the University of Duisburg-Essen is facing major challenges – but we are tackling them actively and courageously. 
(c) UDE/Arne Rensing
One key issue remains our consolidation programme (KoPro). The financial framework is challenging due to the cuts made by the state, and change is unavoidable. At the same time, I am convinced that if we shape this process wisely, we can improve our structures, simplify processes and prepare our university for the future. Digitalisation and the targeted use of artificial intelligence are intended to support us in this. Amid all these changes, one thing is especially important to me: we are shaping this path together. The many conversations over the past months have shown me how great the commitment at our university is. Insights from practical experience can help us shape change in a targeted way. I would particularly welcome further suggestions from you on reducing bureaucracy. I have also written another article on this subject. Alongside these strategic topics, there are also personnel changes reported in this issue of CAMPUS:INTERN: We bid farewell to Wolfgang Sellinat at a ceremony on the occasion of his retirement, after he had helped shape UDE for many years. At the same time, we welcome Michael Schönborn as the new head of ZIM. I am looking forward to working together! These and the other articles in this issue make it clear that we at UDE are continually evolving. So stay tuned. Best regards Yours sincerely, Ulf Richter |
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Chancellor
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Virtual Campus Meeting: Review and outlook A review of the first year in office, continuation of the consolidation programme, reduction of bureaucracy, digitalisation, further development of leadership culture and, above all, the structural development of the university: at the virtual Campus Meeting on March 16, 2026, Chancellor Ulf Richter informed around 450 employees in technical and administrative services about the most important topics of the past year and upcoming projects. The event was recorded and is available online on demand. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1734 |
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Invitation to reduce bureaucracy: Smart ideas wanted! Bureaucracy is not an end in itself. It is intended to ensure transparency, legal certainty and equal treatment, but where it goes beyond what is necessary, it costs valuable resources. Chancellor Ulf Richter is calling on colleagues to submit proposals via the UDE ideas management system on how resources can be used more efficiently. Implemented ideas will be reviewed in the context of awarding performance bonuses and recognised accordingly. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1733 |
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Your questions, our answers Questions were raised by staff members during the staff meeting and the virtual campus meeting with the Chancellor. We are addressing some of these questions – where they have not yet been fully answered – and providing a consolidated response to ensure transparency. Separate articles on certain topics, such as Jobrad and eAU, can be found in this issue. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1740 |
(c) UDE/Fabian Strauch |
Ulf Richter becomes spokesperson for NRW chancellors On January 26, 2026, in Essen, the Conference of Chancellors of the universities in North Rhine-Westphalia unanimously elected UDE Chancellor Ulf Richter as spokesperson for the NRW chancellors. For the term of office from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029, Richter succeeds Simone Probst, Vice-President for Economic and Personnel Administration at Paderborn University. To support the tasks associated with the function, the office of the Chancellor Conference of North Rhine-Westphalia, together with a policy officer position, will move to UDE. Funding will be provided through a levy system involving the 14 universities in North Rhine-Westphalia. |
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Consolidation
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Consolidation programme: Analysis is in full swing Space optimisation, building operating costs, review of tasks and processes, the use of artificial intelligence and possible cooperation: the university is responding to the permanent reduction in budget funds by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with the consolidation programme (KoPro). The aim is to identify savings potential and develop corresponding measures. The focus is on issues of structural and organisational improvement as well as more efficient processes. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1717 |
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Personal matters
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(c) UDE/Fabian Strauch |
Farewell with music, reflection and many good wishes: Wolfgang Sellinat retires After more than four decades at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Wolfgang Sellinat is retiring. Most recently, he served as Director of Economic Affairs and Finance with responsibility for carrying out the duties of the Chancellor, and also worked as Commercial Director at University Hospital Essen. His many years of commitment were honoured on March 18, 2026 in the Glass Pavilion together with numerous companions along the way. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/2026-03-26-abschied-wolfgang-sellinat-en.php Goodbye – and all the best! He had actually once wanted to become a chief detective inspector, but after five years at the Federal Criminal Police Office, a friend discovered a university job advertisement – fortunately for UDE! Because Wolfgang Sellinat remained loyal to the university for 40 years. He tells more of the story himself in the video. https://www.uni-due.de/imperia/md/video/pool-ps/2026/2026-03-18-vid-abschied-wolfgang-sellinat.mp4 |
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Building Management Division: Change at the top On March 31, 2026, Sabine Hampel will leave her position as Director of Building Management and move to the State of Berlin. At the same time, on April 1, 2026, Hendrik Wefelmeier will take up his post as head of building operations and, in the longer term, assume the role of deputy director of the division. During a transitional period, the main leadership tasks will be taken over by a management team. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1737 |
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New ZIM Director appointed: Michael Schönborn takes over Digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI – Michael Schönborn will now be working on topics such as these. Chancellor Ulf Richter has appointed the experienced digital strategy expert as the new Director of ZIM. He is taking over the post from interim director Guido Kerkewitz. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1721 |
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Internal communication is being further developed Newsletters, intranet, minutes, circular emails – all these elements of internal communication already exist at UDE. But now something new is starting: a university-wide, centrally coordinated internal communication system. The contact person is Cathrin Becker from the Press Office. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1704 |
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Human Resources
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Electronic certificate of incapacity for work: eAU procedure introduced Following a transitional period, the procedure for the electronic certificate of incapacity for work (eAU) for persons with statutory health insurance has now been introduced at UDE. Employees insured under the statutory health insurance system no longer need to submit a medical certificate. Instead, the university retrieves the incapacity for work electronically from the relevant health insurance fund. Notification of sickness within UDE remains necessary regardless. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1723 |
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General travel authorisation: Changes to the application process At the end of 2025, all professors at the university were issued with an unlimited general authorisation for business trips within Germany. As of now, this can also be granted upon application for travel across Europe – likewise without time limit until departure from service at UDE. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1725 |
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Cash expenses in connection with travel expense claims Accounts payable provides information on the implementation of the current procedural instruction for carrying out procurements in connection with travel expense claims. Naturally, private cash expenses remain reimbursable. These include, for example, taxi and public transport fares. Other necessary incidental costs are also reimbursed as part of travel expense accounting. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1722 |
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Higher Education Management qualification programme UDE salaried employees with administrative vocational training can apply internally from April 13 for two places on the 18-month “Higher Education Management” qualification programme offered by the University of Münster Professional School. The programme, which starts in January 2027, qualifies participants for higher-level responsibilities and, where appropriate, new fields of work. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1732 |
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Targeting skilled professionals: UDE at Career Day Essen Entry opportunities, fields of work and development prospects at the university: UDE recently had its own stand at Career Day Essen at the Philharmonie in order to talk to potential applicants. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1731 |
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New pre- and onboarding workflow for administration A new workplace, a new area of responsibility, many new faces – the first working day leaves a lasting impression. All the more important that new colleagues feel welcome and appreciated from the outset and are able to work. This is where the new project “Pre- and onboarding employees (in administration)” comes in: with a standardised workflow, all organisationally relevant steps are initiated at an early stage and implemented reliably. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1724 |
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Current status: Jobrad at UDE There is not much new regarding the state-wide procurement procedure for “Jobrad”, in which UDE is also participating: according to current information from the Ministry of Finance of North Rhine-Westphalia, the award of a contract to an external service provider has still not been completed. The background is a legal action against the procurement procedure, on which the Rheinland public procurement chamber intends to decide by the end of June 2026. As soon as new information on the introduction of bicycle leasing becomes available from the Ministry of Finance, further information will be provided. |
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Occupational Safety
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Fire safety and evacuation assistants: Training format changed Fire safety and evacuation assistants help prevent fires and take on special tasks in an emergency. Up to now, they have been trained by an external service provider. This training is now being transferred into a new format: UDE will train the assistants itself. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1719 |
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Safety at special events In addition to regular teaching events, a large number of smaller and larger special events also take place at the university. To ensure compliance with all safety-related requirements, the Staff Unit for Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection supports such events with its own advisory service. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1727 |
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Safety information for laboratories and workshops Before entering a laboratory or workshop, you see them at the entrance: safety signs. Up to now, purchased stickers were mainly used for this at UDE. As of now, the Staff Unit for Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection offers a cost-effective and ecological alternative: a sheet that can be fitted with the required safety signs – these are then automatically shown in the prescribed size. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1718 |
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Notices for emergencies The Staff Unit for Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection points out that general emergency information as well as Fire Safety Regulations Part A are displayed in all centrally managed and public lecture halls and seminar rooms. Anyone wishing to use this information for their own area will find templates for download on the staff unit’s pages. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1729 |
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Fire-resistant base How can small electrical devices be used safely in the laboratory or workshop? What is the safest way to use a kettle or coffee machine in the tea kitchen? Many employees wanted an easy-to-obtain and inexpensive fire protection base for this purpose. It can now be ordered via the central warehouse. https://www.uni-due.de/de/intranet/news.php?id=1728 |
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Campus
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“Campus · Street · Lab”: Redesign of Universitätsstraße on the Essen campus Since the beginning of 2026, Universitätsstraße on the Essen campus has been changing. There, the Institute of Mobility and Urban Planning, together with the City of Essen, is redesigning a section of the street as a so-called real-world laboratory. The core of the project is the temporary redesign during the upcoming summer semester 2026. https://www.uni-due.de/imobis/campus-street-lab |
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SchaubUDE
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UDE campus development: Things are happening |
Impressions from the workshop process for Campus Duisburg (c) UDE/eventfotograf.in - [Click to enlarge] |
Impressions from the workshop process for Campus Duisburg (c) UDE/eventfotograf.in - [Click to enlarge] |
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Campus Duisburg The Duisburg campus will change: various construction projects to modernise the site are under way, and more will follow. In order to embed this process of change as effectively as possible in an overall urban planning concept, Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb Nordrhein-Westfalen, UDE and the City of Duisburg are now developing joint approaches: a multi-phase workshop process has been launched in cooperation with three external planning offices.
https://www.uni-due.de/en/campus-development/duisburg-en.php |
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Campus Essen The Essen campus will also see major momentum over the coming years. New buildings for research and teaching are being created, the “New Work” pilot project is establishing more flexible workplaces, and the refurbishment of older buildings is progressing. Viewed as a whole, the individual construction projects form the “Big Picture Essen” of campus development. https://www.uni-due.de/en/campus-development/essen.php |
Plans for Campus Essen (c) UDE - [Click to enlarge] |
Chancellor Ulf Richter at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the ACTIVE SITES research building (c) UDE - [Click to enlarge] |
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CAMPUS:INTERN published by the Chancellor of the University of Duisburg-Essen Ulf Richter, kanzler@uni-due.de -------------------------- Contributors to this issue: Cathrin Becker, cathrin.becker@uni-due.de Dr. Christoph Czychun, christoph.czychun@uni-due.de Arne Rensing, arne.rensing@uni-due.de Lars W. Steinhoff, lars.steinhoff@uni-due.de -------------------------- (c) UDE: 2021-2026 |