Rektorin

The six members of Bielefeld University's Board of Governors stand in front of the graffiti wall in the central university hall. — © Universität Bielefeld

Rector of Bielefeld University

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Prof. Dr. Angelika Epple

Rector

E-mail: rektorin@uni-bielefeld.de
Telephone secretary: +49 521 106-2001
Room: UHG U7-241

Speeches and greetings from the Rector

Strategy and Aims

“Transcending boundaries,” robust interdisciplinarity, and innovative solutions have always been at the heart of our university, and have helped make Bielefeld an exciting place for researchers from around the world. Young people in particular should have the opportunity here to try things out for themselves, and develop both professionally and personally. To support these aims, we are establishing the Zentrum für wissenschaftliche Karriere und Personalentwicklung (ZKP, Center for Academic Careers and Professional Development) (working name), which will offer a wide spectrum of interdisciplinary training opportunities for various groups in research, teaching, management, and administration.

We strive to be an institution that is free of prejudice, a place where intercultural diversity, equal opportunities, and mutual respect define the way we work together. We are an inclusive institution and share our knowledge and insights with the business world and society at large.

We fully embrace our responsibilities as an academic institution by openly discussing new scientific findings, and fostering understanding and cohesion, as well as promoting innovation. To achieve these goals, we also take advantage of the opportunities and possibilities foreclosed by human-centric digitalisation.

My hope is that our university serves as an exemplary model of sustainability in all areas – in research, studying, teaching, campus life, and university operations.

Strategic topics

About

Prof. Dr. Angelika Epple: © Universität Bielefeld

Angelika Epple has served as Rector of Bielefeld University since October 1st, 2023. Previous to this, she served for two years as Vice Rector for Research and International Affairs and for six years as Vice Rector of International Affairs and Diversity, also at Bielefeld University.

As a Professor of History specialising in the 19th and 20th centuries in Bielefeld’s Faculty of History, Philosophy, and Theology, her research focuses on the theory of history, the history of globalization since the early modern period, and global microhistory. Among other roles, she served as (Vice) Dean of her faculty for over four years and was spokesperson for the “Practices of Comparison” Collaborative Research Centre 1288 from January 2017 to May 2021.

Angelika Epple serves on several advisory boards, including as Chair of the Academic Board of the Forschungsinstituts für Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt (FGZ, Research Institute on Social Cohesion).

Prof. Dr. Epple first studied Hispanic Studies at the University of Málaga in southern Spain. She continued her studies in Romance languages and literature at the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg and the Freie University of Berlin, followed by studies in history, German studies, educational science, and philosophy. She received her doctorate from Bielefeld University in 2001 with a gender-historical thesis on the history of historiography. Subsequently, she worked as an assistant professor at the University of Hamburg, where she completed her habilitation in 2008 with a history on the global player “Gebr. Stollwerck” during the 19th century through the beginning of the 20th century. She was appointed professor at Bielefeld University that same year.