Our program Senate (english)
Dear Colleagues,
Dear academic staff members,
since June 10, 2025, you have the opportunity to cast your vote for the Senate elections online. The Pragmatic Center would like to take this opportunity to warmly invite you to participate in the elections at https://www.uni-giessen.de/wahlen2025 and support the interests of the academic staff, which we advocate for, with your vote. The online election ends on June 30, 2025 (4:00 p.m.).
We would very much like to represent you again in the Senate and in the central bodies of the JLU over the next two years and stand up for the interests of the academic staff members of ALL faculties and centers:
... for the strengthening of the academic staff (no cuts in this area!),
... for the appreciative integration of the academic staff into research and teaching,
... for the promotion of equal opportunities in science against any form of discrimination,
... for the reduction of the burden on the academic staff through exam organization, supervision, and corrections,
... for the relief of the academic staff from too many administrative tasks,
... for the digitalization of the JLU in the interest of the academic staff.
You can find our program and our candidates below.
Thank you very much for your vote!
Yours,
Pragmatic Center
(Spokesperson: Dr. Joachim Sann, Physical Chemistry Institute)
What does the Pragmatic Center stand for, what does the Pragmatic Center advocate for in the bodies of the JLU?
Actively shaped, constructive university politics in times of challenge
The Pragmatic Center (German: "Pragmatische Mitte") is an association of academic staff interested in higher education policy from all departments and centers at Justus Liebig University (JLU). Through our committee lists, we actively represent the interests of mid-level academic staff in the Senate and in various Senate commissions. We are non-partisan, independent of labor unions and professor groups, and independent of particular interests. We always keep an eye on current challenges. The delaying tactics of the Hessian state government in the current university pact negotiations are the opposite of a clear commitment to solid university funding, and declining student numbers will remain a budgetary risk in the coming years. With our constructive work, commitment, and motivation, we want to continue to actively shape new paths at JLU as the Pragmatic Center in the future.
Sustainability in science for a future-proof JLU
The Pragmatic Center actively supports and promotes the topic of sustainability in science at the JLU. We recognize the importance of sustainable practices and research for a future-proof university and advocate for the integration of sustainability aspects into teaching, research, and university structures. We want to make the JLU a pioneer in the field of sustainable scientific development.
Appreciation and added value through strengthening the academic staff
Continuity in research-oriented teaching and administrative self-administration can only be ensured by strengthening the academic staff. The academic staff plays a crucial role in the core business of the university. We demand a stop to job cuts and advocate for the creation of additional positions in the academic staff. After all, permanent tasks require permanent positions! At the same time, we are committed to creating better university perspectives for scientists and supporting their professional development. Here it is also necessary to implement the new framework conditions of the WissZeitVG in the interest of the academic staff. Our experience with the topic of appreciation shows that one should not let up in pointing out that the academic staff members contribute a very large proportion of the scientific competence of the JLU in research and especially in teaching!
Research-oriented teaching for excellent training
The academic staff contributes significantly to the excellent teaching profile of the JLU. Excellent offspring can only be trained through research-oriented teaching. Therefore, we demand a consistent integration of the academic staff in research and teaching in bachelor's and master's degree programs as well as in the supervision of scientific theses. We advocate that the academic staff members get the opportunity to be released for independent research.
Equality, gender and diversity in science
The Pragmatic Center is actively committed to equality, gender and diversity in science. We advocate that gender and diversity be considered in research and teaching without discrimination. This also includes gender mainstreaming, where the effects of decisions on different genders are taken into account, as well as the fight against gender bias to avoid distortions of reality through formulations, ways of thinking or statistical errors.
Digitalization - IT security and scientific interests
The Pragmatic Center advocates for IT security and IT governance at the JLU, especially with regard to the protection of the scientific interests of the staff members in research and teaching. We believe that the freedom of research and teaching should be supported by IT security, but not restricted. We demand long-term provision of suitable tools for digital teaching and an appropriate consideration of the interests of the academic staff who use these tools significantly.
Medical Department in Focus
As part of the “Future Paper Plus” (German: "Zukunftspapier Plus") agreement signed in February 2023 by UKGM, Rhön-Klinikum AG, and the State of Hesse, a total of nearly €850 million will be available for investments in healthcare, research, and teaching. UKGM is providing €60 million for “better transfer of research results into clinical practice.” In developing concepts between UKGM, JLU, and UMR, we are committed to ensuring that scientific staff and physicians are given appropriate consideration as service providers in research, teaching, and patient care, particularly with regard to professional development.
Relief in the administrative area
More and more administrative tasks are being taken over by the academic staff, which burdens scientists with additional bureaucracy and keeps them from their core task, research and teaching. We advocate for a relief of the academic staff in this area, so as not to limit the development perspectives of the position holders.
Active participation in the design of study programs - freedom for scientific qualification
The introduction of modularized study programs as part of the Bologna reform has led to a heavy workload for academic staff members due to exam organization, supervision and correction. This burden poses an obstacle to scientific qualification. We demand a consistent streamlining and deregulation of the study programs in order to create space for scientific qualification and further education.
Critical and responsible use of AI tools
The Pragmatic Center advocates for the thoughtful and responsible use of AI-supported tools in research, teaching, and administration. Research assistants are at the forefront of integrating AI into research, teaching, and administration. We support the use of AI where it promotes innovation and efficiency, but we attach great importance to maintaining ethical standards, scientific integrity, data protection, and the development of our own professional skills. Mid-level faculty should be actively involved in the further development of guidelines, training opportunities, and open discourse on the use of AI.
Our candidates for the Senate elections 2025
- Joachim Sann FB 08
- Torsten Henning FB 07
- Bjoern Luerßen FB 08
- Michele Christian Klymiuk FB 10
- Klaus Peppler FB 08
- Jörg Schörmann FB 07
- Holger Repp FB 11
- Christian Borsch FB 09
- Jörg Neudert FB 08
- Janika Frei-Kuhlmann FB 05
- Marcus Rohnke FB 08
- Till Fuchs-Kühn FB 07
If you want to learn more about the work of the Pragmatic Center and our goals or are interested in working with us, please contact us! You are cordially invited to actively participate in our list to achieve our goals together!
Contact: Dr. Joachim Sann (trustee)
Physical Chemistry Institute
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17
Tel .: 0641 99-34506
E-mail joachim.sann