The University Council of the Saarland University of Applied Sciences (htw saar) was constituted on June 19, 2026, for a term ending on March 31, 2030. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Valeske, Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Non-Destructive Testing IZFP and professor at Saarland University, will serve as chair.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MFW) has appointed the external members of the University Council for the new term. The council will consist of the following members:
- Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Valeske (Chair), Saarland University, Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Non-Destructive Testing (IZFP)
- Oswald Bubel, President of the Association of Saarland Business Organizations (VSU) and President of the Saarland Metal and Electrical Industry Association (MESaar)
- Peter Busch, Director of Decentralized Technologies Mobility at Robert Bosch GmbH
- Anne Fennel, Managing Director of Diakonisches Werk an der Saar gGmbH
- Prof. Dr. Christiane Jost, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Wiesbaden Business School. Member of the central decision-making body of the Accreditation Council Foundation and of the EUA Steering Committee on Learning & Teaching
- Prof. Dr. habil. Martina Ritter, Vice President for Research and Transfer at Fulda University of Applied Sciences
- Beatrice Zeiger, Managing Director of the Saarland Chamber of Labor, Saarbrücken
The university’s internal members of the University Council remain in office. Prof. Dr. Petra Garnjost, Prof. Göran Pohl, Michael Sauer, Harald Krauss, and Vanessa Zirbes are voting members of the council. Wolfgang Förster, State Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Work (MFW); Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Leonhard, President of htw saar; and Ricarda Jacob, Equal Opportunity Officer, also serve on the University Council in an advisory capacity.
The appointment of the external members was preceded by an internal nomination process conducted by the Senate. “The newly appointed members bring a wide range of experiences and perspectives to the University Council. They will provide important impetus for the strategic development of htw saar,” says Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Leonhard. “I am also pleased that Prof. Dr.-Ing. Valeske, a distinguished scholar with extensive experience in higher education, is once again taking on the role of chair. I would like to thank the outgoing members of the University Council for their valuable support over the past years. With their expertise and experience, they have provided important impetus for the development of htw saar.”
The University Council guides the strategic development of htw saar and supports the university on key issues for the future. The members advise the university administration and participate in important decisions regarding the university’s further development.