Advancing the reputation of the Bauhaus-Universität beyond Weimar Positions held by Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann outside the university
In addition to serving as vice-chancellor, Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann has held numerous university-political positions and been involved in external committees. For many years, he served as vice-president of the German Rectors' Conference, as well as its state-level counterpart in Thuringia - the State Rectors' Conference. As the first chairman of the Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute (ACQUIN), he helped develop subject-relevant assessment criteria for bachelor's and master's degree programmes as part of the Bologna Reform and advocated high-quality standards of instruction. Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann is also a member of the ZDF supervisory board, the president of the Stiftung Baukultur and member of the curatorial panel of the Thuringian Technology, Innovation and Research Foundation (STIFT).
An overview of the most important posts held by Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann:
- First chairman of the board of the Accreditation, Certification and Quality Assurance Institute (ACQUIN)
- ZDF supervisory board
- Curatorial panel of the Thuringian Technology, Innovation and Research Foundation (STIFT)
- President of the Stiftung Baukultur
- Association of German Architects (BDA)
- Chamber of Architects
- Board member of the Bauhaus.TransferzentrumDESIGN
- Curatorial panel Ernst Neufert Foundation
- Curatorial panel Material Research and Testing Institute Weimar
- Supervisory board Weimar GmbH
- Spokesperson for the Weimar Development Council
- Academy of Non-Profit Sciences Erfurt
- Artistic Council of the Kunstfest Weimar
- Economics and Innovation Council at the Thuringian Ministry of Trade and Industry
From Diploma to Master's Degree - The restructuring and internationalization of the university
At a conference in Bologna in summer 1999, the European ministers of education agreed to restructure their national education systems by 2010. They pledged to introduce a European-wide, internationally compatible two-level academic structure with bachelor's and master's degrees. Under the aegis of Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar was one of the first universities to introduce bachelor's and master's degree programmes.
In 1999 the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar established its first master's degree programme in European Urban Studies. The international orientation of the programme was ground-breaking at the time and is still unique today. Since then, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar has gradually converted its courses of study into bachelor's and master's degree programmes.
Another extremely successful master's degree programme began in 2001, Public Art and New Artistic Strategies, the first master's degree programme ever established in the field of Free Art in Germany. Artists from all around the world are enrolled in this English-language master's degree programme.
Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann has been a fervent supporter of the university's internationalization efforts and has done much to foster the reputation of the Bauhaus worldwide. He has cultivated numerous contacts to partner universities and encouraged scientific and artistic exchange between university students and staff. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar cooperates with more than 100 universities around the world, such as Tongji University in Shanghai, Université Lumiere Lyon II and the Pratt Institute in New York.
View the list of partner universities which cooperate with the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.
The contemporary Bauhaus Establishment of major facilities and institutions
As vice-chancellor, Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann promoted the establishment of numerous facilities, several of which are mentioned below. Together with Prof. Wolfgang Sattler, Prof. Zimmermann founded the Bauhaus.TransferzentrumDESIGN (BTD) in 2007 and is still an active member on its board of directors. The BTD specializes in providing services for the creative sector in Thuringia and helps young designers establish themselves as independent freelancers.
Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann has also thrown his support behind the creation of several schools at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. One of these is the Bauhaus Research School (BRS), established in 2007. The Bauhaus Research School supports the PhD work of its doctoral candidates and offers a broad range of services to young academics.
Establishing Weimar as a film city and creative hub for filmmakers has been an important goal for Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann. Under his direction, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar founded the Bauhaus Film Institute (BFI) in 2008 to focus and strengthen its activities in the area of film.
The following is an overview of the institutions which established during Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann's tenure in office.
A city within a university Campus improvements and expansions
A city within a university Campus improvements and expansions
In one of his speeches, Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann expressed his view of Weimar and its relationship to the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: "Weimar is not a city with a university; it's a university with a city."
During his three terms as vice-chancellor, Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann oversaw a number of structural modifications to the campus. Numerous historical buildings were renovated, while others were newly built or purchased by the university. Today there are campus buildings throughout the entire city. The renovation of the World Cultural Sites - the ensemble of buildings designed by Henry van de Velde including the main building - and the restoration of Walter Gropius' Director's Office are among the most important building projects completed during his aegis. He also oversaw the construction of the new Faculty of Architecture cubes, the new University Library building on Steubenstraße and the Center for Intelligent Building (CIB) on Coudraystraße. Just recently, Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann has collaborated with the Thuringian Technology, Innovation and Research Foundation (STIFT) to build a new "Kreativzentrum", slated for construction In the near future. During his third term as vice-chancellor, Zimmermann initiated plans to build the Digital Bauhaus Lab which is scheduled to begin operations in 2012. Both buildings are being constructed on an area of campus just south of the main building.
Overview of the most important construction projects during Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann's three terms in office:
Renovation of the campus buildings designed by Henry van de Velde, now listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- Main building including Walter Gropius' Director's Office
- Van-de-Velde Building
- Prellerhaus and the Bauhaus.Atelier
New buildings:
- Architecture cubes
- International Meeting Center (IBZ)
- neues bauen am horn
- Laboratory facility on Coudraystraße
- Material Research and Testing Institute (MFPA)
- Center for Intelligent Building (CIB)
- University Library
- Digital Bauhaus Lab (in planning)
- Kreativzentrum (in planning)
Renovation and overhaul
- Limona Building
- Zuse Media Centre
From the College of Architecture and Civil Engineering (HAB) to the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar of today
In 1990, when the East German universities were undergoing radical reorganization, the Scientific Council mandated that Weimar establish a university that focused on its artistic and design-related strengths and emphasize scientific application along with the most modern artistic practice.
Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann accepted this challenge. At the start of his first term in 1992, he formulated his vision of a "new bauhaus" - a university, equally devoted to art and technology with cross-disciplinary orientation. This vision has become the core idea of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar with its four faculties of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Art and Design, and Media.
Timeline of university restructuring during Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann's term in office:
1993 The Faculty of Art and Design was founded
1996 The Faculty of Media was founded
1996 The College of Architecture and Civil Engineering was formerly renamed the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Offices held by Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann
1992-1996 First term as vice-chancellor of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
1996-2000 Second term as vice-chancellor of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
2003-2004 Dean of the Faculty of Architecture
2004-2011 Third term as vice-chancellor of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Click here to view Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann's complete CV.
In 2004 Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann was awarded the Cross of Merit with Ribbon by the Federal Republic of Germany for his achievements as vice-chancellor at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar from 1992 to 2001. During this time, he played a vital role in developing the university, enhancing its image, and expanding and reorganizing its academic programmes and structures to correspond with its new image. By interconnecting art and technology through dialogue, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar has become a "university like no other in the German higher education system."
The following is an overview of Prof. Dr. Gerd Zimmermann's most important positions and achievements during his 15 years as vice-chancellor.