The Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK) has officially appointed Volker Küch, Vice-President for Full-time Studies, to carry out the duties of President of Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences with effect from 11 June 2026. Volker Küch will take on this role on an additional basis until the post of President is filled. Küch will therefore hold the title of “President (acting)” with immediate effect, whilst continuing to serve as Full-time Vice-President for Human Resources and Finance. A native of Salzgitter, he has worked at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences since 1990 and has been Full-time Vice-President since 2006.
“I would like to express my gratitude for the great trust placed not only in me, but also in our two other members of the Executive Board,” says Küch. “We have made good use of the summer term and initiated a broad participatory process for the university’s development. It is a matter of great importance to me to build on the constructive outcomes of this dialogue and to continue this process in a participatory manner. The transformation of our economic region, demographic change and the dynamic development of artificial intelligence also present our university with challenges to which we must adapt and which will also bring about changes at Ostfalia. My priority is to ensure stability during this transitional period and, together with the university management team, to set the course for the future.”
Since the departure of President Prof. Dr Julia Siegmüller at the end of March, Küch had already been acting in a leadership capacity in his role as full-time Vice-President and, together with the Vice-President for Research, Development and Technology Transfer, Prof. Dr Ina Schiering, and the Vice-President for Teaching, Studies and Continuing Education, Prof. Dr Thomas Benda, continued to manage the university’s affairs. The acting Executive Board has visited all campuses to engage in dialogue with the university community in an open forum. All staff, lecturers, researchers and students were, and remain, invited to work together to identify opportunities for the university’s strategic development and to devise concrete solutions.
A selection committee has begun its work to elect a new President. The selection committee consists of three members of the Senate, three members of the University Council, and, in an advisory capacity, a representative of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture as well as the Equal Opportunities Officer.
Background: m .d.W.d.G.b. is the standard administrative abbreviation for ‘entrusted with the conduct of business’.
