Kiel University

Coordinates: 54°20′20″N 10°7′21″E / 54.33889°N 10.12250°E / 54.33889; 10.12250
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Not to be confused with Keele University.

Kiel University
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Seal of Kiel University
Latin: Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis
sive
Christiana Albertina
Motto
Pax optima rerum
Motto in English
Peace is the greatest good
TypePublic
Established1665; 359 years ago (1665)
Budget€ 268.7 million (2021)[1]
Third-party funding: € 65 mio
PresidentSimone Fulda
Academic staff
433 professors (2021)[1]
Total staff
3,681 (2021, not including UKSH)[1]
Students27,455 (2021)[1]
Location
Kiel
,
Schleswig-Holstein
,
Germany

54°20′20″N 10°7′21″E / 54.33889°N 10.12250°E / 54.33889; 10.12250
CampusUrban
ColorsPurple and white
   
Websitewww.uni-kiel.de

Kiel University, officially the Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, (German: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, abbreviated CAU, known informally as Christiana Albertina) is a public research university in the city of Kiel, Germany. It was founded in 1665 as the Academia Holsatorum Chiloniensis by Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and has approximately 27,000 students today. It is the largest, oldest, and most prestigious university in the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

Until 1866, it was not only the northernmost university in Germany but at the same time the 2nd largest university of Denmark. Faculty, alumni, and researchers of Kiel University have won 12 Nobel Prizes. Kiel University has been a member of the German Universities Excellence Initiative since 2006. The Cluster of Excellence The Future Ocean, which was established in cooperation with the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel in 2006, is internationally recognized. The second Cluster of Excellence "Inflammation at Interfaces" deals with chronic inflammatory diseases. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy is also affiliated with Kiel University. The university has a great reputation for its focus on public international law. The oldest public international law institution in Germany and Europe – the Walther Schuecking Institute for International Law – is based in Kiel.[2]

History[edit]

Founding of the University in Kiel[edit]

The origins of the university in Kiel trace back to the increasing need for well-educated priests during the Reformation. Additionally, the growing involvement of citizens in significant administrative roles contributed to the idea of establishing a university in the duchies. However, wars in the early 17th century and political conflicts between dukes and the king initially delayed these plans. Eventually, Duke Friedrich III commissioned his son, Christian Albrecht, to advance the founding of the university. In 1660, Christian Albrecht succeeded in realizing these plans and selected Kiel as the university's location. On October 5, 1665, the university was inaugurated under the name Christiana Albertina in a former Franciscan monastery with four lecture halls and a library. At that time, 17 professors taught theology, medicine, law, and the liberal arts.[3][4]

Periods of Growth and Stagnation[edit]

A significant growth period for the university occurred a century later under Russian Empress Catherine the Great, from whom it received its colors, purple and white. Following the unification of the duchies in 1773, the university continued to flourish as the northernmost German and southernmost Scandinavian university. Nearly 100 years later, the university's development stagnated, particularly after Schleswig-Holstein became part of Prussia. From 1870, student numbers began to rise again, and 38 years later, women were also admitted.[3]

During and after WWII[edit]

During the Nazi regime starting in 1933, the university experienced Gleichschaltung, the expulsion of Jewish professors, and the persecution of dissenters. In World War II, many buildings were destroyed by Allied air raids, including the university library in 1942.[3]

Post-War Reconstruction and Expansion[edit]

With the support of the British, teaching resumed as early as November 1945, initially on ships. In the 1960s, a new campus was developed on the Kiel Westring. The student protests of the late 1960s led to a modernization of the university's structure. The campus was expanded in 1972 with buildings on Olshausenstraße and new sports facilities, and in 1991, the Faculty of Engineering opened in Kiel-Gaarden. The number of students steadily increased and now stands at about 25,000 to 30,000. The Christian-Albrecht University has not only become an internationally respected university but also one of the largest employers in Kiel.[3]

Faculties[edit]

Aerial view of the central campus

Christian-Albrechts-Universität currently consists of the following eight faculties:[5]

Notable people[edit]

Kiel University helped develop this radiation detector for a Mars probe.[6]

Alumni[edit]

See also Category:University of Kiel alumni

Academics[edit]

See also: Category:Academic staff of the University of Kiel

Nobel Prize winners[edit]

Laureate born deceased CAU period CAU function Nobel Prize
Theodor Mommsen 1817 Garding 1903 Charlottenburg 1838–1844 Law student, Dr. jur. Literature, 1902
Philipp Lenard 1862 Bratislava 1947 Messelhausen 1898–1907 Ordinarius, Physics Physics, 1905
Eduard Buchner 1860 Munich 1917 Focsani 1893–1896 Privatdozent, Biochemistry Chemistry, 1907
Max Planck 1858 Kiel 1947 Göttingen 1885–1889 associate professor, theoretical physics Physics, 1918
Otto Meyerhof 1884 Hannover 1951 Philadelphia 1912–1924 Postdoc, a.o. Prof., Physiology Medicine 1⁄2, 1922
Gerhard Domagk 1895 Lagow 1964 Burgberg 1914–1921 Study of medicine with degree in Kiel[8] Medicine, 1939
Walter Rudolf Hess 1881 Frauenfeld, CH 1973 Muralto, CH Student of Medicine[9] Medicine, 1949
Otto Diels 1876 Hamburg 1954 Kiel 1916–1945 Ordinarius, Organic Chemistry Chemistry 1⁄2, 1950
Kurt Alder 1902 Königshütte 1958 Cologne 1924–1936 Associate Professor, Organic Chemistry Chemistry 1⁄2, 1950
Wassily Leontief 1905 Munich 1999 New York, USA 1927–1928 Scientific Assistant, Economics Economics, 1973
Wolfgang Paul 1913 Lorenzkirch 1993 Bonn 1937–1942 Scientific Assistant, Physics Physics 1⁄3, 1989
Günter Blobel 1936 Waltersdorf 2018 New York, USA Student of Medicine [10] Medicine, 1999


Rankings[edit]

University rankings
Overall – Global & National
QS World 2024[11] 530 33
THE World 2024[12] 301–350 32–33
ARWU World 2023[13] 201–300 10–19
QS Europe[citation needed]
QS Employability[citation needed]
THE Employability[citation needed]

Kiel University is recognized in several university ranking systems. According to the 2024 QS World University Rankings, the institution is globally positioned at 530 and holds the 33rd place nationally.[11] In the 2024 THE World University Rankings, it is placed within the 301–350 bracket worldwide and ranks between 32nd and 33rd nationally.[12] The ARWU World Rankings for 2023 presents the university within the global 201–300 range, while its national rank is within the 10th to 19th positions.[13]

Academic publishing[edit]

Points of interest[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • "Some shine when you read them" - Aerial photograph of the University Library of the CAU on Leibniz Street
    "Some shine when you read them" - Aerial photograph of the University Library of the CAU on Leibniz Street
  • The Leibniz Institute for the Education in Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Olshausenstraße
    The Leibniz Institute for the Education in Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Olshausenstraße
  • The Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ZMB) of the CAU at the Botanical Garden
    The Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ZMB) of the CAU at the Botanical Garden
  • Leibniz-Straße-based institutes, the cafeteria and the university library
    Leibniz-Straße-based institutes, the cafeteria and the university library
  • The Otto-Hahn-Platz and the Max-Eyth-Straße with the various chemical institutes and the Anatomical Institute
    The Otto-Hahn-Platz and the Max-Eyth-Straße with the various chemical institutes and the Anatomical Institute
  • The sports facilities and the Institute of Sports Science of the CAU
    The sports facilities and the Institute of Sports Science of the CAU
  • The grounds of the botanical garden of the CAU Kiel
    The grounds of the botanical garden of the CAU Kiel
  • The greenhouses of the Botanical Garden of the CAU
    The greenhouses of the Botanical Garden of the CAU

Holstein Study Award[edit]

CAU's most renowned award is the Holstein Study Award (Holsteiner Studienpreis), which is awarded to the university's top three students each year since 2001.[20][21] The award's criteria include extraordinary academic achievements, a broad intellectual horizon and political or social involvement.[22] It is endowed with a prize money of €500 for the 2nd and 3rd prize and €1000 for the 1st prize.[23] The Holstein Study Award is funded by the association 'Iuventus Academiae Holsatorum'. The award's expert jury includes professors of various faculties and the prizes are awarded by the university's president or vice-president in a formal ceremony in the top floor of the skyscraper on campus.[24]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Statistische Eckdaten". Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (in German). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  2. ^ Stolleis, Michael (2002). Geschichte des öffentlichen Rechts in Deutschland. Munich: C.H. Beck. p. 394. ISBN 978-3-406-48960-0.
  3. ^ a b c d "350 Jahre Uni Kiel: Vom Kloster zum Campus". NDR (in German). 21 May 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Christian-Albrechts-Universität – Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte". geschichte-s-h.de. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Faculties & joint facilities". Uni Kiel. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  6. ^ "SwRI Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) Homepage". Southwest Research Institute. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Mareile Höppner". 321kochen.tv. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  8. ^ Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften. "Lebenslauf von Gehard Domagk" (PDF). Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  9. ^ Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften. "Lebenslauf von Walter Rudolf Hess" (PDF). Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  10. ^ Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften. "Lebenslauf von Günter Blobel" (PDF). Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  11. ^ a b "QS World University Rankings 2024". QS World University Rankings. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b "World University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education World University Rankings. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  13. ^ a b "2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities". Academic Ranking of World Universities. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  14. ^ a b "EAZ – Ethnographisch-Archaeologische Zeitschrift". www.eaz-journal.org. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  15. ^ Ethnographisch-Archäologische Zeitschrift. Band 1, Nr. 1, 1960 (eaz-journal.org [retrieved 12 June 2023]).
  16. ^ a b Steffen, Jan (2023). "A forum for human diversity: New start for the "Ethnographisch-Archaeologische Zeitschrift" at Kiel University". Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  17. ^ Piezonka, Henny; Angelbeck, Bill; Cunningham, Jerimy; Furholt, Martin; Schneeweiß, Jens; Wunderlich, Maria; Müller-Scheeßel, Nils (30 March 2023). "Editorial: A Space for Difference". EAZ – Ethnographisch-Archaeologische Zeitschrift. 57 (1). doi:10.54799/RXJR3581. ISSN 2751-7233.
  18. ^ a b Otto, Karl-Heinz (1960). "Editorial". EAZ – Ethnographisch-Archäologische Zeitschrift (in German). 1 (1): 2.
  19. ^ Veit, Ulrich (24 March 2010). "Editorial". EAZ – Ethnographisch-Archaeologische Zeitschrift (in German). 51 (1/2): 5–6. doi:10.54799/TSHX5119. ISSN 2751-7233. S2CID 257800027.
  20. ^ "Holsteiner Studienpreis 2023/2024 » Chronik". www.studienpreis.net.
  21. ^ "Uni Kiel – Preise und Stipendien".
  22. ^ "Holsteiner Studienpreis 2023/2024 » Kriterien". www.studienpreis.net.
  23. ^ "Holsteiner Studienpreis 2023/2024 » Merkblatt". www.studienpreis.net.
  24. ^ "Holsteiner Studienpreis 2023/2024 » Kuratorium". www.studienpreis.net.

External links[edit]

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