The Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt Foundation is the legal body supporting the only Catholic University in Germany. In particular, the ecclesiastical foundation is responsible for the University's asset and business management, drawing up the budget in consultation with the University and, as a supervisory body, dealing with operational issues such as controlling, auditing and compliance. The Foundation Council as the governing body is elected by the Freising Bishops' Conference – for a four-year term of office in accordance with the Foundation's constitution. At a meeting this summer, however, the committee decided to pave the way for an early replacement.
Freising Bishops' Conference appoints new Foundation Council
![[Translate to Englisch:] Die Hochschulleitung der KU am Rande eines Treffens mit Horst Seehofer im vergangenen Sommer](/fileadmin/_processed_/7/b/csm_Horst_Seehofer_und_Hochschulleitung_Christian_Klenk_5ff3466402.jpg)
![[Translate to Englisch:] Horst Seehofer](/fileadmin/_processed_/f/7/csm_Horst_Seehofer_Christian_Klenk_c160d044bf.jpg)
The Bavarian bishops and auxiliary bishops have appointed Horst Seehofer as the new Chairman of the Foundation Council. The Ingolstadt native can look back on a rich political career. He was a member of the German Bundestag for 28 years. He has served as a minister in four federal governments: starting in the health department from 1992 to 1998, then as Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection from 2005 to 2008 and finally as Federal Minister of the Interior from 2018 to 2021. The CSU politician was Bavarian Minister President from 2008 to 2018. Horst Seehofer has been associated with the KU for a long time; he says he has followed the development of the University "with sympathy and support" since its starting phase in the 1970s. "I am still enthusiastic about the idea of a Catholic University today. The recent developments towards excellence and innovation in research and teaching, as well as the University's strong network in the region, have strengthened my resolve to make a personal commitment to this institution. Added to this is the importance of the KU for the development of the region: The cities of Eichstätt and Ingolstadt would not be in such a good position today without the Catholic University." He considers it "a great honor that I can accept this challenge. The new task is now a crowning achievement in my life."
In accordance with the Foundation's constitution, the Foundation Council has a total of ten members. In addition to Horst Seehofer, five other members were appointed to the committee for the first time: Prof. Dr. Egon Endres, who has been teaching social sciences and social management at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Munich since 1997 and was also President of his university from 2006 to 2014, is new. Ministerialrätin Monika Hoebbel and Ministerialdirigent Dr. Michael Mihatsch will represent the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts on the Foundation Council in future. Mihatsch has headed the Department for Universities and University Medicine at the Ministry since 2015, while Hoebbel heads the department responsible for the concerns of the KU, among others.
Another new member of the Board of Trustees is Xavier Ros, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources at Audi AG since 2022. Born in Spain, he has been working for the Ingolstadt-based automotive company since 1994, in the meantime holding a position of responsibility for the Seat subsidiary for several years. Heinz Weitner, Managing Director of Werner Weitner GmbH from Eichstätt, was also newly appointed. The medium-sized family business develops and manufactures precision tools and machines for the automotive, medical and aerospace industries.
Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke OSB of Eichstätt is a member of the Foundation Council in accordance with the Foundation's constitution. In addition, three further members were appointed who had previously been members of the Foundation Council: Dr. Thomas von Mitschke-Collande, former Director at the management consultancy McKinsey, Markus Reif, Finance Director of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising and Managing Director of the Bavarian Interdiocesan Fund, and Dr. Paul Siebertz, long-standing member of the Management Board of Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG.
The Chairperson of the Freising Bishops' Conference and Magnus Cancellarius of the KU, Reinhard Cardinal Marx, announced in a press release from the Freising Bishops' Conference: "We are delighted to have gained Horst Seehofer, one of Bavaria's most important politicians of recent times and a committed representative of the region, as Chairperson of the Foundation Council, who - I am sure - will put his skills and heart and soul into supporting the Catholic University. With his experience as former Bavarian Minister President, Horst Seehofer is ideally suited to shape the upcoming challenges of the Catholic University in close collaboration between the state and the church. We look forward to continuing to work with him on a bright future for the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt."
It is a stroke of luck for the University that it was able to win Horst Seehofer for its supporting Foundation, says University President Prof. Dr. Gabriele Gien. "He enjoys the trust of both politicians and the church, he is an excellent networker and strategist and is enthusiastic about the idea of an excellent Catholic University. The KU will benefit greatly from his extensive and varied political experience in the coming years - especially, of course, in the task of continuing to ensure a solid financial basis for the University's development." The Freising Bishops' Conference, the Free State of Bavaria and the sponsoring foundation agreed in spring that they would work together with the University Management in a "KU 2030" working group to develop prospects for reliable funding and structure beyond 2028.
Gien also thanked Prof. Dr. Peter Beer, Chairperson of the Foundation Council for many years, and the departing members of the Foundation Council for their commitment. "The successful development of the University in recent years is also based on the support we have received from the Foundation Council and the trusting cooperation with Peter Beer", says Gien. The former Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising had been a member of the Foundation Council since 2010 and took over as Chairperson in 2018. With a doctorate in theology and education, he has been a professor at the Safeguarding Institute of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome for four years. Leaving the Foundation Council are the economist Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Ulrich Küpper (Munich), the Chairwoman of the Media Committee of the State Committee of Catholics in Bavaria, Dr. Stephanie von Luttitz (Munich), the sociologist Prof. Dr. Armin Nassehi (Munich), the District Administrator of the Kelheim district, Martin Neumeyer (Kelheim) and the Managing Director of the SKF Munich, Bettina Nickel (Munich).
There are also staff changes in the Foundation’s administration: Since 2021, the lawyer Dr. Roland Molitor had managed the foundation's business as its director. He stepped down from his position in the Foundation's administration on September 30 and is now being replaced by Jana Marlow, deputy director of the Foundation.