Otto-Friedrich University
Encyclopedia
The University of Bamberg in Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...

, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, is simultaneously one of the oldest and one of the newest universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...

. It specializes in the Humanities, Cultural Studies, Social Sciences, Economics and Applied Computer Science.

History

The University of Bamberg was founded in 1647 under the name Academia Bambergensis by Prince-Bishop Melchior Otto Voit von Salzburg and was enlarged in the following century, particularly through the work of Prince-Bishop Friedrich Carl von Schönborn, to attain the status of a full university, including departments of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...

, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...

, law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

 and medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

.

In 1803 the university was closed during the course of the secularization
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...

 of the diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...

. However, Catholic theology could still be studied, thus, the traditional role as university was never actually interrupted.

In 1972 the College for Philosophy and Theology, which was founded in 1923 and was modeled on the tradition of the old university, was combined with the Teachers Training College (established in 1958) to become the Gesamthochschule of Bamberg (i.e. a University and a University of Applied Sciences combined in one institution). In 1979 it was re-designated, having earned the title of University. As all German universities the University of Bamberg is designed as a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. granting institution of higher learning as well as a research university.

The name Otto-Friedrich University was chosen in reference to the founder, Melchior Otto Veit von Salzburg, and to the important patron Friedrich Carl von Schönborn, both bishops of Bamberg.
Rectors and Presidents since the re-founding of the university:
  • Prof. Othmar Heggelbacher, Ph.D.; and Prof. Elisabeth Roth, Ph.D.: 1972-1973 (Joint Rectors);
  • Prof. Elisabeth Roth, Ph.D.: 1973-1976;
  • Prof. Siegfried Oppolzer, Ph.D.: 1976-1992;
  • Prof. Alfred E. Hierold, Ph.D.: 1992-2000;
  • Prof. Godehard Ruppert, Ph.D.: since 2000.

Departments

The university today has four departments (Fakultaeten)
  • Humanities
    Humanities
    The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....

     and Cultural Sciences
  • Social Sciences
    Social sciences
    Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...

    , Business Administration and Economics
    Economics
    Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...

  • Human Sciences
  • Information Systems
    Information systems
    Information Systems is an academic/professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward a new scientific area of study...

     and Applied Computer Science

as well as an
  • Institute of Catholic Theology

In light of the most recent agreements between the Free State of Bavaria and the Vatican, the faculty of Catholic Theology was to cease existence as a faculty and was instead restructured as an institute which will place a greater emphasis on teacher training.
In accordance with a decision made by a Bavarian parliamentary committee on June 2nd, 2005, the course Social Work has been transferred to the University of Applied Sciences in Coburg.

Disciplines

  • Language-based area studies, including Oriental Studies and Slavonic Studies
  • Medieval Studies; Archaeology (Prehistoric, Roman Provinces, Medieval); Cultural Heritage Conservation
  • Behavioral Sciences: Sociology, Political Science, Psychology
  • Economics and Business Administration, with an emphasis on European Economics
  • Applied Computer Science

Location

The university buildings are mainly historical buildings which have been transformed for the university and which are located in the heart of Bamberg’s Old Town district. These buildings include the former Jesuit college (Theology), the former Hochzeitshaus (History), the old slaughterhouse (Earth Science), the former Bauhof (Communication Studies), and the former fire station (Oriental Studies). The departments of Languages and Literature are partly housed in buildings which once belonged to the Kaiser-Heinrich High School.

The Social Sciences and Economics department and the Business Information Technology and Applied Computer Science department, which accommodate a large proportion of the students, are to be found in the Feldkirchenstrasse buildings, which are not in the city center.

By the winter term of 2008/09, the University of Bamberg will be able to boast a third location. The site of the former ERBA cotton mill, which is situated on an island in the Regnitz
Regnitz
The Regnitz is a river in Bavaria, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Main and is in length.The river is formed by the confluence of the rivers Rednitz and Pegnitz, which meet in the city of Fürth. From there the Regnitz runs northwards through the cities of Erlangen and Forchheim...

, has already been acquired and plans are underway to create 300 student apartments in the existing red-brick building, while an adjoining new 14,000m2 building will cater to the needs of the streams of students who are expected in the future.

Notable laureates

  • Dietrich Dörner
    Dietrich Dörner
    Prof. Dr. Dietrich Dörner is emeritus professor for General and Theoretical Psychology at the at the Otto-Friedrich University in Bamberg, Germany....

     -- The professor for Psychology received the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
    Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize
    The Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize is a research prize awarded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft every year since 1985 to scientists working in Germany. This highest German research prize consists of a research grant of 2.5 million euro, to be used within seven years...

     in 1986.

See also


External links

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