Rettungsakt is apparently a success.

In a nightly eight-hour meeting was to save the private University of Witten / Herdecke struggled. Now there is a concept for the future with new capital of 16 million euros. Who exactly the lion's share of nine million gifts, remains in the dark.

 

After a long Zitter lot on Friday noon, the private University of Witten / Herdecke and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia jointly announced a "lasting viable funding base" for the struggling university had been secured. Key points agreed in writing to the future approach, capital of old and new shareholders over 16 million euros and a guarantee for more than ten million.

DDP
Übernächtigte savior: Minister Pinkwart (right) unterlief a Lapsus

In Düsseldorfer Science Ministry had on Thursday evening against 19 clock greater gathered round, with envoys of all the survival of the university interested. These include the Foundation UWH the university, the Board of Trustees, the Community Hospital Herdecke, the alumni initiative, the student society, also the foundation of the Darmstadt Software AG, the holding company and the SRH Business Droege International. And on top of a lawyer Martinus Consult Rottenburg Stuttgart, a consulting company for religious hospitals.

They negotiated until late into the night. Only towards the 3:30 clock was a "key issues paper" was signed. The central figure was Artur Maccari representing Martinus Consult and the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart. With nine million namely, more than half of the "fresh money", has pledged Maccari - on behalf of a number of sponsors and interested parties from around the Catholic Church. This caused in the course of Friday for some confusion, especially as NRW Science Minister Andreas Pinkwart (FDP) verplapperte.

After the night crisis meeting, the university and the Ministry glad when they lunch on the way out of the ongoing financial problems were present. To succeed in the rescue with considerable savings in the university administration and with earnings growth, especially through a capital expansion.

Continue to negotiators are back

Old and new shareholders thus participate with 16 million euros, is secured by the construction guarantee. Also of great importance: The NRW said 4.5 million respectively for the years 2009 and 2010 to. For both years presented Pinkwart further 2.25 million euros in view. This represents but only those grants of 4.5 million euros, the country just before Christmas was surprisingly retained - was the only acute turmoil triggered.

About meadows to be the country much-needed millions, only if a "certified by auditors of the University plan exists, that the concept is the future," said ministry spokesman Ralf-Michael Weimar blogs ONLINE. That should be "timely" to happen. The country had but "no reason to doubt".

Some of the new constellation of donors is amazing. For example, graduates of the University in a few days, almost one million euros collected by himself at the university to participate, the Board has declared itself willing to double the amount. With the negotiating table was also a representative of the family Düsseldorfer Droege. The firm Droege was with the University verbandelt until last summer in an ugly separation came with much fanfare - but wants the entrepreneur Droege now vouch for the university, apparently with full ten million.

In contrast, the race seems to SRH Holding, with the University two years ago also fruitless negotiations ever had. In particular, the SRH saw the Alumni
Danger of a "hostile takeover" by a for-profit company, the ax to the university culture might - from their point of view so to speak, a hungry wolf, the university umschleicht. This view also shared the "ideal partner" for more on receipt of the special university culture are interested. Together, they want to remain a majority shareholder of the shares.

The SRH was holding, inter alia, to an increase in student numbers in 3000 and significantly higher tuition urged. After the night session, it has not yet completely withdrawn and shows continue to talk. This concept could be but "in this form does not sign," said spokesman Nils SRH Birschmann blogs ONLINE. The shareholders' shares in the capital should be divided according to the investors involved - but now it was not given. It would be "the old forces" in Witten enforced, so Birschmann.

Wrangling over church money

Result: The SRH was rausgedrängt and is now on the doorstep. Quite literally. Because of the crisis meeting was a representative part, but she left around midnight - and we debated without him. "There were different views of how long or short the line must be at the shareholders a private university run," said Board Member Martin Butzlaff.

How come now, but the many millions that are in Witten so desperately needs? At the press conference on Friday lunchtime called Andreas Pinkwart donors as the Catholic Church for "three times three million euros" in the years 2009 to 2011 - and thus sparked violent turbulence from. Audible prompt and fought back the dioceses Essen, Paderborn and Rottenburg-Stuttgart, according to the nine million Pinkwart should contribute. At the sharpest denied the diocese of Essen: There was neither financial support nor a strategic partnership, such reports reflected "in no way the truth," said Hans-Werner prelate Thönnes as permanent representatives of the diocesan bishop.

The Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart also denied, but a little softer: You will no money from church funds that would be interested in a "strategic partnership", especially in an Endowed Chair of ethics. Medical education as a core faculty, the spirit of the University of Witten / Herdecke, ethics - that fits together. Located to the chair in the study seem Fundamental, occupied by the dioceses.

A direct contribution from university funds, however, church designated Broch Thomas, spokesman for the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, as "neither reasonable nor place." Nevertheless, lawyer presented Maccari Round commitments of over nine million - money not directly by the Catholic Church, but by hospitals owned by the church, in North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Wuerttemberg. Precise told the participants not know who stands behind it. Only Pinkwart science minister and the university management took insight into a long list of donors.

"Not more from hand to mouth living"

University Ministry as stress unison that it is binding commitments not to uncovered checks. "We worked with the commitments achieved a solid base," said university spokesman Ralf Hermersdorfer. It is also Pinkwart office manager Rudolf Hielscher, even at the night session was: "The credibility there is no doubt."

Swimming because of new church, but hospitals in the money so that they loose nine million euros for a lifebuoy Wittener left? "Of course not, they have all pointed reckon - but they also need to think about their future and invest," said diocese spokesman Broch. And in a partnership with the University of Witten / Herdecke waving Catholic hospitals advantages, such as through direct cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine, planned by the Foundation Chair, including through contacts with young medical talent.

In the coming weeks, the negotiating parties spelling out the new approach, the sums of money specifically festzurren, contracts close. Pinkwart minister spoke of a "Rettungsakt in the last minute." It should not escape, the university will be "no more from hand to mouth living."

And if the financial rescue is done, still needs to re Wissenschaftsrat succeed at the major shortcomings of the medical faculty was located. Presidium member Butzlaff predicted full of optimism: "This is the final breakthrough - we did it. We are finally grown up and can Right with new content."