For 13 years Prof. Rainer Franke has led HFT Stuttgart through eventful times as the principal. The pandemic made the last semester an extraordinary challenge that nobody could have imegained a year ago.
In 1998 Rainer Franke was appointed professor of architecture at the HFT Stuttgart for the fields of architectural history and construction. In 2004 he took over the office of Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Design. In 2007 he was elected principal of the University of Applied Sciences, a second term of office followed in 2013 for another seven years. He will now retire on 31 August 2020. Due to the pandemic, this retirement unfortunately looks quite different than originally planned.
A big gathering with the HFT Stuttgart staff could not take place, but Prof. Rainer Franke has already been duly bidden farewell in the committees - the last meeting of the University Council and also the last Senate meeting of his term of office in this summer semester has been completed. The official handover of the Rectorate to his successor, Prof. Dr. Katja Rade, is planned for the beginning of November in a ceremony.
In the HFT newspaper "Stallgeflüster" you can look back on the successful term of office of the retiring rector in a big interview. The topics range from expansion programs, university policy, new building, financing contracts, innovative university and scholarship programs to the transfer of knowledge to society and major current challenges such as the climate crisis and digitalization.
As a farewell, we have summarized the most important statements in a podcast: