University mourns exceptional President  [02.10.24]

He was instrumental in shaping the University of Hohenheim and setting it on the road to success. He was voted the most popular university president in Baden-Württemberg seven times, and was even voted the most popular university president in Germany in 2016. Yesterday, October 1, 2024, Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert passed away after a serious illness. In him, the University of Hohenheim has not only lost a levelheaded leader who worked to integrate different perspectives, but also a special individual who was always prepared to give everything for "his" University of Hohenheim.

A digital condolence book has been set up for all those who would like to express their sympathy. | At the end of the article you will find memories of Prof. Dr. Dabbert’s term in office in pictures.

His most important concern even in his last meeting in September: Things should continue for the University of Hohenheim. With this in mind, Prof. Dr. Dabbert entrusted the President’s Office team with taking over his official tasks with immediate effect, to continue on all the paths they have taken, set the course, and make decisions.

“I would like to thank you all for working together so well and in such and trusting manner. I know that the University of Hohenheim is in good hands with you, even in this difficult situation,” he said in the meeting convened at short notice. At this point, he had already asked the Chair of the University Council, Dr. Susanne Herre, to initiate the election process for his successor.

Painful loss of an exceptional leader

“The sudden loss of Prof. Dr. Dabbert affects us profoundly and leaves a deep wound. In him, we are losing an intelligent, empathetic, and highly esteemed person as well as an exceptional leader,” said a joint statement by the members of the President's Office, Prof. Dr. Julia Fritz-Steuber, Prof. Dr. Andreas Pyka, Prof. Dr. Caroline Ruiner, Prof. Dr. Sebastian Hess, and Dr. Katrin Scheffer.

“The sudden death of Prof. Dr. Dabbert leaves us all stunned and deeply saddened. It is a terrible and infinitely sad loss for the University and for all the people who had the privilege of working with him and appreciating his work,” added Dr. Susanne Herre, Chair of the University Council.

“Prof. Dr. Dabbert was a personality who was characterized by humanity, a sense of responsibility, and his passion for taking care for the university and its members,” emphasized Marion Johannsen, Chair of the Universitätsbund. “He embodied the ‘Hohenheim Spirit’ and motivated many to give their best for the University of Hohenheim like him. He was warmly and altruistically devoted to the Universitätsbund Hohenheim. We are losing a highly esteemed, wise advisor and trusted supporter.”

Exceptional president who “achieved something great at a great university”

Prof. Dr. Dabbert was in office for a total of more than 12 years. During this time, the exceptional president was voted the most popular university president in Baden-Württemberg seven times in the German Association of University Professors and Lecturers’ (DHV) rectors’ ranking. In 2016, he even received the title of nationwide University President of the Year.

Once asked about the qualities required for such an award, he drew the a comparison: “I feel a little bit like a band leader, who receives all the applause but knows that there would be no concert without the musicians and technicians.”

Prof. Dr. Dabbert commented on his work: “At a great university you can achieve great things” – this is how President Prof. Dr. Dabbert explained the many changes of the past years. “The University of Hohenheim is a small university with a very specialized profile. People know each other and complement each other, and this gives rise to scientific cooperation among all faculties. All these conditions inspire creativity and put people in contact with each other. And this is how new things are created.”

Highlights of Prof. Dr. Dabbert’s term of office

The University of Hohenheim underwent many innovations during Prof. Dr. Dabbert’s twelve years in office. It experienced its President as an inspiring personality who took other people along with him and enabled them to achieve new goals together with perseverance and tenacity.

Under his leadership, the University of Hohenheim sharpened its academic profile, set research and teaching priorities in the areas of bioeconomy, digital transformation, and sustainability, and thus strengthened its future viability.

With him, the University of Hohenheim gradually took steps to continue to improve its competitiveness in research. These steps included major projects such as the Hohenheim Center for Livestock Microbiota Research (HoLMiR), which will open next year as a research building (in accordance with Article 91b of the Basic Law), or the joint application for a Cluster of Excellence together with the Universities of Heidelberg and Tübingen, which will be decided in 2025.

With his support, the University of Hohenheim also developed a unique profile in teaching. Research-based learning under the slogan “Humboldt reloaded” or the interdisciplinary certificate course for key digital skills (AIDAHO) are unique in Germany. In 2023, the University of Hohenheim was one of the first universities in Germany to regulate the use of ChatGPT in teaching.

President Prof. Dr. Stephan Dabbert also placed particular emphasis on expanding and maintaining outstanding international networks. Examples include the top-class association with several excellent European universities to form the European Bioeconomy University (EBU) and membership in the Euroleague for Life Sciences (ELLS).

Prof. Dr. Dabbert was particularly committed to the ongoing efforts to counteract the renovation backlog in the university buildings and to exploit energy-saving potential on the university campus. Current projects include the idea of an agri-photovoltaic system, which will both serve as a research object for green energy from agriculture and make a tangible contribution to the energy supply on campus.

Above all, the University of Hohenheim got to know Prof. Dr. Dabbert as a person with strong democratic and humanistic values, who knew how to take a stand even in a crisis-ridden world, and who always saw the human being in his counterpart with empathy.

Stages in the life of Prof Dr. Stephan Dabbert

Stephan Dabbert was born on 23 June 1958 in Braunschweig and spent most of his youth and school years in Bremen.

After vocational training as a farmer, Prof. Dabbert studied Agricultural Science and Agricultural Economics at the University of Kiel and Pennsylvania State University in the USA and graduated with a “Master of Science in Agricultural Economics” from Pennsylvania State University.

He completed his doctorate and habilitation at the University of Hohenheim. He headed the Institute of Socioeconomics at the Center for Agricultural Land and Land Use Research in Müncheberg from 1992 to 1994. In 1994 he was appointed as the chair of the Department of Production Theory and Resource Economics in Agriculture at the University of Hohenheim. Here he was Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences from 2000 to 2006.

In 2011, he prevailed by a large majority as the internal candidate for president against 13 other candidates to succeed Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Liebig. On 30 June 2023, Prof. Dr. Dabbert was re-elected for a third six-year term of office to a standing ovation.

Prof. Dr. Dabbert’s scientific work focused on the economics and politics of organic farming, the economic and agricultural policy evaluation of environmentally friendly land use methods, resource economics, and agricultural economic sector modelling within the framework of interdisciplinary landscape modelling.

Text: Klebs