New name

Why is the university renaming itself?

The reason for the renaming is the anti-Semitic statements and actions of the university's namesake, C. P. W. Beuth.

The former "Technische Fachhochschule Berlin" was renamed Beuth University of Applied Sciences in 2009. This was to honour Beuth's contribution to industrial development in Prussia and, above all, his services to the training of technicians. It was only later that historical sources emerged that prove his anti-Semitism.

After a university-wide debate, the members of the Academic Assembly voted in January 2020 to discontinue the name "Beuth". With this step, the university sent a clear and unmistakeable signal: "Active tolerance and diversity in our study programmes, our teaching and research, as well as between students are all part of the everyday life of our university, which is fully committed to enacting the pluralistic principles of a civil society. Racism and anti-Semitism have no place here," says the president of the university, Prof. Dr. Werner Ullmann.

How was the new name chosen?

After the decision to change the name was made, an open naming process took place in which all status groups at the university could participate. University members were invited to submit their own name suggestions. In all 385 suggestions were submitted.

The "New University Name" working group (AG) set up by the Academic Senate (AS) evaluated all the proposals from May 2020 and finally recommended six proposals to the AS for selection. Even before that, the AS members had agreed with the AG's recommendation to refrain from using a personal name (i.e. the name of a person chosen to be the university's patron).

On 28 January 2021, the members of the Academic Assembly then voted on the new name.

What does the name "Berliner Hochschule für Technik" stand for?

With the name “Berliner Hochschule für Technik”, the decision was made to adopt a clear, classic and timeless name, with a clear reference to the city and the university's technical orientation. Buzzwords were consciously avoided.

„Today is a very special day for our university because a university does not get a new name every day! That is a rather rare occurrence in the existence of such an institution. But today our university has experienced this situation for the second time.

The Academic Assembly made a decision between initially six name proposals and I absolutely and completely agree that our university will in the future bear the name Berliner Hochschule für Technik - of course subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees and the Senate Chancellery – Science and Research.

It is a name that fits well with our traditional university: Clear and timeless, with an explicit reference to the city and to our primary professional orientation. Subsequently, it will now be a matter of filling the new name with values and with life, shaping the university-wide implementation process and applying it operationally together. I am looking forward to that.

— President Prof. Dr. Werner Ullmann on 28 January 2021 commenting on the decision of the Academic Assembly