"Bernd Engler mastered the most important task of a university president over many years - enabling the best academic work," said Professor Matthias Kleiner in his address. Kleiner is a former president of the Leibniz Association and long-time colleague of Bernd Engler. "I hope that Karla Pollmann will be at least as successful in this role, following her own new paths beyond the footsteps of her predecessor."

Professor Engler headed the University from 2006. During his tenure, the University of Tübingen achieved excellence status in 2012 and successfully defended it in 2019. Engler wished the new president a successful term of office. He underlined the importance of support from the entire University as well as from friends and supporters. "For the next round of the Excellence Strategy, which begins in 2023, it is extremely important that the university moves forward resolutely and with united strength. I am certain that this can be achieved with you at the helm."

"Tübingen is a world-class university that has developed impressively under my predecessor. I will be well able to build upon that," said the new president, Professor Karla Pollmann. She said she has had many good conversations with committed people in her first few weeks in Tübingen, adding "I'm looking forward to an exciting time as we get to know each other even better, and I hope we can achieve great things together." Pollmann said that among the important tasks ahead were a successful continuation of the Excellence Initiative and, together with students, the further development of high-quality teaching.