The University name

The University of Tübingen launched a critical examination of its German name, Eberhard Karls Universität, in May 2021. The University Senate instructed a working group of historians to produce a report on the University's two namesakes, Count Eberhard and Duke Karl Eugen von Württemberg. The working group was led by Professor Sigrid Hirbodian, Director of the Institut für Geschichtliche Landeskunde at the University of Tübingen. The experts were tasked with examining the sources relating to both historical figures and to arrive at a historically sound assessment of each ruler. The working group presented its report to the Senate.

to the report (in German)

On July 21, 2022, the University Senate rejected an application by some students to rename the University. Fifteen Senate members voted in favor of the motion to remove Count Eberhard and Duke Karl Eugen von Württemberg from the name; 16 voted against and two abstained. A two-thirds majority would have been required for the motion to pass. Those in favor of renaming the University had argued that both rulers were unsuitable as namesakes for a University in the 21st century, due to their personal and political misconduct. Count Eberhard, for example, was accused of antisemitism, and Duke Karl Eugen of dealing in mercenaries.  

to press release (in German)

See review, p. 3: Criticism of the historical name Eberhard Karls Universität was voiced as early as the student movement of the 1970s. At the time, some student groups expressed a wish to instead honor a personality who seemed appropriate to their politically left-wing world view.

Ever since, student associations on the left have called for the University to be named after the philosopher Ernst Bloch (Jaesrich, 2018, p. 51). Today’s criticism, however, is aimed specifically at the University’s two namesakes, who are accused respectively of anti-Semitism and despotic governance. Among the critics are representatives of the Jewish student body who consider the name to be inappropriate in the the present day.

Mission statement: Involvement and participation. Tübingen is a university at which many different bodies have a say, and it is committed to this participatory management style. The members of the University participate in academic self-government and the fulfillment of the University's tasks in its boards and committees. All members of the University are involved in the decision-making processes via their representatives. | Mission Statement

Culture of Cooperation and Commitment: Basis for cooperation within the University of Tübingen and with non-university partners

Excellence Strategy: Five overarching goals for the coming funding phase: strengthening research excellence, further developing a collaborative research environment, ensuring changeability, promoting global awareness in research and teaching, expanding social engagement. | Excellence Strategy 

Platform 4: Global Encounters examines the social and cultural impact of mobility and communication

Part of platform 4: TüFoRCe (Tübingen Forum on Social Resonances of Societal Crisis Experiences (in German)): 
Space for reflection withing differing disciplinary perspectives on the challenges and social resonances of global crises | TüFoRCe

2025 Diversity Concept (developed in a university-wide participatory process) | Diversity Strategy
Priority measures up to 2028:
1. Development of anti-discrimination guidelines: procedures, contacts, digitally-supported complaint management
2. Anchoring the diversity concept in appointment and staffing procedures
3.  Faculties: Funding of diversity activities
4. Students: Focus on disabled access and first generation
5.  Creation of an anonymized, voluntary data basis for the next phases of the diversity strategy

Equity strategy: inclusive, anti-discriminatory, intersectional equal opportunities; in line with the international organizational framework concept EDI (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion). | Equity

Funding programs for equal opportunities: Athene Program, KiBeKo program (childcare costs), TEAching Equality Program, state of Baden-Württemberg/ German government funding programs (Maragarete von Wrangell Junior Women Professors Program, MuT - Mentoring and Training, Women Professors Program 2023)

Diversity Charter: Signed in 2024: Commitment to creating a working and study environment in an organizational culture characterized by appreciation | Charta der Vielfalt (in German)

“Vielfalt gestalten” audit: Support on the path to greater diversity sensitivity through the development of tailored structures and measures that take account of diversity among students and employees

Family-friendly University audit: strategic management tool for family-friendly working and study conditions in response to the need for a better work-life balance | Audit familiengerechte Hochschule

Female Professors Program 2030: Following the evaluation of the University of Tübingen's gender equality concept by an external, independent review panel, the University of Tübingen was authorized (again, i.e. after successes in 2008, 2013 and 2018) to submit applications to the project sponsor - the German Aerospace Center - for up to three start-up grants for the initial appointment of women to permanent professorships in the grades W2 or W3. The Women Professors Program aims to sustainably increase the number of female professors in Germany and to structurally anchor gender equality in academia.

Institute for Research on Far-Right Extremism (IRex): Transdisciplinary research into right-wing extremism and embedding such research in society to strengthen democracy and the resilience of (civil) society and state structures against right-wing extremist ideologies and practices. In 2024, the University of Tübingen appointed three female professors to conduct research into right-wing extremism. | IRex

Research Center for Science Communication (FfW): Initiation, implementation and support for research and practical projects as well as research communication training programs, promotion of initiatives for junior researchers and in the area of public engagement. | FfW

Certificate in education against anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim racism: combination of theoretical depth and practical clarity: knowledge transfer and encouragement for active engagement by an interdisciplinary and interreligious team | to certificate course 

Gender and Diversity Certificate: Reflection and contextualization of individual social identification | to Gender and Diversity Certificate

Certificate in Civic Engagement: Taking on responsibility by gaining practical experience and practising academic reflection | to Civic Engagement Certificate

Global Awareness Certificate: acquisition of intercultural and transcultural communication skills, development of problem-solving skills through cooperation with international partners, awareness of global power inequalities and ethnocentrism | to Global Awareness certificate 

Master's program “Democracy and Governance in Europe” (WiSo)

Podcasts at the University of Tübingen: e.g. “Exzellent erklärt - Spitzenforschung für alle” and “Richtig Beef - By Weltethos-Institut” (debates on an ethical level) | to the podcasts

Hector Research Institute of Education  Sciences: Democracy education: Development of instruments to help assess the effectiveness of historical-political education with the aim of transferring its measures and the research results to wider applications. | Hector Institute

JIF - Center for Jewish and Islamic Theologies, Hermeneutics, Law and Education: located at the Institute for Ecumenical and Interreligious Research and the Institute for Islamic Religious Education Research. It offers a forum for research into Jewish and Islamic theologies, their hermeneutics and their legal and education concepts, in collaboration with recognized experts. The main aim is to shed light on the historical interdependencies and differences between the two traditions and to understand their role in modern multicultural societies, which is why the research center promotes social and interreligious exchange. | to JIF

FEW - the Elie Wiesel Research Center: With locations at the universities of Tübingen and Potsdam and at the Luxembourg School of Religion & Society (LSRS), the research center is dedicated to interdisciplinary, interreligious and international research into the works of Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel. The aim is to make his autobiographical, literary and theological writings accessible and annotated in a complete German-language edition. In addition, the FEW promotes Wiesel's reception in educational work, the prevention of anti-Semitism and Christian-Jewish dialog in the context of a critical culture of remembrance. | FEW

The selected events promote democratic culture via a critical examination of the University's past and of current social issues.

• Unbounded anatomy. A Tübingen science and National Socialism (in German): Exhibition on the violation of conventional boundaries in scientific work at the University of Tübingen (17.04.2023-30.09.2025) | University of Tübingen Museum
• Premiere on 30.01.2025 by the Ukrainian-born Jewish composer Evgeni Orkin of “Anne's Passion” with supporting program; based on texts from the diary of Anne Frank | Collegium Musicum
• Rhetoric and knowledge: Lecture on 08.05.2025 by Professor Dr. Gigerenzer on “Communicating risks in an uncertain world”. Mr. Gigerenzer is a long-standing Director at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Director of the Harding Center for Risk Literacy at the University of Potsdam (since 2008) and Vice President of the European Research Council (ERC). He is one of the leading experts in risk research and is committed to ensuring that risks are communicated in an understandable way and that complex relationships can be clearly conveyed. His research promotes risk literacy by developing and publishing methods and tools to help people make informed decisions. His approach combines scientific depth with practical relevance and makes a decisive contribution to understanding risks and dealing with uncertainty. | Information
• Global Ethics Lecture: The German-Iranian journalist Natalie Amiri spoke on 12.05.2025 about “Endangered values: Human rights in a destabilized world” | press release
• Coexistence in times of polarization - Muslim-Jewish dinner: Reading and discussion on 26.06.2025 with Meron Mendel and Saba-Nur Cheema at the Global Ethic Institute | to event
• Studium Generale series in summer semester 2025: Women at the University of Tübingen. On the occasion of the University’s 550th anniversary, it is high time to ask: What role have women played in the past centuries, in the past decades and what role will they play today and in the future? | to events
• Studium Generale lectures in winter semester 2025/26: Tübingen Science and Violence: Historical Perspectives - Future Commemoration. Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen. Considerations on the historical background of the name. Date: 06.11.2025, 6:15 p.m. | to event