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Alumni and Friends Association of FH Potsdam appoints three honorary members
Through their commitment in the founding phase of the university, the three members have significantly shaped the association. The honorary memberships were presented at the New Year's reception of the Alumni and Friends Association of FH Potsdam on the 7th of January, 2026.
Following members were appointed honorary members of the Alumni and Friends Association of FH Potsdam:
- Dr h.c. Hinrich Enderlein: A member for 32 years, Mr Enderlein was chairman of the board for 19 years (1996-2015). As former Minister of Science in Brandenburg, he accompanied the association during a decisive phase and built bridges to politics, science and society.
- Prof Dr Helmut Knüppel: A member for 32 years, Mr Knüppel was deputy chairman of the board for 8 years (2007-2015). The founding rector of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam established important networks within the association and supported the strategic direction of the development organisation with great commitment.
- Volker Bley: A member for 30 years, Mr Bley was the association's treasurer for 15 years (1993-2008). As a former chancellor and treasurer for many years, he ensured careful financial management and responsible budgeting on the board, as well as repeatedly providing creative impetus.
Special thanks also go to Ernst Lages as the first Chairman of the board of the Alumni and Friends Association of FH Potsdam and to board member Wolfgang Schütt for their many years of commitment to the board.
The Alumni and Friends Association of FH Potsdam was founded in 1993 during a period of great change. The founding director and first director of the university, Prof Dr Helmut Knüppel, took care of the integration of the university into social networks at an early and sustainable stage. One of the association's main tasks was therefore initially friendraising: bringing people, institutions, associations, business and administration together to strengthen the university, teaching, studies and research.
One concrete success of this work is evident, for example, in the fact that some of the university's endowed professorships at the time were organised via the Alumni and Friends Association of FH Potsdam. The association's network also gave rise to countless large and small projects that always pursued the association's goal of supporting the development of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.
The award of honorary membership recognises outstanding services to the Alumni and Friends Association of FH Potsdam. The three honorary memberships were elected on the 16th of October, 2025 at the general meeting of the Alumni and Friends Association of FH Potsdam at the suggestion of the executive board.
