Overview
Overview
Overview
Profile
Established in 1388 and re-established as a 'Neue Universität' in 1919 by the citizens of Cologne, the University of Cologne is committed to the unity of research, teaching, and transfer, as well as to the cooperation of its members in order to drive the development of the arts, sciences, and academic education. Aware of its history, the university realises academic freedom and recognizes its social responsibility. It sees itself as the place of lifelong learning and a driver for innovation and is aware of the constantly changing needs as well as challenges and opportunities of today’s world. To fulfil this mission, the university promotes a culture of renewal, cooperation and understanding.
Drawing on the broad disciplinary spectrum of its six Faculties and the excellence of individual and collaborative research, the University of Cologne strives to create, preserve and impart knowledge, empower a scientific habitus, and disseminate academic skills to make an impact on society.
Research & Research Infrastructures
At the heart of it all
Research at the UoC is characterized by a collaborative spirit across disciplines and institutions and a strong focus on social and scientific problems and challenges. The dynamic research profile spans independent researchers and Emerging Groups across nine Key Profile Areas, which represent internationally competitive collaborative top-level research at the UoC and are currently home to five Clusters of Excellence.
Research activities are supported by state-of-the-art research infrastructure, targeted funding from the Excellent Research Support Program, and dedicated support structures. Research at the UoC taps into the potential of the Rhineland cooperation area, as numerous collaborative projects demonstrate. International cooperation is strengthened by the Global Faculty Program, international Key Partners, and the European University of Well-being.
Teaching & Learning
A scientific habitus for future leaders
In education, the university’s core concern is to promote a scientific habitus – a mindset characterized by critical, reflective and rational thinking and action that encourages an entrepreneurial spirit and can be described as a set of competencies to be developed in and with research. The University of Cologne follows a competency-based approach in education which relies on a holistic understanding that integrates research, teaching and transfer. Our graduates shape society as socially responsible European citizens and leaders, with a high degree of personal ethical and professional responsibility and digital sovereignty, enabling an ethically and socially responsible handling of both small and large data as well as artificial intelligence. Our future teacher educators are equipped to act as change agents of the future.
Quality of innovative teaching and learning opportunities is embedded in a dedicated quality culture and our Q³UoC Teaching quality system. The project “Innovation Platform for Future-Relevant Competencies (InZuKo)” enables and facilitates learners’ competencies for the future, such as in AI or for research and science. As one of the largest institutions for teacher education in Europe, the UoC pools its expertise in research, education and transfer at the University of Cologne Teacher Education Hub, and enables practical training at the Helios Inclusive University School and within a school network of more than 1000 cooperation schools.
Transfer
Impact and inspiration
Transfer at the UoC encompasses a diverse range of transfer activities in four fields of action under the common umbrella of the Transfer Strategy, with distinct track records in entrepreneurship and translational medicine, strong regional networks, and the broad impact of UoC's teacher education and alumni.
Transfer activities are underpinned by specific substrategies such as the IP directive and supported by the Transfer Office and centers, including the Gateway Excellence Start-up Center, the Clinical Trial Center Cologne, or the UoC Business School. Public events and formats such as Poetica, the Adenauer Lectures, the Albertus Magnus Professorship, as well as the university magazine and the Cologne Science Forum promote exchange and connection with the region and the broader public.
Selected links
Gateway Excellence Start-up Center
Rank 2 in German startup Monitor
Inclusive University School Helios (German only)
Partnerships & Cooperation
Located in the heart of Europe, in the metropolis of Cologne and the Rhineland cooperation area, the UoC strategically leverages the potential of cooperation with partners from academia and society at regional, European, and global level to tap into complementary strengths and synergies in all areas of activity.
International
As a worldwide active and interconnected university, the UoC firmly believes in the value of international exchange and European and global networks for advancing research, teaching, learning, and knowledge transfer. The internationalization of research, teaching, and transfer as a cross-sectional task, as well as the expansion of networks and partnerships, are at the heart of the UoC's efforts.
To this end, it uses innovative formats and structures such as the Global Faculty Program and the Cologne International Forum, offers on-site support via the Welcome Center or German language courses for international students, and plays a leading role in international collaborations such as the European University for Wellbeing.
Academic Career
The UoC has a long-standing and continuous commitment to good working conditions as well as transparent and reliable career paths. Our aim is to attract, empower, and retain outstanding talent by providing an inspiring working environment, excellent working conditions, comprehensive support, and attractive career pathways, as evidenced by its well-established Tenure Track system, EU-awarded HR Strategy for Researchers and individual support and advice at all career stages.
The Albertus Magnus Center provides comprehensive information, training, and advisory services for all those seeking a doctorate as well as for doctoral students, postdocs, tenure-track and junior professors. At the Cologne Leadership Academy, researchers and academics can develop and expand their leadership skills.
Diversity & Equal Opportunities
The University of Cologne aims to actively support diversity and equal opportunities, to fight discrimination, racism, and antisemitism, and to promote an inclusive, fair, and family-friendly organizational culture.
Guided by the Equal Opportunities Strategy, diversity and equal opportunities are firmly embedded in all areas of performance, processes, and planning, and reinforced through targeted measures, instruments, and structures.
Sustainability
The University of Cologne acknowledges that upholding ecological integrity is a prerequisite for a socially just and livable life on earth today and in the future. It embeds sustainability in its research, teaching, and transfer, as well as in its operations and organization, to create a future-oriented academic environment and to foster a shared culture of sustainability put into practice at the university and beyond.
The University of Cologne’s Sustainability Strategy takes a value-based, future-oriented, planetary whole-institution approach. This is underpinned by a comprehensive Implementation Plan, dedicated governance structures, such as the Sustainability Office and the Sustainability Research Hub, in addition to cooperation within the European University of Well-Being and with many other national and international network partners.