Guests at the University

Models, writers, astronauts — they all accepted FH Aachen’s invitation to enter into a discourse with the interested public. After all, universities are places of dialogue and intellectual debate — even beyond teaching and research. SPIEGEL Talks as well as accompanying events on the occasion of the Charlemagne Prize award ceremony, or events initiated by the Department of Public Relations and Marketing and the different faculties — they all provided opportunities to enter into a dialogue and engage in debate.

Over the last 50 years, FH Aachen has played host to a wide variety of people and their perspectives on the world with all its social challenges.

When Martin Schulz came to FH Aachen in April 2016 as part of a SPIEGEL Talk, he was holding the office of President of the European Parliament, and the "refugee crisis" was the central political issue in Europe. Shortly before, he had thrown a Greek MEP out of the plenary hall for racist remarks on the EU-Turkey summit.

With SPIEGEL editor Christoph Schult, Martin Schulz discussed the topic of "Europe at the Crossroads".

Dr. Thomas Arthur Reiter is a former space traveller, a Brigadier General of the Air Force on leave and "International Agencies" ESA Coordinator as well as Advisor to the ESA Director General. He visited FH Aachen in April 2016, on the occasion of the lecture "Europe From Above" which he held as part of the accompanying programme of the Charlemagne Prize Award Ceremony.

Sara Nuru, top model and ambassador for the Generation ABC-2015 campaign of the foundation "Menschen für Menschen", visited FH Aachen in September 2011. With the university's help, a donation of €5,000 had been raised at the Städtewette (City Bet) 2011 for the campaign she represented. The money was given to schools in Ethiopia, her parents' home country.

Hans-Dietrich Genscher, former German Foreign Minister, at a panel discussion in April 2013 at FH Aachen. His conversational partner: Vytautas Landsbergis, Lithuania's first head of state after the country had regained its independence in 1990. Genscher's visit to Lithuania on 12 September 1991 had paved the way for the country to rejoin the European community of states.

As NRW's Minister of Science, Svenja Schulze was present when the FH balloon made its maiden voyage in August 2013. On other occasions, such as the inauguration of the university's new main building or the New Year's reception, FH Aachen also had the pleasure of welcoming her.

Peer Steinbrück in a SPIEGEL interview at FH Aachen in May 2011 when asked: "Will the Euro hold?" Shortly after his visit to FH Aachen, Steinbrück announced his aspirations of becoming a candidate for the chancellorship in the 2013 Bundestag elections.