Campus President Outlines Vision for Potential German Showpiece - Campus head: New university can set precedent for Germany's architectural design
In a groundbreaking move, software billionaire and SAP co-founder Hasso Plattner has pledged a substantial, three-digit million donation to the University of Potsdam, with the aim of expanding the Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI) into a Europe-wide leading institute for digital sciences. This ambitious project, set to be completed by 2035, promises to transform the landscape of AI research and digital education in Germany.
The heart of this initiative is a new campus in central Potsdam, which will be privately funded by Plattner. The HPI, currently part of the University of Potsdam, will move its operations from Campus Griebnitzsee to this new location, with plans to double the number of professorships and establish HPI among the top computer science faculties in Germany.
The new campus is designed to accommodate 6,000 students, offering open teaching and learning spaces, and a strong emphasis on interactive learning. One of the key features of the campus will be the restoration and transformation of the old plenary hall in the former parliament building on the Brauhausberg into an auditorium, promoting interactive learning and innovation.
The project's significance extends beyond the University of Potsdam, with implications for the Brandenburg location and the German university landscape as a whole. It is hoped that this ambitious endeavour will motivate others to engage in similar projects, strengthening Germany's position in international competition in the field of AI research.
The expansion of the HPI is not just about building a new campus, but about creating a potential model for the entire German university landscape. The University of Potsdam aims to set a new standard for AI research and digital education, integrating advanced AI research with innovative, interdisciplinary learning approaches.
President of the University of Potsdam, Oliver Günther, emphasised the importance of research and teaching for Hasso Plattner, stating that the project is framed as a megaproject to develop a leading computer sciences institute that exemplifies the integration of advanced AI research with innovative, interdisciplinary learning approaches.
This monumental project is more than just a donation; it's a vision for the future of digital education and AI research in Germany. As the construction progresses, we can look forward to witnessing the birth of a new era for digital education, one that promises to redefine the landscape of AI research and digital education in Germany and beyond.
[1] Source: University of Potsdam press release, 2022.
- This megaproject, funded in part by Hasso Plattner's substantial donation, aims to transform the Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI) into a leading digital sciences institute across Europe, integrating advanced AI research with innovative, interdisciplinary learning approaches, and fostering a potential model for the entire German university landscape.
- The expansion of the HPI, with its focus on finance, technology, education-and-self-development, will not only establish a new campus but also create an immediate impact on the Brandenburg location, the German university landscape, and potentially, the global digital education and AI research landscape, especially with its emphasis on finance and economic viability.
