Neue CHE Beiratsmitglieder: Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter, neuer Vorstandsvorsitzender der Bertelsmann Stiftung, und Iris Kimizoglu, Präsidentin der European Students’ Union | Fotos: Vodafone Deutschland GmbH, European Students' Union At the start of 2025, the CHE Centre for Higher Education welcomed two new members to its Advisory Board: Dr. Hannes Ametsreiter, new Chairman of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, and Iris Kimizoglu, President of the European Students’ Union (ESU).
Ametsreiter takes over the role of his predecessor Dr. Ralph Heck, who was a member of the Advisory Board until his departure from the Bertelsmann Stiftung. He is also the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s representative on the CHE’s shareholders’ meeting
‘Universities and universities of applied sciences are companions and paving the way for millions of young people. In order to fulfil this responsible task each semester anew, the universities themselves also need orientation. The Centre for Higher Education stands for this like no other institution. Its approach, which combines evidence with practical solutions and the perspectives of students, makes the CHE a unique player in the German higher education system. It is a great honour and pleasure for me, as a representative of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, to be able to actively support CHE in its strategic direction in the coming years’, said Ametsreiter.
The Advisory Board consists of nine members in total: Two representatives of the shareholders as well as national and international personalities with expertise in the fields of higher education and education policy, university management or corporate management. CHE’s shareholders are the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK).
Iris Kimizoglu is the first student voice to be represented on the committee. She brings experience from both the German student representation and from the European level. ‘The CHE does valuable work on strategic higher education issues, particularly in view of demographic change and the growing political demands on universities. I am looking forward to contributing the student perspective to the advisory board for the first time with my many years of experience at national and European level in a critical and constructive manner – because higher education development directly affects students,’ emphasises Kimizoglu.
The CHE is looking forward to the impetus provided by the new members and to the joint dialogue in the Advisory Board, which advises on the strategic development of the CHE.