Andreas Friedrich is new Head of Administration at Furtwangen University
Andreas Friedrich new Head of Administration of Furtwangen University
Andreas Friedrich joined the Executive Board of Furtwangen University (HFU) as its new Head of Administration in December. In this role, he is responsible for managing the entire administration and is in charge of the university's budget, financial management and human resources.
“It was important to me to gain insights before the official start of my term of office, and I am very grateful to the members of Furtwangen University for making this possible,” says the 43-year-old, reporting on his start at HFU. Friedrich has already been working closely with his colleagues in the Board of Executives over the past few weeks, particularly his predecessor Andrea Linke and Deputy Head of Administration Hendrik Mielke.
His first impressions of HFU? “I was welcomed here with great openness and friendliness,” says Andreas Friedrich. He is now looking forward to getting to know the people, locations and processes of the university in detail and tackling the diverse tasks ahead. He is particularly impressed by the commitment of many colleagues who are eager to advance the university.
Friedrich is taking up his post at HFU at a special time – the university is in the midst of a transformation process. “I see actively shaping this complex change as an exciting challenge,” emphasises the new Head of Administration. One focus of his work will be on the further development and optimisation of processes. Budget planning for the coming years will also be a major focus. “I have gained extensive experience in this area in my previous positions,” says Friedrich, who was previously Managing Director of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Freiburg.
At HFU, Andreas Friedrich is also responsible for infrastructure. “The goal is to use it as efficiently as possible. Shared infrastructure that offers a better standard than many isolated solutions is not only an issue at HFU,” says Friedrich. The fact that the university is spread across different locations poses a particular challenge. At Furtwangen University, for example, there are many laboratories of the highest standard, according to Friedrich. “I was very impressed by this. We must maintain this standard through efficiency improvements, even under difficult financial conditions, and expand it where possible,” says the Head of Administration enthusiastically.
In the area of building development, significant projects are planned during Friedrich's term of office. The renovation of the main building on the Furtwangen campus will soon be completed. At the same time, the new Head of Administration will push ahead with other projects, such as a new cafeteria at the Furtwangen location and planning for the future building situation on the Schwenningen campus. He will also address issues such as sustainability and climate protection.
HFU President Dr. Alexandra Bormann is very much looking forward to working with him, “Andreas Friedrich's comprehensive knowledge in the areas of finance, structural development, human resources management and construction planning, as well as his level-headed manner, are a great asset to our team. We are very much looking forward to breaking new ground together and shaping the future of the university.”