Since December 16, Dr. Volker Pekron has been supporting HafenCity University (HCU) as Executive Chancellor after the former Chancellor resigned in September. The 43-year-old brings extensive experience in the higher education sector to this position. Since 2020, he has been Deputy Chancellor and Head of the Finance Department at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). Prior to that, he held various positions at the University of Hamburg for over ten years, most recently as head of administration at the Faculty of Business Administration since 2014.
“In Dr. Pekron, we have succeeded in attracting someone who has many years of experience in science-related and service-oriented functions and is familiar with the tasks of a chancellor, so that we can very quickly become operational together,” says Prof. Dr. Jörg Müller-Lietzkow, President of HafenCity University. Müller-Lietzkow emphasized, “This has been made possible by the generous and open-minded support of the Hamburg University of Technology, or more specifically, its chancellor Arne Burda and president Andreas Timm-Giel, to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude!”
Volker Pekron will work equal shares of his working hours at the HCU and TUHH. The solution will be implemented with clearly defined tasks and responsibilities, prioritization of topics and good communication between all parties involved.
“I am very pleased that the Academic Senate of the HCU has recognized me as a member of the university and that the authority has approved my appointment as Executive Chancellor – and I would like to express my thanks for the great deal of trust placed in me,” said Volker Pekron.
In a short orientation phase, Dr. Pekron will now get an overview of the relevant topics at the HCU in order to advance them together with the staff. “I am curious about the HCU and look forward to doing my best to support research, teaching and knowledge transfer together with my colleagues,” says Volker Pekron.
Volker Pekron will be on board at the HCU as Executive Chancellor until May 31, 2025. The selection committee for the long-term appointment of the Chancellor has recently commenced its work.
Personal details
After his training as a banker, Volker Pekron studied at the universities of Hamburg and St. Gallen, where he also obtained his doctorate. He worked for many years at the University of Hamburg as a course coordinator and departmental assistant at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, and most recently as administrative manager of the Faculty of Business Administration. He was able to gain extensive experience in the areas of finance, human resources and real estate during the founding and development of the faculty. Since 2020, Volker Pekron has been Deputy Chancellor and Head of the Finance Department at the Technical University of Hamburg.
HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU)
HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU) was founded in 2006 as the University for Architecture and Planning. As a technical university, its research and teaching focuses on the key future issues of construction and urban development. It researches the living and working conditions of people in urban areas, particularly in metropolitan regions, with a special focus on the cross-cutting issues of digitalization, social justice and climate change.
Its 42 professors and approximately 2,500 students come together at the Henning-Voscherau-Platz location in the HafenCity that gives the university its name. As the largest inner-city urban development project in Europe, HafenCity offers the special attraction of a city laboratory on your doorstep.
Contact details for HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU)
Hannah Heberlein, Communication
+49 (0)40 42827-4031
hannah.heberlein(at)vw.hcu-hamburg.de
