Five deserving professors have left Hof University of Applied Sciences, heralding a real generational change in its ranks: With Prof. Dr. Willi Darr, Prof. Dr. Franz Xaver Boos, Prof. Dr. Friedwart Lender as well as Prof. Dr. Ina Löbus and Prof. Dr. Günther Köhler, several decades-long pillars of teaching and research are leaving the university. On their departure, many of their colleagues paid tribute to their extensive and varied achievements.
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The event in the university’s Audimax was moderated by Prof. Dr. Tobias Plessing, accompanied by rousing music from the university band and attended by many companions of the retiring professors. In some very personal farewell speeches, they looked back on their professional careers.
Prof. Dr. Günther Köhler
Anyone who studied at the Faculty of Computer Science at Hof University of Applied Sciences almost inevitably came across him sooner or later: Prof. Dr. Günther Köhler is one of the most influential personalities in the basic area of computer science education. He taught mathematics and physics for many years – in a well-founded, structured manner and with a high standard of accuracy. His teaching areas included mathematics, statistics, cryptology, numerical methods, physical principles and programming.
He always focused on one thing: a solid foundation on which students could build their further specialist knowledge. Many of his courses were considered challenging and highly regarded at the same time. With a twinkle in his eye and with the help of some finds from the early days of the university, he took a look back:
When I started at the then still very young Hof University of Applied Sciences in the fall of 1996 at the age of 35, there was only one faculty and, with Business Administration, International Management and Business Informatics, a whole three courses. A lot has changed, but one thing has remained the same the whole time: The feeling that it is a privilege to be able to teach and train young people. I have always enjoyed this very much over the years.”
Prof. Dr. Günther Köhler
University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann, who was on a business trip abroad, paid tribute to Prof. Dr. Günther Köhler. Jürgen Lehmann paid tribute to Prof. Dr. Köhler in a video message: “With mathematics, you have represented a subject area that is a horror subject for many. Your manner and commitment were outstanding and always very human – thank you very much!”
Prof. Dr. Ina Löbus
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ina Löbus, described by university president Prof. Lehmann as the “mother of industrial engineering”, had been a professor at the Faculty of Engineering since 1998 and taught in the field of production management. She initially taught Production Planning/Control and Materials and Production Management before taking over the Chair of Production Management in 2003.
On the occasion of her 25th anniversary of service, University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann praised her commitment to the introduction of the industrial engineering course and the establishment of the HS dual program for engineering courses. She was also responsible for the faculty’s timetabling and for examination matters in industrial engineering for many years.
“The founding generation of this university is leaving and that is certainly a turning point. I have always found the collaboration between teaching, research and administration to be excellent over the years. Our industrial engineering education has gained a very good reputation and I am happy to be able to hand over the department to good hands.”
Prof. Dr. Ina Löbus
For the future, she wished that the university would always have a good number of students, that excessive bureaucracy would not hinder the innovative power of research and teaching and that Hof University of Applied Sciences would continue to be shaped and further developed by a joint cooperation based on a great consensus among the teaching staff.
Prof. Dr. Friedwart Lender
The summer semester 2025 marks the end of another era at Hof University of Applied Sciences: Prof. Dr. Friedwart Lender, one of the key figures in the Faculty of Business, is retiring after more than 25 years. “His achievements, particularly in logistics education, are manifold – and will remain noticeable beyond the university – his name is rightly widely known in this field,” says University President Prof. Dr. Dr. Lehmann.
Prof. Dr. Lender, born in 1959, came to Hof University of Applied Sciences in March 1999. After several years as managing director of a smart card manufacturer and as a management consultant, he brought with him not only sound practical experience, but also a clear view of the needs of the economy. With a doctorate in economics and engineering and a degree in business administration, he was a driving force behind application-oriented teaching in the field of production and logistics from the very beginning.
One milestone was the development and introduction of the Master’s degree course in Logistics, which was launched in the winter semester of 2004 – at that time still under a German name, as English course names were not permitted at German universities at the time. Lender was not only the source of the idea, but also the course director, course advisor and chairman of the examination board for 21 years. Close integration with practice was always a central concern for him: Every semester, a practical project was carried out with companies – a unique selling point that still distinguishes the graduates today.
The Master’s course in Logistics was one of the first state-funded Master’s courses at a university of applied sciences in Germany – and developed into a brand in the business world under his leadership. The lively network of alumni, which can be seen for example at the logistics symposium with over 100 former students, testifies to the lasting impact of his commitment.
Lender has also made his mark in academic continuing education: since 2008, he has developed continuing education courses in purchasing and supply chain management together with the Ohm Professional School at Nuremberg Institute of Technology, where he took over the academic management of the logistics area.
In addition to teaching, Prof. Dr. Lender was also involved in other areas of the university for many years: As founding editor together with Prof. Meuche and for many years responsible for FH News – today “Campuls-digital” – he shaped internal communication for over a decade. From 2000 to 2014, he was also Academic Director of the University Library. In addition, he was a committed member of the academic self-administration committees – as a member of the Faculty Council and the Senate, where he also held a deputy position.
With the Logistics team at Hof University of Applied Sciences, the Master’s in Logistics was established as a brand in the business world. Teaching and research were fun here.”
Prof. Dr. Friedwart Lender
And it is precisely this claim – practical, innovative and with a passion for the subject – that will remain inextricably linked with his name.
Looking back on a total of 53 semesters at Hof University of Applied Sciences, he also took a look at the early days of his work: “I was appointed at such short notice back then that I had very little time to set up the course. I was often just one night ahead of my students.” In his farewell words, he also took a critical look at the increasing bureaucracy in teaching today: “When I see everything we have to document today, it’s clear that we need more freedom to make our own decisions again,” said Prof. Dr. Friedwart Lender.
Prof. Dr. Willi Darr
After 15 years of dedicated work at Hof University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Willi Darr is retiring in October. Since his appointment as Professor of General Business Administration with a focus on Procurement and Logistics Management in 2010, he has played a key role in shaping teaching, research and academic self-administration.
He began his teaching career in the logistics group led by Prof. Lender, Prof. Tripp, Prof. Langenhan and Prof. Schmiech, where he taught undergraduate and graduate courses on purchasing and supply chain management. With numerous textbook publications – in German and English – he has also made an important contribution to university didactics. Other publications were dedicated to topics such as rationality, time management, digitalization and strategic corporate management. Prof. Darr even wrote fiction during this time: his crime novel “A Murder in our Piazza Carli” demonstrated his sense of creative storytelling.
He was also active in the field of academic continuing education: since 2013, he has taught on the German-Indian Management Studies course and the Graduate School and other English-language Master’s courses. From the 2018 winter semester, he took on the role of course director of the international Master’s program “Global Management” as well as chair of the examination board and course advisor.
In addition to teaching, Prof. Darr was also heavily involved in committee work: he was a member of the Senate for many years and, from 2021, its Chair and Deputy Chair of the University Council. He was also active beyond the university – most recently as an elected member of the regional board of the Federal Association of Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics e.V. (BME) for the Bayreuth-Upper Franconia region.
“Prof. Dr. Willi Darr has enriched our Hof University of Applied Sciences with his professional expertise, his commitment and his humor,” said the university president Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c., who was on a trip abroad. Jürgen Lehmann in a message sent to him. He continued: “With his departure, we are losing an outstanding performer in the field of continuing education. He also helped shape the development of the university for many years as a member of the Senate.”
Prof. Willi Darr himself spoke of a “full and fulfilling 15 years”. The university must always bear in mind that the real added value only comes from the customer, i.e. the students themselves. This must be the focus of all future considerations and strategies. And:
I hope that in 2040 you will all be able to look back with the same pride on things that you will not know you are doing today!”
Prof. Dr. Willi Darr
Prof. Dr. Franz Xaver Boos
With the departure of Prof. Dr. Franz Xaver Boos, another formative personality is leaving the academic stage. He has taught in the Department of Economics and has provided decisive impetus in the areas of public management, accounting and corporate management in the public sector for over three decades. His name is particularly associated with the dual study program: as coordinator, he was instrumental in setting it up from 2005 and developed it into a successful model with over 1,000 students.
As Dean of the Faculty of Business, he led the university through important years of change and growth. Prof. Boos was also active beyond the university – including as academic director of hochschule dual in Bavaria and as deputy chairman of the Bavarian University Teachers’ Association.
“His commitment was always characterized by a deep practical orientation, an open ear for students and a clear view of the future. Franz Xaver Boos is known beyond Bavaria, not least because he has always – very successfully – deviated somewhat from the Bavarian line. His cooperation with vocational schools in the area of dual studies was exemplary for others. With his departure, not only a professor, but also a passionate university designer is entering his well-deserved retirement,” said University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann.
In his farewell speech, Prof. Dr. Boos himself also recalled some of the crises the university had to overcome and master. And he gave good advice to those present:
Always seek a direct exchange with each other. This generates ideas, solutions and lots of good things!”
Prof. Dr. Franz Xaver Boos
The evening was rounded off with personal anecdotes, rhyming rap interludes and thanks from the audience, as well as a shared snack.
Further impressions (Slider)
