Mr. Egler, you took office as Chancellor of Mainz University of Applied Sciences on August 1, almost at the same time that construction work began on the second phase of the project. What are your first impressions?
I feel very welcome,and people are showing a great deal of interest in me. I would have loved to introduce myself with an inaugural event... But due to COVID-19 and ongoing operations, that’s naturally not possible, so I’m currently holding many one-on-one meetings. In these conversations, I’m noticing that my previous experience has given me a great many points of reference, allowing me to quickly get into the details.
As Administrative Director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, you were responsible for leading the Administration and Technology division for seven years. What appeals to you about your new role?
Being the chancellor of a university is a great job—one that has fascinated me ever since my time as an assistant at the University of Kaiserslautern! You understand the needs of all the university’s stakeholders and the constraints of university administration. Acting as a guide here to find the most efficient path from an idea to a legally compliant solution, rethinking and redesigning processes, and constantly encountering new challenges—that’s exactly my thing.
As an experienced science manager, you have an extensive network in the education and research landscape that has grown over the years. How exactly can Mainz University of Applied Sciences benefit from this?
Academic work thrives on exchange—but support services can also benefit immensely from it. Often, simply seeking a second opinion is enough to help you reevaluate your own approach. Ideally, however, one can also draw on best practices or establish one’s own. In all my previous roles, I have been actively involved beyond my own institution and have had nothing but positive experiences doing so. I will continue this approach and am confident that it will be beneficial for Mainz University of Applied Sciences.
What prospects do you see for collaboration with Johannes Gutenberg University and the further development of the Mainz Science Campus?
Before I took office, I wasn’t fully aware of just how close the cooperation already is. Many synergies are already being achieved here. We need to discuss which processes are central to the university’s brand and should be managed confidently and independently, and which elements can additionally be addressed through partnership. In addition to JGU, the non-university research institutions located on campus can also be involved. There, too, there are shared interests that make exchange worthwhile.
In addition, I hope that the campus as a whole will become even more vibrant and move closer to the ideal of living and studying in one place—at the latest with the completion of the second construction phase.
What do you see as the greatest challenge in your role? What is particularly close to your heart?
The COVID-19 pandemic hit us with unprecedented force, and long-established processes had to be digitized virtually overnight. Things that were set in stone suddenly no longer apply. Seizing this momentum for digital transformation and converting ad hoc solutions into robust digital processes will shape at least the early part of my tenure at the university. There will be no return to the “pre-COVID era” as it was before.
In addition, I see myself as a bridge-builder between administration and academia. Here, I will advocate for a sense of “we” and promote mutual understanding. In my experience, administrative units gain more trust and appreciation through transparency and a genuine interest in others. When we succeed in bringing our shared interests to the forefront, it fosters collaboration and makes many things easier.
The interview was conducted by Bettina Augustin.
Jens Egler
Born in Saarbrücken, he studied Industrial Engineering and Management at the University of Applied Sciences in Kaiserslautern. From 2001 to 2013, he held various positions of responsibility at the Kaiserslautern University of Applied Sciences, including project manager for the university’s expansion project and head of the “Qualification and Continuing Education” department. While working, he pursued two part-time master’s degree programs and was among the first graduates of the Science Management program at the German University of Administrative Sciences in Speyer. Since April 2013, Jens Egler has served as Administrative Director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, where he was responsible for overseeing the Administration and Technology division. He is a member of the Executive Board of the MAINZER WISSENSCHAFTSALLIANZ.
