On the death of Prof. Tassilo Wettengl :
Fulda University of Applied Sciences mourns the loss of its founding rector

Professor Tassilo Wettengl has passed away at the age of 93. With his passing, Fulda University of Applied Sciences has lost a defining figure who played a key role in shaping the university’s establishment and early development – as its founding rector during the crucial period from 1974 to 1978.

Senior Teacher and University of Applied Sciences Lecturer

Prof. Tassilo Wettengl had previously worked at the predecessor institutions of Fulda University of Applied Sciences. He served as a senior teacher at the Pedagogical Institute and as a lecturer at the branch campus of Giessen University of Applied Sciences. Between 1972 and 1974, as Vice-Rector of Giessen University of Applied Sciences, he contributed significantly to facilitating the transition of its branch campus into the independent Fulda University of Applied Sciences. On 1 August 1974, the moment had finally arrived: Fulda officially became home to an independent University of Applied Sciences (FH) – the fifth and smallest in Hesse at the time. The department of business was added to the existing departments, where business graduates were trained.

Laying the foundations for a successful university

Of particular importance to Fulda University of Applied Sciences, both then and now, was the pioneering work of Prof. Tassilo Wettengl as Vice-Chancellor and subsequently as rector: During the early stages of development, when new structures were emerging and, at the same time, different academic trends and perspectives were coming together, he laid the vital foundation for the university’s successful development through his competence and his approach. Until his retirement in 1995, he taught as a professor in the Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Data Processing, and later in the Department of Applied Computer Science (AI), where he represented the specialist field of mathematics in particular.

Esteemed colleague and professor

With the passing of Prof. Tassilo Wettengl, Fulda University of Applied Sciences – and in particular the Department of Applied Computer Science – has lost a dedicated and successful rector and professor who earned great recognition through his professional competence and his respectful manner towards students and colleagues alike. He remained deeply committed to the university right up to the end.

Fulda University of Applied Sciences is extremely grateful to him for his great dedication and for his outstanding work in building up the institution, and will honour his memory.