In this context, Rector Prof. Dr. Kerstin emphasized the significance of cross-border cooperation for universities and highlighted the international orientation of the Excellence Strategy at the University of Freiburg. Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Andrea Schenker-Wicki, Rector of the University of Basel, received the title of Honorary Senator, Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser the University Medal.

The University of Freiburg held the Dies Universitatis on 19 May 2026. The academic celebration was therefore held two weeks before the on-site visit in the context of the Excellence competition, in which a group of international experts will gain a first-hand impression of the University of Freiburg. ‘We are thus on the final stretch of a competition in which we worked for years developing our vision for top-level research and a strategic capacity for renewal with more than 200 members of our University – with the aim of securing for our University a strong European and internationally recognized voice for solving societal and global challenges’, said Rector Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein in her address.

The topic of the Dies Universitatis 2026 was ‘Internationality as a Strategy for the Future – Universities in Global Change’. The occasion was the ten-year anniversary of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) ‘Eucor – The European Campus’. With the founding of the EGTC in 2016, Eucor became the first European university alliance to be recognized as a legally recognized entity capable of acting on a permanent basis with a joint governance, strategy, and office. ‘The Eucor alliance is therefore one of the pioneers of European university cooperation and served as a model that helped inspire the subsequent initiative for European university alliances’, said Krieglstein. According to her, the alliance is far more than a project network today – it is an institutionalized European research area conducting cross-border research on solutions to present and future challenges.

In times of global crises, it becomes particularly clear that international and European research cooperation should not be taken for granted but rather should be seen as a strategic investment in Europe’s sustainability. ‘The Eucor universities have been cooperating closely with one another for decades. These long-standing ties create trust, stability, and continuity – all the more so in times of geopolitical uncertainty.’

Title of Honorary Senator for Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Andrea Schenker-Wicki

Krieglstein conferred the title of Honorary Senator of the University of Freiburg on the Eucor President and Rector of the University of Basel, Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. mult. Andrea Schenker-Wicki. She acknowledged Schenker-Wicki’s enduring commitment as Eucor President since 2021 and emphasized her significance as a close companion of the University of Freiburg, among other things as a member of its International Advisory Board. ‘As the University of Freiburg, we consider ourselves fortunate to have Ms Schenker-Wicki by our side as an adviser on strategic questions concerning internationalization’, said Krieglstein. ‘By conferring this honour on her, we give expression to what has long characterized our cooperation: mutual esteem, trust, and the common will to actively shape the future of our universities in the European context.’

University Medal for Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser

Krieglstein conferred the University Medal of the University of Freiburg on the researcher Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser, a member of the CIBSS Cluster of Excellence – Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies,  for his services. She highlighted his decoration with the 2026 Baden-Württemberg State Research Prize as well as the 2025 Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz Prize, the most lucrative award for the promotion of research in Germany. Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser’s work on the targeted modulation of immune reactions, for example through the use of new active substances or through innovative cellular therapies, has contributed to making cancer therapies safer, reducing side effects, and significantly improving the chances of recovery.

‘For the University of Freiburg, Mr Zeiser’s research means far more than scientific excellence. It means visibility, trust, and responsibility. Mr Zeiser’s publications, collaborations, and awards contribute to positioning Freiburg as a place where medical advancement is not just talked about but becomes a reality and earns international recognition’, said Krieglstein. Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser studied Medicine in Freiburg, Tel Aviv, and Tampa. After a period conducting research at Stanford University, he completed his habilitation in 2010, received a Heisenberg Professorship in 2013, and has served as director of the Department of Tumor Immunology and Immune Regulation at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg since 2019. He is a member of the University of Freiburg’s Faculty of Medicine and the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS – Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies.

CIBSS profile of Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser

Orignal press release University of Freiburg