Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) was founded on November 4th, 1743. Based on a strong sense of tradition, the university has since developed into a leading institution offering one of the broadest ranges of disciplines in Germany. Our goal at FAU is to specialize in areas of learning that will shape the future and to create a network of interdis ciplinary cooperation between the natural sciences, engineering, medicine and the humanities.
FAU is one of the leading research-universities in Germany. We are dedicated to strengthening this position and to guaranteeing freedom of research as a prerequisite for scientific advancement. We are committed to the unity of research and teaching. Research at FAU is oriented towards both pure theory and its practical applications. We are developing new fields of competence that will prove of particular significance for the future of science and society. We preserve and cultivate established scientific and ethical standards: our findings are gained by methodologically transparent means and then discussed and debated in open dialogue within the academic community and the wider public.
We recognize our social responsibility and continually strive to improve teaching at the University. One key focus is to provide our students with an education based on knowledge and the methodologies necessary to acquire this knowledge. We educate our students to be critical and independent individuals who are able to apply their skills and knowledge responsibly. FAU advocates the principle of lifelong learning. By consistently expanding our portfolio of further studies, we aim to enable people to update, enrich and extend their knowledge at any age.
One of our most important aims at FAU is to provide young academics with the highest level of support and education in order to develop their skills. This means, above all, giving young researchers the opportunity to take on responsibility and to conduct research independently. In this respect, professors at FAU set standards and serve as role models.
Scientific progress and interdisciplinary research are rooted in specific fields of outstanding expertise. FAU strongly promotes interdisciplinary exchange, in order to foster the potential for innovative scientific progress and the formation of new disciplines.
FAU has an outward-looking, international perspective and is committed to promoting mutual understanding between nationalities and cultures. We support knowledge transfer, staff mobility and personal exchange in research and teaching. Students, teachers and researchers from around the globe are given the opportunity to contribute to and actively take part in university life.
The strength of the local connections established by FAU can be seen in the broad spectrum of collaborations with businesses, research institutes, educational facilities and cultural institutions throughout the region. FAU is a breeding ground for successful business start-ups and it enriches cultural diversity.
FAU is dedicated to the principle of equal opportunities for all employees, male and female. Nobody is discriminated against or disadvantaged on the basis of gender, nationality, religious beliefs, social background or disability. FAU strives to offer a balance between study, work and family.
FAU maintains a thriving international, intergenerational and interdisciplinary alumni network of former students and professors, as well as friends and supporters.
FAU benefits from a modern university management structure. Organizational, management and decision-making structures and processes in research, teaching and administration are constantly being adapted to meet the demands of modern and successful knowledge management – administration
in the service of science.
Mission Statement in English (pdf)
Mission Statment in German (pdf)
