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In its official statement, the university describes the French head of state as a 'political trailblazer whose ideas and initiatives have laid the groundwork for a new generation of European universities'. French President Emmanuel Macron has played a pivotal role in shaping European science and higher education policies. His landmark speech at the Sorbonne on 26 September 2017 stands out as a defining moment, in which he set out a bold agenda for a new European education area.
Today, Europe is home to 65 university alliances—including the Transform4Europe alliance that is coordinated by Saarland University—comprising over 570 universities across 35 countries. In its decision to confer the honorary degree, the Faculty of Human and Business Sciences highlighted the importance of President Macron's initiative: 'The emergence of so many European university alliances is largely due to Emmanuel Macron. His Sorbonne speech not only articulated a compelling vision but also sparked a movement that has brought lasting transformation to the European higher education landscape.'
Far from being purely conceptual, his influence has led to measurable outcomes in European science and education policy. But Emmanuel Macron's efforts extend beyond the boundaries of traditional policy making to a broader European mission to encourage and foster deep, cross-border collaboration among universities, regions and societies, and—most importantly—among people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
'At a time when academic freedom is under threat in many parts of the world and Europe's founding vision is increasingly being challenged, such initiatives carry particular significance. They communicate a powerful message of openness, exchange and shared responsibility—values that are fundamental not only to science and academic enquiry but also to democratic life in Europe,' the statement continues.
Professor Ludger Santen, President of Saarland University, praised President Macron as a passionate advocate for democracy and science: 'For President Macron, a state founded on freedom and equality, and a vibrant culture of open academic enquiry are two inseparable hallmarks of a modern, enlightened Europe. Just as states rely on their citizens to uphold and shape these ideals, universities depend on their members to do so, too, by engaging with the wider community, exchanging ideas and building networks. Emmanuel Macron champions this vision with a passion and conviction rarely seen from a head of state.'
Commenting on the award, Saarland's Minister-President Anke Rehlinger said: 'By conferring this honorary doctorate, Saarland University is recognizing President Emmanuel Macron's political vision and his achievements in shaping the European higher education landscape. It is a symbol that both highlights and deepens the special relationship between Saarland and France.
Professor Santen added that Saarland University is committed to following President Macron's example and will continue to expand its already extensive programme of German-French initiatives and European activities. 'Recent examples include the nationally recognized cross-border start-up factory 'SouthwestX', which is fostering and reinforcing collaborative activities with France. The SouthwestX 'Startup Leaders' programme, for example, is bringing together the most promising deep tech start-ups from both countries to create a powerful network that connects Europe's top talent and technologies in a manner not seen before.' Cross-border collaboration in computer science research is also being strengthened: the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and the French National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (INRIA) are currently developing a joint Franco-German institute for research in artificial intelligence.
Saarland University was founded in the aftermath of the Second World War as a European university and as a bridge between Germany and France. This founding vision continues to shape the university to this day. Europe remains one of Saarland University's core research areas alongside computer science, biomedicine and sustainability. Saarland University enjoys close ties to academic institutions in France such as the Université Jean Monnet in Saint-Étienne, as both are active members of the European university alliance Transform4Europe (T4EU). Close links also exist between Saarland University and the Université de Lorraine—both partners in the cross-border University of the Greater Region (UniGR). The Centre for Franco-German Relations and the numerous German-French degree programmes, ranging from law and political science to physics and the Franco-German Bachelor's programme in cross-border communication and cooperation give Saarland University its distinctive French flair. The close collaborative ties to France and the French language are further underscored by the university's membership of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF—Association of Francophone Universities) and by its commitment to fostering and promoting an actively trilingual campus.
