Photo: Alanus University

At the end of March, Marcelo da Veiga will voluntarily end his term as Chancellor of Alanus University in order to dedicate himself more fully to his academic work at the Institute for Philosophical and Aesthetic Education. As the founding Chancellor, da Veiga spent a successful 15-year term steering the future of the institition; in particular, he was a leader in obtaining state accreditation for the school.

As such, the Brazil-born educator “led the university from the minor leagues to the national leagues,” according to Helmut Habermehl, Member of the Board of the Software AG Foundation, during a celebratory ceremony in Alfter.  He achieved a great deal during his tenure, including earning institutional accreditation for the university, obtaining the right to award doctoral degrees in the field of educational sciences in 2010, and in particular achieving a 1,000 percent increase in the number of students.

This intensive phase of development was closely supported and supervised by the Software AG Foundation (SAGST), one of its main supporters; as Habermehl explained, the goal was to “send a clear signal for educational policy regarding anthroposophy.” As founding Chancellor, the experienced consultant and professor was tirelessly committed to the school and made a considerable contribution to its success.

As Habermehl noted at the close of his speech, da Veiga has now more than earned the right to do exactly his heart's desire, which is also that which has always motivated SAGST's involvement with the school:  thematizing spiritual topics in teaching and research.