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Half a Century of Serving the Public

Venerable Gerhard Semler, the head of the Education and Sports department at our establishment, marked half a century of dedicating himself to serving the public this week...

, and Administrator

2025 September 4 . 8:20 PM

2 min read

Half a Century of Serving the Public

Gerhard Semler, the head of the Education and Sports Department at an unspecified institution, celebrated his 50th anniversary in public service this week. Semler, who started his career in 1975, has been a driving force behind numerous developments in Ulm, particularly in education and sports.

Semler began his journey in public service with a training for higher administrative service with the city of Ehingen a. d. Donau. He later joined the Württembergische Verwaltungs- und Wirtschaftsakademie, Ulm branch, in 1988, where he has been the managing director ever since.

Under Semler's leadership, the academy has trained over 3,700 students and initiated numerous further training measures. The academy's Ulm branch is renowned for its innovative approaches, with the Mensa Kuhberg and parts of the campus of the Professional Schools in Ulm being designed based on a model from Busan, South Korea.

One of Semler's significant contributions has been in school construction. Since a city council decision in 2000, around 320 million euros have been invested in school construction under Semler's leadership. He has also introduced new sports promotion guidelines, started renovation programs for sports clubs, and oversaw the transfer of the Donaubad to a municipal company.

Semler's influence extends beyond the city of Ulm. Since 2001, he has led delegations through Europe and Asia, including South Korea, establishing contacts with school and education officials that led to concrete projects. These initiatives have been instrumental in the academy's international collaborations.

In the sports sector, Semler has overseen significant sports events such as five German Athletics Championships, several German Youth Championships, and a state gymnastics festival. He has also set important accents in the sports sector, with his initiatives leading to the implementation of the full-day school funding law and full-day offers including school catering.

Semler's impact is not limited to education and sports. Since 2015, he has represented municipal interests in various committees of the German Institute for Standardization (DIN), particularly in sports-related standardizations. He is also involved in the board of the Evening Realschule, currently serving as its deputy chairman.

Since 2017, Semler is responsible for various foundations, including the Alexander Spohn Foundation, which has been awarding scholarships to Ulm and Neu-Ulm graduates for one-year stays abroad since 2020. So far, 17 scholarship holders have been honored by the Alexander Spohn Foundation.

Semler's career has been marked by several defining professional experiences. In 1995, he had a defining professional experience in the USA, meeting with the Governor of Wyoming and participating in a video conference with then-US President Bill Clinton. This experience was incorporated into the organizational development of the city administration of Ulm in the 1990s.

Semler's contributions to education and sports in Ulm, as well as his international collaborations, have left a lasting legacy. As he celebrates his 50th anniversary in public service, Semler continues to be a driving force for innovation and development in Ulm.