Mission statement & guiding values
The following guiding values were developed by members of the HdM in a participatory process from 2018 to 2020. The initiative was coordinated by the Senate Mission Statement Development Committee. The HdM Senate and University Council unanimously adopted the guiding values on 5 November 2020.
The mission statement for teaching was developed from 2017 to 2019 in a participatory process involving all status groups and adopted by the Senate on 5 July 2019.
Guiding values of the Hochschule der Medien
Appreciation
We treat each other as equals and value what everyone does here. Individually and together.
We have excellent colleagues at all levels. Appreciation is not just the recognition of professional expertise, but of the whole person. This applies to everyone who works for our university every day, no matter what level they are at
Participation
Everyone can get involved, everyone should get involved.
Participation is part of our self-image. It leads to responsible action and trust in the organisation. The more broadly the work is supported by everyone, the more diverse and efficient the university functions.
Responsibility
We take responsibility for our actions and see ourselves as part of society.
Responsibility arises from trust. Taking responsibility, including for dependents, means making and implementing well-considered decisions. This also includes being able to admit mistakes, learning from them and working together to find viable solutions.
Innovation
We have the will to create and dare to change. For us, courage also means learning from mistakes.
The reason and purpose of a university is innovation: discovering, developing and applying new things. We question things and processes, adopt different perspectives and discover new points of view.
Transparency
We are open and clear. We communicate extensively, comprehensibly and reliably.
Transparency creates trust and efficiency. Through transparency, we create openness and orientation towards common goals. This gives us all the opportunity to participate, help shape and take responsibility.
Trust
We build on trust and partnership and create space for mutual understanding.
Trust makes collaboration simple, efficient and enjoyable. Trust takes the pressure off us and enables a culture of trial and error, openness and flexibility. Trust creates opportunities for innovation. Those who give trust receive more in return.
Diversity
We embrace the diversity of people and topics. Together we shape a diverse university.
Insight into different ways of living and thinking not only enriches our perspectives. Creativity and innovation arise from the diversity of ways of thinking and living.
HdM culture
We are a place of exchange and opportunities. We create the conditions for this. In this way, we learn to understand change and open up perspectives.
In the sum of all the above-mentioned value dimensions, we have a specific HdM culture:
We study in order to understand the world.
We know in order to question ourselves critically.
We do in order to dare to do new things.
We are the HdM.
Teaching and learning mission statement
The mission statement for teaching was first developed in a participatory process from 2017 to 2019 with the involvement of all status groups and was adopted by the Senate on 5 July 2019.
It was fundamentally revised in a participatory process between 2024 and 2025 and was adopted by the Senate on 4 July 2025 under the title "Mission Statement for Teaching and Learning".
What is special about this mission statement is that it consists of three interlinked elements. At its core is the relationship between teaching and learning and the university's mission statement. This core is detailed by seven guiding principles and finally supplemented by examples of implementation as a living mission statement.
The core
Stuttgart Media University (HdM) sees itself as an innovative media university that contributes to the sustainable development of society, media and business through application-orientated teaching and research. In doing so, it focusses on people. The mission statement for teaching and learning is in line with the position and strategy papers of the Hochschule der Medien. The guiding values of appreciation, participation, responsibility, innovation, transparency, trust and diversity are indispensable prerequisites for successful cooperation.
Guiding principles
Self-image of the HdM
We shape the present and future of media responsibly.
Diversity and demographic Development
We foster a culture in which every member of the university is valued and accepted.
Teaching, Learning, Testing
Together, we cultivate a culture of teaching, learning, and assessment built on trust.
Innovation and Future
We explore innovative and sustainable approaches as well as their implementation
Self-Image of Educators
We support learners with expertise, personality, and enthusiasm.
Self-Image of Students
We take responsibility for our own learning and are open to new experiences.
Teaching and Organizational Development
We advance teaching and organizational structures in a participatory and reflective manner.
Lived mission statement
The mission statement is aimed at members and affiliates of the university and is available on the intranet .
A detailed version of the guiding principles can be downloaded here.