Jörg Meuthen Returns to Teaching at Hochschule Kehl
Former AfD leader resumes lectures in economics for future civil servants after political hiatus.
Jörg Meuthen, the former leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has resumed his teaching role at Hochschule Kehl, effective March 1, 2025. After being on leave since 2016 while serving as a member of the Baden-Württemberg state parliament, Meuthen is now instructing students who are preparing for future leadership positions in public administration, focusing on economics.
Meuthen's teaching career was interrupted when he was elected to the state parliament for the AfD.
Joachim Beck, the rector of Hochschule Kehl, indicated that Meuthen's leave was a necessary measure during his time in office, but expressed that the law mandated his return once his parliamentary duties concluded.
“When the vacationing lecturer wishes to return to the university after their time as a parliamentarian, the university must enable this, as per the legal framework we adhere to,” Beck stated.
News of Meuthen's return began circulating in the autumn of 2024, culminating in his official reappointment.
He will be conducting 18 hours of lectures per week.
Following this announcement, the initiative “Aufstehen gegen Rassismus” from neighboring Offenburg reached out to the university administration to inquire about potential strategies to inhibit Meuthen's re-entry into teaching.
Rector Beck emphasized the university's commitment to neutrality, stating, “Mr. Meuthen has assured us that he will strictly adhere to this principle.” He highlighted Meuthen's qualifications, noting that evaluations indicate he was an exceptional lecturer prior to his political career.
Hochschule Kehl hosts approximately 1,400 students, making it relatively small by university standards.
Meuthen expressed a nonchalant perspective on his return, stating, “I see this return without concern,” and indicated his intention to focus on depoliticization in his teaching role.
Beck, in an interview, referred to Meuthen as being a “nice colleague,” describing him as approachable and professionally competent, while acknowledging his past affiliation with the AfD as “terrible.” Meuthen, who is now 63 years old, was a member of the European Parliament for the AfD from 2017 until he left the party in January 2022, citing concerns over the radicalization of the party leadership.
He later served as an independent MEP until his departure from the European Parliament in the summer of 2024. Meuthen briefly joined the centrists' party and, as of September 2024, has been affiliated with the conservative party Werteunion, led by Hans-Georg Maaßen.
Several students surveyed about Meuthen's return indicated they were unfamiliar with his political background, with mixed reviews on his previous teaching performance.
Some expressed concerns about their ability to share critiques regarding political matters as future public servants.
Meuthen's teaching career was interrupted when he was elected to the state parliament for the AfD.
Joachim Beck, the rector of Hochschule Kehl, indicated that Meuthen's leave was a necessary measure during his time in office, but expressed that the law mandated his return once his parliamentary duties concluded.
“When the vacationing lecturer wishes to return to the university after their time as a parliamentarian, the university must enable this, as per the legal framework we adhere to,” Beck stated.
News of Meuthen's return began circulating in the autumn of 2024, culminating in his official reappointment.
He will be conducting 18 hours of lectures per week.
Following this announcement, the initiative “Aufstehen gegen Rassismus” from neighboring Offenburg reached out to the university administration to inquire about potential strategies to inhibit Meuthen's re-entry into teaching.
Rector Beck emphasized the university's commitment to neutrality, stating, “Mr. Meuthen has assured us that he will strictly adhere to this principle.” He highlighted Meuthen's qualifications, noting that evaluations indicate he was an exceptional lecturer prior to his political career.
Hochschule Kehl hosts approximately 1,400 students, making it relatively small by university standards.
Meuthen expressed a nonchalant perspective on his return, stating, “I see this return without concern,” and indicated his intention to focus on depoliticization in his teaching role.
Beck, in an interview, referred to Meuthen as being a “nice colleague,” describing him as approachable and professionally competent, while acknowledging his past affiliation with the AfD as “terrible.” Meuthen, who is now 63 years old, was a member of the European Parliament for the AfD from 2017 until he left the party in January 2022, citing concerns over the radicalization of the party leadership.
He later served as an independent MEP until his departure from the European Parliament in the summer of 2024. Meuthen briefly joined the centrists' party and, as of September 2024, has been affiliated with the conservative party Werteunion, led by Hans-Georg Maaßen.
Several students surveyed about Meuthen's return indicated they were unfamiliar with his political background, with mixed reviews on his previous teaching performance.
Some expressed concerns about their ability to share critiques regarding political matters as future public servants.
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