The Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg (German: Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, short OvGU) was founded in 1993 and is one of the youngest universities in Germany. The university in Magdeburg has about 14,000 students in nine faculties. There are 11,700 papers published in international journals from this institute.
It is named after the physicist (and mayor of Magdeburg) Otto von Guericke, famous for his experiments with the Magdeburg hemispheres.
The former Technical University Magdeburg (Technische Hochschule Magdeburg), a teacher training college and a medical school were absorbed into the university when it was created. The university now composes nine faculties.
Raila Odinga, a former Prime Minister of Kenya, is an alumnus of the Technical University. Professor Dr. Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, Vietnam's former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education & Training, current Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, is also an alumnus of the Technical University. Dr. Rumiana Jeleva, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria (2009–2010), earned a PhD degree in sociology at the Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg.
