In a great ceremonial act, the first new YMCA University of the german YMCA association (CVJM) was founded on 27. March 2009.

A memorable day in the history of the "Christian Association of Young People", YMCA Germany, which was longed for such a long time, because "if you take it accurately, we have to go back to the year of 1991", said Dr. Wolfgang Neuser, YMCA - Secretary General and Founding Director of the new YMCA University Kassel, welcoming the 250 guests of the founding ceremony. Because already 18 years ago the idea was born to lift up the already long-established YMCA College (CVJM-Kolleg Kassel, Germany) unto university-level. The first attempts failed, only success was missing. Of which no one was swayed, persistence was finally rewarded: in July 2008, the institutional accreditation of the YMCA University was given by the scientific board, Germany. And when in February this year also the states approval for higher education had been issued, there was every reason to celebrate.

Guests from all over Germany followed the invitation to the ceremonial act of founding of the new YMCA-University Kassel, in the "Ständesaal" - a renowned city-hall. But international flair became evident, when Solomon Benjamin, secretary general of the YMCA India in London, brought about his congratulations to the founding of the new university. Also the city of Kassel, represented by city councillor Brigitte Bergholter, congratulated the YMCA "on this effort, which deserves special appreciation." Likewise Mrs. Roswitha Alterhoff, Prelate of the Reformed Church "Kurhessen-Waldeck", congratulated to this founding of the new university, whereby in the future  „further fields of cooperation, between YMCA and church, will open up“.

„The start-up of a non-governmental university is not an every day event“, said State Minister Eva Kühne-Hörmann in her lecture , titled  „The importance of non-governmental universities with a christian profile for the landscape of institutions of higher education“. The "Kasselanian" found appreciative words for the work of the YMCA Germany, whose wealth of experience will benefit the youthwork of the university undoubtedly.“

The international dimension and solidarity within YMCA, was expressed in the word of greeting by  Mr.Martin Meißner, the president of YMCA-Worlds Alliance. „If one part is honored, the other parts rejoice with it“ quoted the man from Frankfurt from the New Testament.

A clearly visible sign of this solidarity and support was the introduction of the "100 Founders": in an unprecedented action, within only 7 weeks, more than 100 people supported the YMCA-University with an one-time founding contribution . An amazing amount of 186.668 € was sponsored this way.

The final word was given by Mr. Karl-Heinz Stengel, the President of the YMCA Head Alliance Germany: „With this university-project the YMCA meets the increasing demands for professional youth work“. Under the umbrella of the newly founded "CVJM-Bildungswerk gGmbH" (YMCA Institution for Education, Germany) "we will have", he promised, "a lot of joy with this university and the YMCA-College Kassel- in the future". Special thanks for his tireless commitment over the last years, he addressed to Dr. Wolfgang Neuser and Prof. Dr. Klaus Schulz, the first professor at the YMCA-University. The greatest thanks are due but to Jesus Christ, who accompanied and blessed the YMCA and the efforts for the university in the past and does so today. And in this sense the whole congregation concluded the gratification with the old wellknown german church hymn „Nun danket alle Gott“.

From September 2009, students can then study in Kassel at the new YMCA-University, with an explicitly christian profile and achieve graduation on "Bachelor"-level and later also on "Master"-level. For the first semester, 40 students are expected, 3 further professors will be appointed until then. Core-offer will be an attendence course of study for christian education / social work, integratively. Vocational courses of study are planned for social work, social and "Dakonie"(welfare) management , as well as for christian education (for 2010). For the final stage of the  "Bachelor-level" in 2013, a total of 340 study places will be offered and 12 professorships filled.