Once again, the hats flew on the Mannheim campus. At the end of July, around 600 bachelor's and master's graduates received their certificates and personal congratulations from Joachim Lutz, Dean of the Business School of the University of Mannheim. For most graduates, their studies began with closed lecture halls, online lectures and virtual parties instead of “Schneckenhof” parties. Fortunately, however, the last few semesters of study went off without a hitch and there was great joy in celebrating the completion of their studies together with fellow students and relatives in the east wing of the palace.
In the Aula of the baroque palace and to the musical accompaniment of the N'nR Delta Trio, speeches were held, the certificates awarded, and the prize winners honored. Representatives of the respective study programs provided insights into this special period of study, which was shaped by the pandemic, and traditionally reviewed their study period for the guests in a speech.
The keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony of the Bachelor in Business Administration was Stefan Fuchs, Mannheim alumnus and CEO of Fuchs Petrolub SE. He gave the graduates insights into his leadership experience and encouraged them to think carefully about decisions and stand up for them. “Have the courage to use your own mind” – “Sapere aude” in Latin – is the proverb Prof. Dr. Monika Schuhmacher, also a Mannheim Business Administration alumna and Professor of Technology, Innovation and Start-up Management at Justus Liebig University in Giessen, told the Business Administration master's class. Thomas Speck, chairman of the Baden-Württemberg Association of Vocational School Teachers and vice chairman of the Federal Association of Vocational Education Teachers, spoke at the graduation ceremony for economic and business education. He emphasized the importance of the teaching profession and encouraged the graduates to choose teaching as a career, thus positively influencing the careers of many young people.
Special awards went to outstanding graduates during the graduation ceremonies. The faculty would like to thank all the sponsors and donors of the awards for their generous support of the students:
Barbara-Hopf-Stiftung
Ernst & Young Stiftung
FWI e.V.
Julius-Paul-Stiegler-Gedächtnis-Stiftung
Karin-Islinger-Stiftung
Prechel-Stiftung e.V.
Stiftung Marketing
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