In the winter semester 2025/26, Paderborn University once again held a graduation ceremony for numerous graduates from the Faculties of Business Administration and Economics, Natural Sciences, Cultural Studies and the PLAZ - Professional School of Education. In addition to certificates, several prizes were awarded for special commitment or outstanding theses.
Faculty of Business Administration and Economics
Around 250 graduates of the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics celebrated the successful completion of their studies together with their families and friends in mid-November. The "Day of Economics" transformed the Audimax into a place of appreciation, inspiration and new beginnings.
In his speech, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Jens Müller, not only recognised the achievements of the graduates, but also the social relevance of Paderborn's research in economics. He appealed to the graduates: "Remain curious, critical, empathetic and open to other perspectives. Be inspired by good ideas and contribute your ideas to initiate change."
Several prizes were also awarded during the event. The Dean of Research, Prof Dr Tobias Jenert, awarded the prize for theses focusing on gender and diversity to Nisrin Al Akhal for her Bachelor's thesis (700 euros) on "Barriers in female entrepreneurship: the influence of internal and external factors on access to funding" and to Sarah Schotten for her Master's thesis (1,500 euros) on "Self-staging practices as an approach to gender-sensitive educational work at the transition from school to work: observing gender stereotypes of young girls in training preparation". Dr Nadja Stroh-Maraun received the faculty's internal teaching award for the module "Maths II", as did Prof. Dr. Dennis Kundisch, Maike Althaus and Lea Biere for the project seminar "Conversational Agents: Business Informatics and Sociology in Dialogue". In addition, the "Horst Gr?fer Prize" was awarded, which honours people with unconventional life paths and special social commitment. This year's winner, Nicole Weitzenbürger, received prize money of 5,000 euros.
The Wiwi Night took place for the first time on the same evening in the Mensa Forum. The new format combined celebrating, eating and networking. Staff and student councils created a warm atmosphere at the bar, while the live band Weekender and a DJ set transformed the Mensa into a lively meeting place.
Faculty of Science
In November, the Faculty of Science also held a farewell ceremony for this year's graduates. Almost 500 guests, including 100 graduates, accepted the invitation. On behalf of the university management, Prof Dr René Fahr, Vice President for Transfer and Sustainability, and Prof Dr Wolf Gero Schmidt, Dean of the Faculty, congratulated the graduates on successfully completing their studies and doctorates.
The motto of this year's graduates' contributions was "We react - We move - We inspire": Miriam Reese from the Department of Chemistry, Robin Wall from the Department of Physics and Christina Hein and Anna Nienaber from the Department of Sport & Health provided vivid insights into their time as students. Impressive experiments from Chemistry and Physics attracted attention, as did a video excerpt from the last "StuDance" show, which impressively conveyed the diversity of sport.
As part of the ceremonial presentation of certificates, Prof Dr Jan Paradies presented the faculty award for outstanding Master's theses. This year, Lars Schulze-Frielinghaus, Niklas Lamberty, Clemens Marcinek and Henning Stuckenhoff were honoured for their excellent work. The Chemistry prizes, which were presented by Dr Oliver Seewald on behalf of the Association of Former Members and Active Friends of Paderborn Chemistry, went to Clemens Marcinek, Alina Marie Peter, Lukas Sven Spallek and Robert Salewski.
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
At the beginning of December, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Paderborn University hosted its graduation ceremony for graduates of the Bachelor and Master of Arts degree programmes. Over 450 guests accepted the invitation and took part in the ceremony. The centrepiece of the festive event was the farewell ceremony for the graduates. In addition, 34 doctoral and two post-doctoral graduates from cultural studies disciplines were honoured for successfully completing their theses.
Prof Dr Beate Flath, Vice President for Teaching, Studies and Quality Management, congratulated the graduates and wished them all the best. With their degrees, they brought with them skills such as understanding complex cultural dynamics, changing perspectives and critically reflecting on issues. These skills are urgently needed in society and in the world of work. She encouraged the graduates to start their new phase of life with the same openness, curiosity and perseverance that had carried them through their studies and to trust in their skills and silent superpowers. Prof Dr Harald Schroeter-Wittke, Dean of the Faculty, added in his welcoming address that the degree programme enables graduates to view social issues as holistically as possible. At the same time, however, a complete overview is never achievable, which is why you have to use different, changing perspectives without giving up your own attitude. The Dean thanked the graduates for enriching the university with their curiosity and their presence, as well as their families and friends who accompanied them during their studies.
The "Golden Spirit", a prize awarded by the faculty's student representatives for the best teaching, was presented to Dr Johanna Sackel (Department of History) and Dr Markus Freudinger (Department of English and American Studies). The prizes were presented by the student representatives Hannah Tabea Osth?vener and Marvin Kl?ppenpieper, with Karina Ble?mann (Johanna Sackel) and Jay Kl?pperpieper (Markus Freudinger) reading the laudatory speeches.
At an event moderated by Dr Anda-Lisa Harmening, Managing Director of the Graduate Centre KW, the prizes for outstanding theses were also awarded in the run-up to the graduation ceremony. This year's prizes for the best theses, each worth 500 euros, went to Zoé Düring, Dorothea Hepp, Daniel Kramps, Vincent Liechty and Victoria Schr?der. Lennart Müller was honoured in the field of practical textile work. The Margarete Schrader Prize for students, endowed with 750 euros, went to Vivienne Hanft, while the PhD Prize for Cultural Studies, sponsored by the Brill Publishing Group and endowed with 1,500 euros, went to Dr Kirsten Behr for her work in the field of Romance Studies.
PLAZ - Professional School of Education
Around 280 graduates also celebrated the successful completion of their teacher training programme in Paderborn in December. At the atmospheric ceremony, which was held under the motto "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving", the prospective teachers were presented with their certificates.
On behalf of the PLAZ Board of Directors, Prof Dr Bardo Herzig congratulated the graduates on their successful completion. "The world we live in, and therefore the school profession in which you will be working, is constantly evolving. By successfully completing your teacher training programme at UPB, you have laid a strong foundation for helping to shape these transformation processes," he emphasised, referring to the motto of the graduating class, which is taken from a quote by Albert Einstein.
Prof Flath congratulated the graduates on behalf of the Executive Board: "Today is the day we celebrate you. You have travelled this path together with people who have accompanied you along the way. Dear graduates, I sincerely congratulate you on your graduation and wish you every success in your future endeavours." Franziska Pradel and Finn Schorstein from the Student Council for Teacher Education, who helped organise the ceremony, also congratulated their (now partly former) fellow students on their successful Bachelor or Master of Education. "As a degree programme not only prepares you for your career, but also becomes a formative stage in your life through the friendships you make, we would be very pleased if you continued to feel connected to Paderborn University," said Prof. Dr. Rita Burrichter, who congratulated all graduates on behalf of the alumni association PLAZEF, inviting them to stay in touch with each other and Paderborn University as alumni.
Afterwards, several graduates were honoured for their special achievements. Christine Pape and Jay Kl?pperpieper each received a prize of 150 euros for extraordinary commitment, sponsored by the Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft and the Philologenverband NRW. Lena Jungh?rtchen and Madlen Ververs received the MLP and PLAZEF prizes, each worth 500 euros, for outstanding Master's theses with a school-related or didactic focus.
This text was translated automatically.
