Tenth Anniversary bbw University of Applied Sciences: Ceremony in Berlin's Estrel Hotel with the Governing Mayor

On 25 April 2017, the bbw University of Applied Sciences celebrated its tenth birthday with an official ceremony in Berlin's Estrel Hotel: with the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, as a prominent keynote speaker and leader of the congratulations, with 300 guests from business, politics and education, with just under 60 new graduates in caps and gowns, with a show programme from the "Angel Strings", video, speeches, Buddy Bear revelation, presentation of certificates to the most recent graduates and,naturally lots of congratulations, flowers, gifts and the traditional "cap throwing" photo on the stage.

After all, ten years of bbw University of Applied Science provides many reasons to celebrate. One of these: in the ten years of its existence in Berlin, bbw University of Applied Sciences has established itself as a business university for business at one of the biggest academic locations in Europe - with a variety of traditional and reputable universities and research institutions. With around 1,200 students, for a few years it has been the biggest private, state-approved university in Berlin-Brandenburg with roots and headquarters in the capital region. And it has three of the seals of quality so sought-after by all universities, which it is very proud of: It is system-accredited, by the FIBAA, it has been reaccredited by the science council and given state recognition by the Berlin Senate. Currently, there are around 1,200 students on twelve Bachelor's and Master's courses with sector-specific specialisms and elective subjects; -there are now also roughly as many graduates, the majority of whom have started their careers as specialists or managers and have been strengthening the economy of the region since then.

To achieve this, the bbw University of Applied Science needed the right ideas at the right time: courage, stamina, strong partners and sponsors, who were guests at the event alongside the teaching staff and the university employees. The 300 guests included the founding rector of the bbw University of Applied Science, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Hörber and the President of the HTW, our partner university from the founding days, Prof. Dr. Klaus Semlinger, the Managing Director of Unternehmensverbände Berlin-Brandenburg [business associations], Christian Amsinck, who is also the Chairman of the University Board of Trustees and made the opening speech, or co-founder of the university, Dr. Andreas Forner, who, like Kerstin Kehl, is managing director of the bbw Akademie holding company. In addition, the bbw University of Applied Science welcomed Counsellor for Education, Science and Technology Rosinov from the Embassy of the Russian Federation and a large number of advisory council members and representatives of partner companies among the guests.

The particular thanks of the Rector, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gebhard Hafer, went to all of them because they helped a future-oriented university to come into being from an idea. In his brief speech, he also clearly stated where the university's focus would be in future, thus underlining what the university management had announced on the same day in an interview with the Tagesspiegel newspaper, which all of the guests at the official ceremony found on their seats before the start: over the last ten years, the bbw University of Applied Science has created a good basis for the future. The founders' ideas have been successfully implemented, important strategic partnerships entered into. Now, just like all other universities and companies, it is facing major challenges that have to be overcome in order to respond to competition. The bbw University of Applied Science will remain a regional business university primarily oriented to the regional economy and will raise its profile on the growth sectors ad development clusters. "In addition, it will develop a more international focus," said Prof. Hafer. But the bbw University of Applied Science with students from 42 countries, with the first English-language courses,such as the Masters in Management of Creative Industries and International Technology Transfer Management, an international office, foreign-language further training courses for university employees, an internationally staffed research team, etc. is on the right course.
It was also a young international student who, together with a university employee, won the design competition for a completely new university accessory. The two of them revealed the bbw University of Applied Science Buddy Bear -which is to stand in the foyer of the bbw University of Applied Science with immediate effect in the colours of bbw and University of Applied Science - dark green and dove grey and painted with Berlin and scientific symbols.

A high point of the official ceremony was the celebration of the most recent graduates from the bbw University of Applied Science. Because their send-off into the world of work or further studies, accompanied by good advice and congratulations, was also on the agenda. Just under 80 out of a current total of approx. 1,200 received their Bachelor's and exam certificates here. Most graduates, as has often been the case frequently, had studied economic sciences full-time with all of the specialisms offered. In addition, Bachelors of Economic Communication, Economic Engineers for Logistics and Supply Chain Management, as well as Mechanical Engineers with Mechatronics or Electrical Engineers for Control and Safety Engineering were on the stage.

As in every examination celebration this time too, the best students on every course and the best student of the year were honoured. As the best student of the year, Ms Lisa Schlegelmilch (graduate in Economic Communication) received the congratulations of the university management and the Governing Mayor. As the best student on the course Engineering Sciences Mechanical Engineering with Mechatronics, Ms Fataneh Klinger received outstanding exam results. Mr Christopher Drywa received the best certificate on the course Economic Engineering Sciences with specialisation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. In Economic Sciences/Economic Communication, Ms Katharina Engler received the best marks on her course.

Mr Derek Rogusch, who successfully studied Economic Sciences with the specialism of Trade Management , expressed the thanks of all of the graduates to the university management, the professors and university staff for an exciting time studying.

At the end, moderator Susanne Schöne called everyone back on stage for a photo with the Mayor and the Chairman of the Board of Trusteees, as a reminder of this important day for the bbw University of Applied Science and for the former students who marked such an important stage in their lives so far on this day - their first degree.

For more information see press release: http://www.bbw-hochschule.de/Zehn_Jahre_bbw_Hochschule_Es_gibt_viele_Gr%C3%BCnde_zu_feiern.html

A first impression of the 10th anniversary celebration can be seen here: https://youtu.be/NykLdes3rXA