Mission & Milestones

Mission & Milestones

KLU is a leading state-recognized and highly ranked international university headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, with an additional location currently being established in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Committed to empowering leaders with a strong operations mindset, KLU offers programs in business and management, data science and analytics, as well as specialized programs in logistics, operations, and supply chain management. Imparting an in-depth understanding of operations is a cornerstone of benefactor and founder Klaus-Michael Kühne's vision to improve the world through logistics and supply chain management, as reflected in the name Kühne Logistics University (KLU). This operations mindset guides KLU's approach to contemporary leadership and management education, blending academic excellence with a hands-on approach to ensure real-world applicability in both teaching and research. 

We provide a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs, including Bachelor's, Master's, MBA, and PhD, along with a variety of executive education certification courses. All our programs are fully accredited and consistently ranked among the best. They are delivered in English by first-class, highly research-active professors trained at some of the world's most prestigious universities and business schools. Anchored in KLU's operations mindset, combining leadership and management studies with data science and information technology, and placing particular emphasis on digitalization, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, we ensure that our graduates are well-equipped to drive responsible and sustainable change in the world. 

Beyond academic instruction, our students enhance their competencies and skills through integrated internships, international exchange programs with esteemed partner universities such as Stellenbosch in South Africa, Tongji in China, and Universidad de los Andes in Colombia. They also benefit from an engaging and vibrant student life, community-building activities, and tailored career coaching. Our strong relationships with renowned corporate partners and employers, including BMW, Lufthansa, and McKinsey, ensure that KLU graduates embark on impactful and rewarding careers. 

KLU Milestones

  • 2010: Founding of KLU Hamburg, Germany, with state recognition granted by the Hamburg Senate
  • 2012: Awarded the Erasmus University Charter by the European Union
  • 2013: Inauguration of KLU’s current Hamburg campus in HafenCity by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
  • 2017: Granted the right to confer PhD degrees, becoming one of the few private German universities with this privilege
  • 2020: Celebrated the 10th anniversary with the theme "10 Years of Award-Winning Teaching and Research"
  • 2021: Rated the Best University Worldwide by Studyportals, based solely on student evaluations
  • 2024: Achieved international AACSB accreditation, an honor bestowed upon approximately 5% of the world’s top business schools
  • 2025: Opening of KLU in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam