KLU Graduation 2026: Driven by boldness & curiosity

After the opening by master of ceremonies and Dean of Programs, Prof. Dr. Alexander Himme, KLU President Prof. Dr. Andreas Kaplan was the first to offer his congratulations. His main advice to the students was not to be afraid of making mistakes. He encouraged them to take advice by the ubiquitous AI and next to it – like it used to be in earlier times – from friends and “even” parents. But ultimately, he said, life was about making your own decisions and allowing yourself to get some of them wrong.

Throughout all speeches, a special tribute was paid to KLU’s founder and sponsor Klaus-Michael Kühne who passed away only few weeks ago. Jörg Dräger, Chairman of the KLU Supervisory Board and Executive Director of the Board of Trustees at the Kühne Foundation, reminded the guests of the fact that “his” university was not just a project but a mission close to his heart, with the goal to bring supply chain knowledge into the boardrooms and to prepare leaders who will shape the world.

Commencement speaker Stefan Paul, CEO of Kühne+Nagel, shared some personal stories and learnings on how to stay open to knowledge, new experiences, and opportunities in the fast-paced world we live in.

The student’s speech was delivered by Alex Ocnean (BSc in Business Administration), who expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the ceremony and congratulated his fellow graduates. 
 

Traditionally, the KLU Graduation Ceremony is a moment of celebrating excellence in all its facets. This year’s recipient of the President’s Medal for Citizenship was Ksenia Ramaj (MSc in International Management), who was honored for her contributions to the KLU community and student life. The DAAD Prize, granted every year to an outstanding international student, went to the hands of Jason Duncan (MSc in International Management).

Associate Professor of Freight Transportation Prof. Dr. Hanno Friedrich and external lecturer Dr. Nils Roemer received the KLU Best Teaching Awards for internal and external teaching, respectively. Professor of Humanitarian Logistics Maria Besiou was recognized with the Teaching Innovation Award.

Final words were left to KLU alumna Katrin Pompe (Head of Supply Chain Innovation & Cooperation, Otto Group) who reminded the students that life does not always follow a linear path and emphasized the importance of community – inviting the graduates to become active members of the alumni network.

After the ceremony, the graduates and their families stepped outside to enjoy the warm sunshine, take photos, and congratulate one another. It was a wonderful celebration of knowledge, achievement, and community. We are very proud of each of our graduates and wish them all the best for their next steps!

Photo credit: KLU/Christin Schwarzer