Prepared for the challenges ahead - KLU celebrates the graduation of the class of 2024
One of the most important dates in the KLU calendar: the graduation of our students. This year, for the first time, the ceremony took place in Hamburg's iconic Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall. Within sight of the KLU campus in Hamburg's HafenCity, KLU graduates and their families gathered to celebrate this important milestone in their lives.
On September 20, KLU graduates and their guests gathered for a memorable graduation ceremony at the Elbphilharmonie, one of Hamburg's most iconic landmarks. The ceremony, hosted by KLU's new Dean of Programs, Prof. Alexander Himme, began with a warm welcome to the graduates.
In his speech, KLU President Prof. Andreas Kaplan emphasized the importance of resilience. "Resilience is not about pretending that setbacks do not affect us or that they are not painful. It is about seeing failure as a temporary setback and an opportunity for growth." Resilience is also an important part of the special mindset that all KLU students acquire - the Operations Mindset. This mindset, along with the network and friendships students build during their time at KLU, "will be of enormous value in your professional lives," he said.
Opportunities and challenges ahead
Jörg Dräger, Chairman of the Kühne Foundation, also addressed the audience. "As you embark on this new chapter, the world presents both opportunities and challenges," he said, citing the climate crisis and ongoing wars and conflicts around the world as just two examples. "The complexities you will face as you embark on the next phase of your journey will feel daunting. When they do, remember that you are part of a community at the forefront of creating solutions to these global challenges," he added. As future leaders, KLU graduates will be called upon, for example, to evaluate emerging technologies and make informed decisions.
This was followed by a speech by Prof. Jens Weidmann, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Commerzbank, and a speech by KLU students Nima Nami (BSc Business Administration) and Yeji Kim (MSc Global Logistics & SCM).
Award-winning students
After all graduates had received their certificates on stage at the Elbphilharmonie, the KLU Best Dissertation Award, supported by the Dr. Friedrich Jungheinrich Foundation, was presented to Dr. Johanna Schnier and Prof. Dr. Rafael Escamilla. This was followed by the announcement of this year's winner of the President's Medal for Citizenship: Nima Nami (BSc in Business Administration) was honored for outstanding extracurricular involvement and promotion of social cohesion within the student body. Finally, the new Dean of Programs, Prof. Alexander Himme, and external lecturer Dr. Fabrice Mielke received the KLU Best Teacher Award.
After the official ceremony at the "Elphi", the participants made the short walk to the KLU campus, symbolizing their transition to the next stage of their lives. A festive reception in the foyer of KLU concluded the official program.
We wish all graduates all the best for their next steps! See you again at KLU.
