On Friday, July 14, 2023, this year's graduates, their families, friends, lecturers and employees of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society (HWG LU) came together in the festive ambience of the Ludwigshafen Pfalzbau to celebrate the successful completion of their studies as the highlight of the 2022/2023 academic year.
After the champagne reception, University President Professor Dr. Gunther Piller welcomed the audience and congratulated the graduates on their very special achievements under truly exceptional circumstances: "You have shown willpower, perseverance and performance during your studies and successfully completed your studies despite the adverse circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic. You and your family can be proud of what you have achieved!" The graduation certificate is also the ticket to a new phase of life, and the joint efforts and experiences are important factors for future action and the shaping of one's own life path.
Tatjana Kamrad, Chairwoman of the Friends and Sponsors of the University Association, then charmingly encouraged students to stay in touch with the university even after graduation: "For the equivalent of a coffee to go each month, you not only support the university and subsequent students, but also benefit from a sustainable network yourself," said Kamrad.
Karoline Rossmann and Paul Konrath from the Bachelor's degree program in Social Work then took a look back at studying under pandemic and normal conditions in their graduation speech: After a somewhat bumpy start with online lectures, digital game nights and chat groups instead of hallway conversations, student parties and joint canteen meals, the university and students had found innovative and sustainable concepts to cope well with everyday study life even under pandemic conditions. The return from digital to analog connections is nevertheless particularly valuable, as it shows once again to a whole new extent how rich a university is through the diversity of people and opinions that come together here. "We have a great responsibility, both to ourselves and to the world," said Rossmann and Konrath, and gave their former fellow students the following advice: "You are pioneers of change. Be courageous, creative and active! Get involved!"
Andreas Gietl, alumnus of the university and Senior Vice President Digitalization of Business at BASF SE, also picked up on this idea in his speech. "Many of you will take on management responsibility in the next few years. You have energy, technical and methodological knowledge, but leadership experience is not something you are born with, nor is it something you can acquire from books. Leadership is about what you do and how you take people with you. It's about being open and sometimes vulnerable. Being able to admit mistakes. Being authentic. It's about leading the team, other people, to success and taking responsibility for their actions as well as your own," Gietl told the current cohort. You have to leave your comfort zone and actively make the decision for yourself to take on this leadership responsibility. "Don't wait to be selected! Make your own choice!"
Following the central ceremony - charmingly moderated by Christine Heinzel, lecturer at the Department of Services & Consulting, and accompanied by singer and guitarist Florian Gallant - the graduates received their certificates from the hands of University President Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller and the Deans of the four Departments. After the ceremonial awarding of certificates, a buffet and cool drinks awaited the guests before DJ Oliver Koob from the DJ Community Mannheim opened the party part of the evening.
As a special highlight this year, the graduating class of 1973 also celebrated their 50th alumni anniversary with the current graduates.
In the last academic year 2022/2023, around 950 graduates - Bachelors, Masters and MBA - successfully completed their degrees at HWG LU.
The HWG LU 2023 graduation ceremony took place with the kind support of Freeyou, the digital "car insurance that makes car insurance easy".
