Friends Association
Board of Directors and Membership
Current Board Members
The members of the association elect the board, which currently consists of five elected members and one member of Faculty III at the University of Siegen.
| President | Bachelor of Business Administration Gerd Dilling |
| Vice President | Univ.-Prof. Dr. Arnd Wiedemann |
| Other members |
Dipl.-Ing. Klaus Heinrich Busch PD Dr. Michael Gail Bachelor of Business Administration Erich Wäschenbach Dr. Christoph Wagner |
The management of the association is the responsibility of the vice president, with the assistance of a staff member to be appointed by the Faculty Council of Faculty III (currently PD Dr. Michael Gail). The association currently has approximately 100 members. Members of the association include both companies and individuals.
Funded Projects
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Research Library of the School of Economics, Business Informatics, and Business Law
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Funding for individual projects (research projects, empirical studies, grants for publications by Faculty III)
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Grants for building the faculty's textbook collection
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Grant funds for the establishment of the library at the State College of Business
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Grants for academic events, lectures, and courses
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Support for academic exchange at the University of Siegen (since 1983)
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Funding for the University of Siegen's "Guest House" project (since 1995)
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Presentation of awards to the faculty's top graduates
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Support for the faculty's academic ceremonies
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Awarding of prizes to early-career researchers in the faculty for outstanding publications
Docendo discimus
"Docendo discimus - "Connecting Theory and Practice" is an initiative of the Association for the Promotion of Faculty III at the University of Siegen.
The motto embodies the idea that by organizing exclusive events, inspiring lectures, and discussions with experienced entrepreneurs, students not only benefit from theoretical knowledge but also enrich their learning journey through practical application and peer exchange. The name thus reflects the principle of "Docendi discimus"—the connection between theory and practice.
This time, at the invitation of Managing Director Mark Georg, we traveled to Kreuztal to visit Heinrich Georg GmbH. Heinrich Georg GmbH is a mechanical engineering company that specializes in sophisticated solutions for coil processing and roller grinding.
We were treated to a highly personalized tour of the facility, which began with Mark Georg giving an overview of the company. We then proceeded to the production halls, where we were able to view several products that were about to be shipped, guided by knowledgeable Georg employees. Back at the Georg headquarters, Mark Georg answered our questions. It was a lively discussion. To conclude, we were treated to Georg’s hospitality with a light snack.
It was a wonderful event that will be remembered for a long time to come. The students were thrilled and impressed, as the following statement from one student illustrates: “It was an honor to have participated in this truly successful event.” The comments made by the managing director and the staff reflect their fascination with the technology and the products. As a guest, I could really sense their enthusiasm. It was a very interesting glimpse into the world of a medium-sized family-owned business in the industrial sector.
A Look Back at a Successful Event: "Docendo discimus – Bridging Theory and Practice" in the Summer Semester of 2024
On Friday, May 24, 2024, the Association for the Promotion of the Faculty of Economics, Business Informatics, and Business Law at the University of Siegen hosted an exclusive event for selected students for the third time.
The faculty’s professors once again had the opportunity to nominate particularly outstanding students from the department. This time, the selected students were invited to a small-group tour of the facility.
The group traveled to Welschen-Ennest to visit the Hesse Bakery’s production facility. Bread, rolls, and cakes are baked here for a total of 54 branches. To kick off the evening, Tatjana Hesse presented the bakery’s history and told the students about the company’s management and leadership tools. We then headed to the bakery, where the manager gave us an expert tour and provided insight into the operations. The variety of tasks and processes was just as impressive as the dedication and loyalty of the employees to the company. So it came as no surprise that the bakery successfully weathered a fire in one of its ovens and consistently took advantage of the resulting opportunities for improvement. The hands-on portion was also a lot of fun, as we learned how to braid yeast plait bread. At the end, everyone was proud to take their own yeast plait bread home. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Hesses for their hospitality.
The Friends of the Faculty look back with pride on a successful event that has once again strengthened the link between theory and practice for the faculty’s students.
A Look Back at a Successful Event: "Docendo discimus – Bridging Theory and Practice" in the 2023/24 Winter Semester
On Thursday, December 14, 2023, the Association for the Promotion of the Faculty of Economics, Business Informatics, and Business Law at the University of Siegen hosted an exclusive event for selected students for the second time. Once again, the faculty’s professors had the opportunity to nominate particularly outstanding students from the faculty. The selected students were invited to an exclusive evening gathering in a small group. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the presentation by Florian Leipold, CEO of the Hees Bürowelt Group. Mr. Leipold shared his entrepreneurial experiences and discussed the students’ prospects as future college graduates. The venue, the Museum of Contemporary Art, provided the perfect setting for this inspiring evening. Following the discussion, attendees were able to wind down the evening with an Italian antipasti buffet and refreshing drinks. The Friends of the Faculty look back with pride on a successful event that further strengthened the bridge between theory and practice for the students of the faculty.
On October 21, 2022, the Association for the Promotion of the Faculty of Economics, Business Informatics, and Business Law at the University of Siegen hosted its first exclusive event for a select group of students. The small group of participants included the top students from the 10 master’s programs in Faculty III, as well as students nominated by professors in Faculty III who had distinguished themselves through exceptional academic achievements. Under the motto “Docendo discimus – Connecting Theory and Practice,” the students had the opportunity to gain insights into the life of an entrepreneur. At the start, Mr. Gerd Dilling, the association’s president, welcomed the participants. This was followed by a presentation by Mr. Patrick Schulte, founder and owner of billiton internet services GmbH, on his experiences as an entrepreneur. In addition, he offered the students advice for their future and was available to answer any questions the participants might have. Following the lecture and discussion, the students had the opportunity to ask questions. Prof. Dr. Arnd Wiedemann, as vice-chairman of the Friends of the University Association, then invited everyone to round off the evening with an Italian antipasti buffet and cold drinks.
Contact
Verein zur Förderung der Fakultät
Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Wirtschaftsinformatik
und Wirtschaftsrecht der Universität Siegen e. V.
c/o PD Dr. Michael Gail
University of Siegen
Faculty III
Unteres Schloß 3
57072 Siegen
Membership
Membership in the association is open to companies, government agencies, or individuals who are interested in the work of the faculty and agree to pay an annual membership fee at their own discretion. The minimum annual membership fee is 250 EUR for companies and government agencies and 25 EUR for private individuals. In addition to membership fees, the association is authorized to accept monetary and in-kind donations as well as other contributions. For more information about the donation account, please contact Univ.-Prof. Dr. Arnd Wiedemann.
You can find the membership application here: PDF