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Annual reception of Faculty III

Nathanael Klein

The Faculty of Economic Disciplines, Business Information Systems and Business Law at the University of Siegen held its 19th annual reception on October 23, 2025 in front of around 160 guests at the Haus der Siegerländer Wirtschaft in Siegen. Numerous personalities from business, administration and politics came to look back on the past academic year together with the Faculty and its members. At the same time, the Faculty used the reception as an opportunity to ceremoniously present the new doctoral candidates with their doctoral certificates.

© Fakultät III
Foto der anwesenden Doktoranden am Jahresempfang der Fak III

After the welcome address by Dean Professor Dr. Marc Hassenzahl, Rector Professor Dr. Stefanie Reese addressed the guests in the ballroom as part of a greeting from the Rectorate and took the opportunity to welcome the new Chancellor Iris Litty to the University of Siegen once again. Professor Dr. Jens O. Brunner then gave the keynote speech on the topic of "Healthcare Management Science - data-driven planning in the healthcare sector". He impressively demonstrated how modern data-based methods can help to make healthcare more efficient and fairer.

Following the keynote speech, Dean Hassenzahl presented thirteen doctoral candidates, who were ceremoniously dressed in gowns, with their certificates. Unfortunately, a further thirteen doctoral graduates were unable to attend the ceremony due to other commitments. In total, nine business administration graduates, eight business law graduates, eight Business Information Systems graduates and one plural economist successfully completed their doctorates in the past academic year.

Another highlight of the event was the presentation of the doctoral prizes. Dr. Jan-Erik Justkowiak received the Rolf H. Brunswig Doctoral Prize of the University of Siegen. The certificate was presented by the Vice Dean for Research, Professor Dr. Peter Krebs, and Heinz Meckel from the Brunswig Foundation within the Siegen Civic Foundation.

The Faculty's Althusius Prize for young academics was also presented to Dr. Philip Engelbutzeder and Dr. Christian Schäfer by the Vice Dean for Research, Professor Dr. Peter Krebs. All prizewinners had completed their doctorates with the top grade of "summa cum laude".

The Dr. Wolfgang Dieter Lange Science Prize was then awarded by the first Chairman of the Friends of Faculty III, Dipl.-Kfm. Gerd Dilling. This year's prizewinner was Junior Professor Dr. Svenja Flechtner, who was connected virtually. The laudatory speech was given by Professor Dr. Stefan Klein from the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.

Dr. Philipp Köhn received the University of Siegen Prize for the Promotion of Young Scientists from the Freie Rohrwerke Siegen Foundation for his dissertation. The certificate was presented by Dr. Jens Jacobs.

This year, the Faculty once again awarded the top-rated course of the 2025 academic year. This was based on the results of the teaching evaluations for the winter semester 2024/25 and the summer semester 2025, on the basis of which the students determined their favorites. Professor Dr. Martin Thomsen received the award for his lecture "Fundamentals of Corporate Taxation". The award was presented by students Emily Dittmann and Amelie Schmitt, who paid tribute to the prizewinner in an appreciative laudatory speech. The award ceremony was hosted by Professor Dr. Giuseppe Strina, Vice Dean for Teaching.

Following the academic ceremony, Dean Hassenzahl invited guests to a reception. The annual reception was accompanied by music from Christian Schmidt on the piano, both in the ballroom and at the subsequent reception in the basement of the building.