Congratulations! Graduation ceremony for KLU students (photo gallery)
125 students successfully completed their studies at Kühne Logistics University in 2020. Today, they were given a festive farewell – for the first time as a hybrid event. Due to the coronavirus crisis, specific hygiene rules had to be adhered to on campus, while students who were unable to participate had the chance to follow the entire event online.
Graduating during the coronavirus crisis might be an even more unique event than usual. To the sound of "Titans” by Vangelis the graduates entered KLU’s auditorium, accompanied by KLU President Prof. Thomas Strothotte, Dean of Research Prof. Maria Besiou and Dean of Programs Prof. Christian Barrot. The rest of KLU’s faculty took part online and contributed to the ceremony with greetings in a short video compilation. This year, for the first time, the ceremony for the Master’s graduates in Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management, and Global Supply Chain Management (Tricontinent), the MBA graduates in Leadership and Supply Chain Management, and the Bachelor’s graduates in Business Administration was streamed completely online.
The university’s president, Prof. Strothotte, especially stressed the importance of education during times of a crisis like the one we are facing today. “In the midst of crisis and change we can learn to deal with changes through our academic education”, he said and congratulated the graduates on their achievement.
The President’s moving speech was followed by congratulations from the university’s founder, Prof. Dr. h.c. Klaus-Michael Kühne, who, for the first time, gave his speech to the graduates via video. He expressed his sincere regret that he and his wife couldn’t personally take part in the graduation ceremony in Hamburg. He also assured the new graduates that they were “excellently prepared for future practice,” while pointing out that the pandemic had demonstrated the importance of logistics for the functioning of economic life and the provision of everyday supplies. A greeting from Dr. Christian Langer, CDO of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG, and the student and alumni speeches rounded out the ceremony. During the event, Dr. Mojtaba Salem was also presented with this year’s Dr. Jungheinrich Ph.D. award.
The certificates were then ceremoniously – and at a safe distance – handed out, before the ritual throwing of the hats in the presence of President Thomas Strothotte, which marked the transition from students to alumni.
The Kühne Logistics University team wishes our graduates all the best and every success in their future careers!
