“You’ve done it, and you can be proud of that!” – Viadrina celebrates its alumni on Graduation Day

“You’ve done it. You’ve achieved the goals you set yourselves, and you can truly be proud of that. We, as a university, are also proud of you,” said Viadrina President Prof. Dr Eduard Mühle, congratulating the alumni in his opening remarks at the celebrations held by the three Faculties.

The Faculty of Business Administration and Economics and the ENS kick off Graduation Day

At 3 pm sharp, the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, which was hosting its ceremony jointly with the European New School of Digital Studies in the Audimax, began its proceedings. A total of 129 graduates made their way into the hall, which was packed to capacity, to the sound of festive live music with a personal touch – Faculty Director Ingo Trenkmann played the piano, accompanied by his colleague Dr Tom Vogel on the trombone; – many of them in their graduation gowns. Dean Prof. Dr Karl Keiber offered his congratulations on behalf of the entire Faculty and urged the graduates: “Keep the good memories! – During your studies in Frankfurt (Oder), you’ve got to know the whole world and, hopefully, made friends for life. Believe me, that is the most important thing. Stay ambitious and never forget your academic roots!” Prof. Dr Lauri Wessel, Programme Director of the Master’s in Digital Entrepreneurship, added: “We are proud to have every single one of you!”

Faculty of Law celebrates a successful challenge

At the Faculty of Law’s celebration, there was also a festive atmosphere and a great sense of relief at having successfully completed the gruelling task of passing the first state examination or the German-Polish Legal Studies programme. With this in mind, Dean Prof. Dr Benjamin Lahusen, with a twinkle in his eye but a serious tone, urged the graduates to enjoy the celebrations and the day today, and to rest tomorrow, Sunday. – “But on Monday morning, set your alarm clock, and using everything you have learnt, ensure that our world – which is, after all, a very beautiful place – remains a beautiful place; that this constitutional state, which on the whole functions well, continues to exist; and that this democracy in which we live, and which is the best we have ever had in this country, does not accidentally fall asleep.”

Emely Strobel and Luca Jung, speaking on behalf of the alumni who had passed the First Law Examination, looked back on the challenges of their studies, some of which they had to complete during the Covid-19 pandemic: “Behind every seat in this hall lie long days in the library, study groups, flashcards, exam revision courses, nervous breakdowns just before submission deadlines, and exam preparations that sometimes felt more like a long-distance run with no finish line. (…) And all that for a piece of paper. Yet it is precisely this that we can be proud of today – not just those who achieved particularly good marks, but every single person in this room. Because the First State Examination demands perseverance, discipline and the willingness to keep going, time and time again. And that is exactly what we have all done,” summarised Emely Strobel. Her fellow student Luca Jung thanked friends and family, as well as the Faculty, for the individual and personal support and guidance they received throughout their studies: “We had short lines of communication, a personal atmosphere and easy access to our lecturers. We could ask any questions, have any discussions, and support was always available. This closeness is by no means a given and has had a decisive influence on our studies.”

Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences honours social responsibility

The Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences honoured its graduates in the Logensaal. Dean Prof. Dr Timm Beichelt emphasised the significant role played by his faculty’s graduates in society: “You are the bridge-builders that our society needs to prevent it from disintegrating further into echo chambers. You are translators who can convey that Europe is not the centre of the world, but a place where fundamental values are fought for.” None of this is simple or easy; but if it were, there would be no need for a degree programme. “I take my hat off to your achievements, your perseverance and your intellect,” said the Dean as he offered his congratulations.

The graduation speech for the Bachelor’s students was given by Theodor Brandt, who was also awarded the prize for the best bachelor's thesis. He summed up his time at university: “I found my bachelor’s degree to be a period of intensive learning. Cultural studies, in particular, enabled me to learn not only about myself, but also about other people and cultures.”

Vanessa Czerwionka, who received the prize for the best master's thesis, emphasised: “I was particularly impressed by the highly competent lecturers, who conveyed the topics in the seminars using theoretical and empirical methods at a high level. The small seminar sizes also ensured that we could engage with the topics much more intensively. I appreciated the sometimes friendly rapport between the lecturers and the students, which created a pleasant and productive atmosphere.”

A drink in the cool instead of an open-air party in extreme heat

Due to the forecast of extreme heat of around 40 degrees Celsius, the planned open-air party for all three Faculties and the ENS on the campus square had to be cancelled. Instead, following the graduation ceremonies, the graduates raised a glass with their families and friends in the slightly cooler buildings of the Viadrina.