Exemplary for growth and success

“Today is the beginning of a new chapter with new challenges, opportunities and many new things to learn,” said moderator Silja Wöhrle, introducing the ceremony at the forum of the Bildungscampus Heilbronn Education. ”Let’s make the next two and a half hours unforgettable.”

"I am delighted that we can celebrate this significant milestone in our graduates’ lives together. Today is not only an important moment for them but also a good example of the continuous growth and success of our campus," said Sunyaev in his welcoming speech. He pointed out the rapid development of the TUM Campus Heilbronn since its foundation in 2018: “From initially 46 students, we now have over 1,000 young people enrolled here this winter semester, and interest in our programs remains exceptionally high." This dynamic is reflected not only in these numbers but also in the quality of the education and research.

Prof. Hans-Joachim Bungartz, Dean of the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, particularly emphasized the international atmosphere at the TUM Campus Heilbronn: Of the 330 students currently enrolled in the Bachelor’s program in Information Engineering, only one-tenth come from Germany, while almost 70 percent come from outside the EU. “You widen our horizons. It’s wonderful to have this diversity at our school and university,” he said, expressing his delight, and then turned to the graduates with a wink: ”Go out into the world, be successful and – if you get rich – think about your alma mater.”

Interdisciplinary research and teaching

Prof. Gunther Friedl, Dean of the TUM School of Management, emphasized the interdisciplinary character of research and teaching at the TUM Campus Heilbronn in his welcome video: “Here, we focus on the interfaces between management and technology, and between management and natural sciences, equipping you with the skills to navigate and lead in a complex, interconnected world”. He emphasized the high quality of education at TUM, which is also reflected in current rankings: “The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is ranked 13th in the world and fourth best in Europe in the Global University Employability Ranking 2024. The continued high demand for TUM graduates on the international job market is a testament to the quality of the education you have received."

Finally, the two doctoral students Tobias Kircher and Dai Pham were honored. “I had a great time here. I hope to come back one day and tell you more,” said Dai Pham, whose dissertation was on improving decision-making in complex, dynamic environments, in response to Sunyaev’s question about practical applications of his research. Tobias Kircher, who wrote his dissertation on a possible ban on tracking for personalized advertising, thanked his doctoral supervisor Prof. Jens Förderer for the excellent supervision and described his research stay at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh as one of the great highlights of his doctorate.