Klaus-Ulrich Pfeiffer, Chairman of IN Kontakt, Alumni Officer Claudia Reng, KU Vice President Prof. Dr. Jens Hogreve and WFI Dean Prof. Dr. André Habisch welcomed the numerous guests from various graduating classes. In their opening speeches, they emphasized the importance of the continuous exchange between the University and its alumni. Reng emphasized: "Time spent together connects. Today, we find ourselves at this beautiful location in Ingolstadt because we want to connect all alumni with each other."
Past meets future: KU Alumni Day in Ingolstadt
In line with this resolution, a varied program awaited the alumni: Prof. Dr. Bernd Stauss, former Chair of Service Management, and Jakob Schäuble, research associate, discussed the beginnings and challenges of the WFI. In a personal retrospective, Professor Stauss recalled the founding of the faculty in 1989: "The faculty was founded with just 6 professors and 80 students. At that time, we were not yet in the current buildings, which were only gradually completed. It was the magic of the beginning – we were able to shape everything. There were still no examination regulations, no study regulations, and the library had yet to be established. But we had a highly motivated team and equally committed students."
A highlight of the Alumni Day was the lecture by Prof. Dr. Alexander Danzer, who analyzed the economic policy implications of the "Make America Great Again" movement in the USA. He focused on two central questions: On the one hand, he examined the competition between the USA and China and the effects on unemployment in the USA. Secondly, he asked the question of whether the influx of cheap labor is hindering or stimulating the US labor market.
Participants also had the opportunity to take part in further taster lectures. They were able to learn more about the economic aspects of climate change (Prof. Dr. Reinhard Weber) and data science (Prof. Dr. Götz Pfander). These sessions offered insights into current research and practice-oriented approaches to key challenges.
The guests also had the opportunity to explore the campus Auf der Schanz and the Georgianum. The nostalgia city tour led by students, during which participants immersed themselves in the history of the student city and revisited the central places of their student years, was particularly well received.
The interactive exchange between alumni, students and prospective students was also a central component of the Alumni Day. Guests were able to learn about the students' current work and find out about research topics and projects at information stands. In a panel discussion moderated by Prof. Dr. Heinrich Kuhn, alumna Prof. Dr. Sabine Benoit, who had traveled all the way from Singapore, Dr. Viktoria K. Klaus (Allianz Leben) and Andreas Ruhsert (Bank-Verlag GmbH) reported on their professional careers and gave valuable career tips.