History

Development of WFI in the 1990s

For the first time there are more than 500 students matriculated at WFI in 1993. The positive reception confirms the decision to expand the faculty. The extension of the campus by a new complex is celebrated in September 1995 with a topping out ceremony.

Within the framework of further developments, WFI establishes the first professorship in service management in all of Germany. With the implementation of an independent selection procedure for applicants WFI turns away from the assignment procedure of the "ZVS".

The 2000s: Expansion and Reorganization of Study Programs

The postgraduate study “Business Administration” with the degree Master of Business Administration (MBA) is established in October 2001.

Following the introduction of the first diploma degree program in auditing in Germany in 2003, the restructuring to Bachelor’s (2005) and Master’s (2008) study programs (following the Bologna reform) proceeds in subsequent years.

In cooperation with the Tongji University (Shanghai) the bachelor program “International Business Administration” (German-Chinese double degree) is initiated in the year of 2007.

The range of courses is expanded by the start of the Master course specialisation “International Business Administration” in collaboration with the ESC Toulouse (German-French double degree) in fall 2009.

The 2010s at WFI: Internationalization

Since 2007, internationalization has played a major role at WFI. This is can be seen in the expansion of English-language courses, the introduction of the International Fall Term, the English-speaking WFI Summer School and the strengthening of the Centre for Business Languages by making positions permanent.

This was followed in 2012 by the introduction of a structured doctoral program.

In 2013, a new Master's specialisation "Entrepreneurship & Social Innovation" was introduced, which has since been renamed "Entrepreneurship & Innovation" (ENTRE).

In 2018, the Master's specialisation "Management Science" was realigned and renamed "Business Analytics & Operations Research" (BA&OR).

In 2018 and 2019, the two research institutes "KU Research Institute for Taxation" and BESH (KU Research Institute for Business and Economics in Service of Humanity) were founded at the faculty.

Since 2019, the KU has been participating in the federal-state program for the promotion of young academics. The framework concept addresses digitalisation as a interdisciplinary scientific topic and is titled "For a people-oriented digital society". The project supports seven junior professorships at the KU, including two at WFI. In addition, two professors from the faculty, Prof Setzer (Information Systems) and Prof. Fontaine (Operations Management), are also members of the Mathematics and Geography at the KU. Since 2019, there has been a Master’s degree program in Taxation at WFI.

WFI from 2020: Characterized by Interdisciplinary Cooperation

A new trend is the increasing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in teaching and research, which is also reflected in the introduction of further innovative and interdisciplinary degree programs.

The new Master's degree program "Business and Psychology", for example, combines knowledge of various sub-disciplines and research focuses from the fields of business administration, economics and psychology. It was developed jointly by WFI and the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Humanities and Education and is organised jointly by both faculties.

The new Bachelor's degree programs "Digital & Data-Driven Business" and "Sustainability in Business and Economics" are also characterised by diverse interdisciplinary connections and cooperation with other faculties at the KU.

2020 saw the creation of the faculty development plan, which resulted in the mission statement "A people-centred economy" and the definition of three key research areas:

• Digital and data-driven economy: people & new technologies
• Sustainability: Entrepreneurial practice, behavioural incentives and framework conditions for a better future
• Economic future issues: Evidence-based evaluation of new technologies, social norms and state intervention.

In 2020, the role of Vice Dean for Internationalization was established at WFI and preparations for international accreditation by AACSB were initiated.

The growing importance of the Third Mission should also be emphasised (see also PRME Report). The KU's Future Campus in Ingolstadt is currently under construction.