Dean Prof. Petra SteinorthAs the year comes to a close: a look back and ahead

16 December 2025

Photo: UHH

Dean Prof. Petra Steinorth looks back on an eventful 2025 and gives an outlook for the coming year.

For the Business School, an exciting year is drawing to a close: we launched our own Teaching Award, received awards and recognitions for research and teaching, implemented projects in the transfer area, supported the Startup Factory Impossible Founders, and exercised influence in the political sphere. With the inaugural International Online Sustainability Week, we introduced a new format for sustainability, and through working meetings, we advocated for equality. On the international stage, we can also hold our own: as a member of the “Northern Circle,” we now belong to a consortium of international universities. Visiting scholars from abroad enriched our offerings in Hamburg, and numerous international students applied for the Master’s program in Business Administration. Conversely, both young and experienced researchers have traveled to present research findings, learn from others, and network with an international audience. To advance research and innovation, we established the Center for Technology, Innovation, and Market Entry (TIME) and secured a chair position through a foundation professorship.

What are our plans for 2026? We will continue to promote internationalization, adapt our programs to meet students’ needs, maintain excellence in research, and share our knowledge in business and society— and vice versa. A key milestone in the new year is the preparation for the EQUIS re-accreditation visit in June, and of course, we are eagerly awaiting the decision regarding the University of Hamburg’s status as an excellence university.

To everyone connected with us, we thank you for your support: external and internal stakeholders, students and alumni, researchers and educators, our advisory board, and the University of Hamburg. We wish you all a joyful holiday season and a successful start to the new year.

Prof. Petra Steinorth, Dean, on behalf of the Management Board