BA bids farewell to record-breaking number of graduates and welcomes new students

On Friday September 29th, Brand Academy once again bid the graduates of its Master’s and Bachelor’s programmes farewell and welcomed its new students in an appropriately festive setting.

Given a record-breaking number of 68 graduates, the continuous growth of BA over the last few years was unmistakable. As a result, the official ceremony had to be moved from its traditional location on BA’s Campus Rainvilleterasse to the venerable Mozartsäle.

By tradition, BA President Prof. Dr. h.c. Shan Fan held the first speech. He warned that the world is moving towards two major crises, driven on one side by the indifference of those who profit from globalization towards those who can’t, and on the other side by sprawling profiteering. Accordingly, he encouraged both graduates and fresh students to engage themselves to the benefit of society, to take countermeasures to prevent the looming crises and to inspire others to do the same.

In the evening’s second speech, Vice President Prof. Dr. Simone Roth recommended dealing with a continuously changing world by developing strong personal views and values as well as plenty of tolerance for other people and cultures. According to Roth, Brand Academy has done its share to facilitate that development in its graduates, but the latter should nevertheless continue to strengthen their personalities and also have confidence in themselves. By successfully working with renowned companies during their studies, all graduates had already proven that they are able to master the realities of the business world.

Next on the agenda was the ceremonial handover of the Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas. Guest of honour Wolfgang K.A. Disch personally congratulated David Vielhauer, author of the best Bachelor’s thesis in the field of Brand Management, and awarded him a free one-year membership for the distinguished Gesellschaft zur Erforschung des Markenwesens e.V. Subsequently the Course Directors also found some personal words for their graduates to accompany each certificate. Last but certainly not least, graduates Leonie Weber (Master) and Hendrik Assmann (Bachelor) shared their personal views of the years spent at Brand Academy.

After the formal ceremony, which concluded with the traditional tossing of the mortar boards, all guests were kindly invited to attend the exhibition of selected final works by the graduates of the Brand Design Bachelor’s programme, accompanied by drinks and a delectable flying buffet served in front of a gorgeous view of the river Elbe.

Feel free to visit our Instagram channel for further impressions of ceremony, exhibition and party.