Economics at university level has to find answers to current megatrends: in the wake of automation, machines and programs are performing increasingly demanding tasks. This is also increasingly the case for activities that were previously carried out by those with an academic background. The other megatrend – digitalisation – is also shaping the economy and economics, from the digitalisation of business processes to the use of economic methods.

Skills for the future

The Faculty of Economics and Management reacts to these trends by focusing on teaching students skills that will also be relevant for the future. The foundation for this is a fundamental understanding of economic and business processes as well as an analytical understanding of related issues. Being able to evaluate economic hypotheses and operational decision-making bases and communicate the corresponding insights in an accurate and comprehensible way are also core skills. The content of the study programmes is based on current research findings from the field of economics. Furthermore, great importance is placed on practical application in business. This aspect is especially emphasised when using interactive and practice-oriented teaching methods. The above-average lecturer-to-student ratio enables the faculty to make good use of these different teaching methods in addition to traditional lectures.

Interactive teaching methods and practical application

This includes tutorials in which students present solutions for business case studies in front of their peers and lecturers and receive direct feedback. Some lectures and business challenges are also used as a platform for concepts and ideas to be presented directly to business representatives, who then assess what they have seen. The practical applications of economic models and findings are demonstrated, and what students have learnt during the course of their studies is put into practice. Having contact with the business world allows students to develop strengths in and preferences for particular fields, and to start building their network for when they later enter the workforce. Teachers and guest lecturers from companies and economic institutions share their wealth of experience in lectures and seminars, and thereby contribute to students’ understanding of how to apply what they are learning in practice.