Graduation ceremony with honours: "This university is proud of its alumni"

In a festive setting, the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) bid farewell to its graduates from the Cottbus locations from the past academic year and honoured outstanding achievements of its alumni with awards.

The graduates celebrated their successful final degree on 11 October 2024 at the university's main campus together with many who had accompanied them on their journey with great dedication, including teaching staff, Staff Members, members of the BTU Sponsors' Association and family members.

BTU President Prof. Dr Gesine Grande conveyed the congratulations of the university management and said: "For you, who are celebrating your graduation here today, the effort has been worth it. You have a great deal of specialised knowledge. You are at the cutting edge of your respective disciplines. No matter where you end up in the future - stay loyal to BTU. Because this university is proud of its alumni and will be happy to support you in your later professional life."

Diana Gonzalez Olivo, a graduate of BTU's Culture and Technology study programme and Integration Commissioner for the State of Brandenburg, recalled her own periods of study in Cottbus in her speech and congratulated all graduates. She concluded by emphasising that she was looking forward to seeing everyone again in Cottbus or elsewhere in Brandenburg.

Prizes and honours

The prize for the best BTU STEM student 2023 in the Bachelor's programme, worth 500 euros, went to Marie Kreßmann from the Civil Engineering study programme in Faculty 6.
ShaharBan Karyaparamban from the  Environmental and Resources Management study programme in Faculty 2 was awarded the prize for the best BTU STEM student 2023 in the Master's programme, worth 1,000 euros.
The Women's Advancement Award 2023, donated by Frauenhilfswerk e.V. Cottbus and endowed with 1,000 euros, was awarded to Niloofar Soleymani from the Master's programme in World Heritage Studies in Faculty 6.
Birgit Hendrischke, Central Equal Opportunities Officer at BTU, presented the prizes.

Honours were awarded for the best Bachelor's and Master's theses from all six faculties. The BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg Sponsors' Association made it possible for the prizes to be endowed with 350 euros for Bachelor's theses and 1,000 euros for Master's theses. Jörg Waniek, Head of Human Resources at LEAG AG and board chairperson of the BTU Sponsors' Association, congratulated the award-winning graduates with the best theses. An important concern of the association is to invest in the future of the region. Jörg Waniek therefore congratulated the award winners with a fitting quote from Benjamin Franklin: "An investment in knowledge still yields the best interest."

Award winners for best theses

Faculty 1, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology

  • Bachelor: Florian Krowiorz, study programme Mathematics, topic: The algorithmic complexity of recognising generalised search trees
  • Master: Annika Jöster, study programme Applied Mathematics, topic: Variational Formulation of Importance Sampling and its Connection to Stochastic Optimal Control with a Random Time Horizon

Faculty 2, Environment and Natural Sciences

  • Bachelor: Julius Rublack, study programme Biotechnology, topic: Development and optimisation of an isothermal amplification system for the detection of influenza A and B virus RNA for point-of-care diagnostics
  • Master: Ayush Bhavin Savla, study programme Environmetal and Resource Management, topic: "Development of sustainability report for management consultancy firm with an emphasis on environmental sustainability

Faculty 3, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Energy Systems

  • Bachelor: Pepe Nordhoff, study programme Mechanical Engineering, topic: Optimal control of an industrial air conditioning system using reinforcement learning
  • Master: Rishindra Vallem, study programme Transfers-Fluids-Material in Aeronautical and Space Applications (TFM-ASA), topic: Numerical modelling and simulation of two-phase flows with smoothed particle hydrodynamics

Faculty 4, Human Sciences

  • Bachelor: Katja Schimske, study programme Therapy Sciences, topic: Application and adherence of the S2K guideline for major amputations of the lower extremity - a qualitative interview study
  • Master: Ute Steinhäuser, study programme Vocational Education in Healthcare Professions, topic: Opportunities of the modification of the basic structure grid for nursing according to Ulrike Greb for the didactics of midwifery

Faculty 5, Business, Law and Social Sciences

  • Bachelor: Noa Niclas Wedekind, study programme Business Administration, topic: Stuck in a rabbit hole - influence of the time of day on consumption decisions
  • Master: Julian Fritz, study programme Business Administration, topic: Trust in artificial intelligence. Practical application to increase explainability through Shapley Additive Explanations
  • Master: Viviana Loufs, study programme Culture and Technology, topic: The good life in tension with technology and meritocracy

Faculty 6, Architecture, Civil Engineering and Urban Planning

  • Bachelor: Carlotta Lüdecke, study programme Architecture, topic: House of Migration History Cologne
  • Master: Luise Becker, study programme Urban Planning, topic: Interwoven with Nature - The Ahr Valley an Organism
  • Master: Eric Neuber, study programme Urban Planning, topic: Interwoven with Nature - The Ahr Valley an Organism

Prof. Dr Peer Schmidt, BTU Vice-President for Academic Affairs, bid farewell to the alumni and presented them with graduate hats for their academic achievements. The event was characterised by the international flair of the graduates, a positive atmosphere and dynamism. Aglaja Sprengel, a BTU alumna from the Instrumental and Vocal Performance and Teaching study programme, provided the musical backdrop. The graduation ceremony came to an end with a champagne reception, lots of photos and lively conversations and later turned into the Campus Club Night. One highlight of the event will certainly be remembered by many for a long time to come: the iconic group photo with the graduation hat toss.

Contact

Daniel Ebert
Friend- and Fundraising; Alumni
T +49 (0) 355 69-2420
daniel.ebert(at)b-tu.de

Press contact

Ralf-Peter Witzmann
Communication and Marketing
T +49 (0) 3573 85-283
ralf-peter.witzmann@b-tu.de

Vanessa Salisch
Communication and Marketing
T +49 (0) 355 69-2151
vanessa.salisch(at)b-tu.de

The tossing of the graduation hats was a highlight of the ceremony. Photo: BTU, Sascha Thor
Congratulations from BTU President Prof. Dr Gesine Grande. Photo: BTU, Sascha Thor
Words of thanks from Diana Gonzalez Olivo, BTU alumna and Integration Commissioner of the State of Brandenburg. Photo: BTU, Sascha Thor
Address by Jörg Waniek, Chief Human Resources Officer of LEAG and board chairperson of the BTU Sponsors' Association. Photo: BTU, Sascha Thor
The best female STEM students at BTU honoured with prizes and the winner of the Women's Advancement Award with BTU President Prof. Dr Gesine Grande (right), BTU's Central Equal Opportunities Officer Birgit Hendrischke (2nd from right) and the chairperson of Frauenhilfswerk e.V. Cottbus Christina Bahlke (left). Photo. BTU: Sascha Thor
The graduates with the best theses of the faculties with the President of BTU Prof. Dr Gesine Grande, the Vice-President for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr Peer Schmidt (1st and 2nd from right) and the Head of Human Resources at LEAG and Chairperson of the BTU Sponsors' Association Jörg Waniek (left). Photo: BTU, Sascha Thor
Prof. Dr Peer Schmidt presented the alumni with their graduate hats. Photo: BTU, Sascha Thor
Alumna Aglaja Sprengel at the piano. Photo: BTU, Sascha Thor
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