Two Countries, One Goal: The New Visionaries of International Cooperation
It is a testament to boundless learning and cross-border collaboration in the heart of Europe: graduates from the management programs at Europa-Universität Flensburg (EUF), who studied both on the Flensburg campus and at Syddansk Universitet (SDU), are celebrating their graduation—a moment that bridges countries.
In his address at the graduation ceremony on Friday, October 11, 2024, Prof. Dr. Werner Reinhart emphasized the international focus and close collaboration between the two universities, which allows students to develop a European perspective. The EUF president encouraged graduates to actively uphold European values and to advocate for tolerance, democracy, and the rule of law: "I can only urge you to promote the European ideal in your future careers, to advocate for the values of Europe—tolerance, the rule of law, humanity, democracy, and the protection of the vulnerable."
Strong Collaboration and New Opportunities
A total of 112 graduates have completed their degrees: 63 with a Bachelor’s in International Management – Business Administration, 46 with a Master’s in International Management Studies – Business Administration, and three with a doctoral degree.
Professor Lars Grassmé Binderup, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at SDU, highlighted the importance of more than 30 years of cooperation between the universities in Germany and Denmark, describing this partnership as a model for peaceful international collaboration. "Our cooperation is special because it crosses a national border. We should continue our cross-border educational cooperation today in the spirit of our predecessors and set an example for the rest of the world," Binderup stated, expressing hope that the graduates will contribute to this goal.
Unique Study Focus
Despite this three-decade tradition, this year’s graduation ceremony at the Audimax on the Flensburg campus marked two firsts—with a greeting from the city president and an alumni speech.
City President Susanne Schäfer-Quäck noted that graduates had chosen a unique program at a university dedicated to the European idea: "This is a program that not only provides professional qualifications but also broadens one’s horizons in many ways." Petersen and Stender affirmed this, saying, "Our program has given us not only essential expertise but also a deep understanding of how crucial international cooperation and cross-cultural exchange are. In a rapidly changing world, it’s now up to us to build the bridges essential for a successful global future," said Petersen. For Stender, choosing this program was a political statement: "By participating you’ve declared that you want a world with international cooperation, a world that seeks innovation and improvement, with a mindset focused on the future rather than the past. This program stands for something big—hope."
Program directors Prof. Dr. Susanne Royer and Professor Klarissa Lueg congratulated the graduates on their achievements. Prof. Dr. Susanne Royer of EUF remarked, "You have gained expertise in business studies, strong language skills, and unique abilities in internationality, intercultural understanding, and cooperation through your studies in this border region." Professor Klarissa Lueg of SDU added, "This intercultural collaboration, this constant crossing of boundaries, is precisely what Europe, perhaps the world, needs politically and socially right now."
At the end of the ceremony, accompanied by Hoffmeister’s music, the graduates gathered on stage for the traditional "cap throwing." This tradition, popular in the U.S. and the U.K., made its way to EUF via SDU’s Sønderborg campus. The sight of the black graduation caps flying into the air was a moment that bridged nations.
International Management Degree Programs
EUF offers Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in International Management designed to train future managers who can contribute meaningfully to organizations both in the region and beyond. Students receive a solid business education, enhanced by international, intercultural, and language skills. In the bachelor’s program, students can choose between a German-Danish and a Spanish branch. The German-Danish branch was launched in 1992 as a cross-border program and has continued to develop since then; the Spanish branch was added in 1998. Students in both branches take shared business modules and participate in specialized events focused on their chosen language and cultural area. Typically, students spend the fifth semester at a partner university to expand their international competence.
Longstanding Cooperation with Syddansk Universitet
EUF and SDU have been closely collaborating for over 30 years. Students have the opportunity to study in Denmark on certain days of the week and in Germany on others, facilitating valuable exchange between German and Danish students. This cross-border network is of significant benefit to both the students and the region. Both bachelor’s and master’s students can pursue a dual degree.
Application
Further information on the programs can be found here:
B.A. International Management - BWL
M.A. International Management Studies - BWL
Applications for all programs for the fall semester 2025 are open until July 15, 2025. For the master’s program, applications for the spring semester 2025 are also open until January 15, 2025.