Business Students Make a Social Impact

Five social projects in the Rhein-Neckar metropolitan region are the outcome of the Mannheim Business School’s first “Honors Program” cohort. Launched in the 2023/24 fall semester, the program is designed to facilitate students’ personal growth and to boost their creativity, their leadership qualities and their sense of responsibility. The knowledge they gain is implemented in practice right away through various social projects.

The first round of the two-semester honor’s program involved 16 undergraduate students from the Bachelor of Business Administration program and 10 graduate students enrolled in the Mannheim Master in Management. Among other things, they organized a concert by and for refugees at the Heidelberger Frühling music festival, thematic events at a retirement home, and an art exhibition featuring works by Mannheim high school students. To prepare for these projects, they interacted with executives at established businesses and attended workshops by artists as well as a special lecture series.

An application to this program requires an invitation from the Dean of the Mannheim Business School. Invitations are sent to the best 10 percent of students in both degree programs who are in their second semester and have earned 51 ECTS by the end of that semester.