Management Skills - Summer Term 2026

Management Skills Summer Term 2026

Management Skills is not a “normal” seminar as you may know it from your regular studies. Instead, it is a workshop or training held mostly by external trainers with long-term coaching experience. Due to its interactive focus, you will be encouraged to engage in discussion and to reflect on your personal strengths and weaknesses. You can enroll during the second enrolment period.

In contrast to other seminars that concentrate primarily on academic content, our trainers focus explicitly on your performance within and in front of a group, providing individual feedback on your accomplishments. Your presentation skills and your ability to manage group work will improve significantly if you participate actively. Depending on the course, sessions may be held partly in digital format.

Kick-Off on April 21st, 2026 at 5 p.m.

online via Zoom (the link will be sent to you after you register for the course).

Please also check our information for the Career Tuesday: Management Skills with Otto Group one.O

The Kick-Off event will give you insight into what we include under “Management Skills” and why we believe it is a valuable study experience. Our guest from the professional world will share how management and leadership skills can shape your career.
During the Kick-Off event, you will also have the opportunity to speak with your lecturer about your Management Skills group.

Please note: For the moment and for the upcoming terms, all courses are taught in English.

1. Different Courses

Please be aware that the different groups represent different courses with different lecturers. Therefore, each group may vary in content and in the type of examination. All further information regarding the application process will be sent to your Smail account. Please check your Smail account regularly. Please also note that all courses are primarily planned to take place in person on campus. For information about the courses, please click on the individual group headline.

2. Dates and Content Summer Term 2026 (Details are linked with every group headline and may be updated or changed at any time.)

Group 1 (+ Incomings)
• Lecturer: Ruess
• Dates: May 4 & 5 and May 7 & 8, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Group 2
• Lecturer: Seitler-Käfer
• Dates: August 3, 4, 6 and 7, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Group 3
• Lecturer: Seitler-Käfer
• Dates: August 17, 18, 20 and 21, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Group 4
• Lecturer: Meyenschein
• Dates: September 21–24, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Group 5
• Lecturer: Stäbler
• Dates: June 25, 26 and 27, 2026 (in person) and June 29, 2026 (virtual)
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Group 6
• Lecturer: Stäbler
• Dates: July 9, 10 and 11, 2026 (in person) and July 13, 2026 (virtual)
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Group 7
• Lecturer: Edeling
• Dates: April 16, 17, 21 and 22, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Group 8
• Lecturer: Stäbler
• Dates: July 2, 3 and 4, 2026 (in person) and July 6, 2026 (virtual)
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Group 9: MIM Personal Development
• Lecturer: Seitler-Käfer
• Dates: April 7, 8, 9 and 10, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Group 10: MIM Personal Development II
• Lecturer: Seitler-Käfer
• Dates: April 17, 18, 24 and 25, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Registration

Registration for the course takes place during the second enrolment period: March 6–26, 2026 via KLIPS 2.
After the enrolment period, on March 30, you will see in KLIPS 2 whether you have been admitted. Please note that KLIPS 2 prioritizes students in higher semesters.

Please do not forget to prioritize your preferred dates after you are assigned a course.
uni.koeln/V5YJT

Admission

All students admitted via KLIPS 2 will receive further information about exam registration via their Smail account after March 30, 2026. Switching groups with other students is not possible. Please prioritize your preferred groups accordingly. The Kick-Off Event on April 21st, 2026 provides insights and first-hand information from the WiSo Career Service, management skills experts, and the lecturers.

All students must register for the exam via KLIPS. The general deadlines are listed in your KLIPS course. The exam begins with a preparation task on the date set in KLIPS.

Exam registration deadlines:

Personal Development Course: until April 9, 2026 => Exam starts April 10, 2026

Personal Development Course II: until April 18, 2026 => Exam starts April 20, 2026

Management Skills Course Group 7 (Edeling): until April 17, 2026 => Exam starts on April 20, 2026

All other groups: until April 26, 2026 => Exam starts with preparation task on April 28, 2026

Deregistration

If you have registered for the exam but do not wish to participate in the course, you must deregister before the KLIPS deadline. Otherwise, you will receive a failed attempt.

Further Information on the Exam

The exam begins with the preparation task, which will be given either in class or via ILIAS/email. The module includes a combined exam consisting of a presentation and a term paper. Details are provided in the course description and/or during the Kick-Off event. On the day of your exam, you will receive a preparation exercise via ILIAS or email. Unless stated otherwise, this must be completed before the course begins. The exercise is part of the exam and counts toward your final grade. The type and scope of the exercise vary by lecturer. Since groups represent different courses with different lecturers, please consult the course descriptions.

Further information regarding the preparation task will be provided by your lecturer.

All further examination components (term paper, presentation, etc.) vary slightly depending on the lecturer, but the scope is roughly the same in all courses.

Attendance

At the WiSo Faculty, attendance is generally not mandatory. However, we strongly recommend attending this seminar regularly and actively, as it differs significantly from other seminars. Only through active participation can you develop management skills and benefit fully from the course.
Because interaction is a key component, your attendance and commitment are required. Additionally, the oral presentation counts toward your final grade.

If you cannot participate due to urgent reasons, please inform us immediately. If you miss your presentation due to illness, a medical certificate is required, as the presentation is part of the exam. You can find further information on attendance in your examination regulations.

Organisational Issues

For questions related to course organization (admission, available places), please email: managementskills@wiso.uni-koeln.de
For questions regarding course content (e.g., preparation tasks), please contact your lecturer.

Change of groups: Switching groups—whether or not there are free places—is not possible. Please prioritize the groups during the second enrolment period.
How to prioritize courses: https://uni.koeln/V5YJT

Grading: For students of M.Sc. Business Administration (PO2021), M.Sc. International Management, and incoming students: grading is from 1.0 to 5.0.

Students studying under the “old PO (2015)” will be assessed as pass/fail only.

Free places after admission via KLIPS 2. The waiting list for the summer semester 2026 is managed via KLIPS. Therefore, you do not need to contact us by email. Please note that students in higher semesters are prioritized.

MIM (CEMS) Students + Incoming Students

CEMS/MIM students should enroll in the Personal Development course. For further assistance, please contact the CEMS Office.
Incoming students should enroll in the Management Skills – Incomings course during the second enrolment period.

Contact

If you have got any questions related to the course organisation (admission, free places), please write an E-Mail to managementskills(at)wiso.uni-koeln(dot)de.