Content
Our strategy for the future
The WiSo Faculty of the University of Cologne actively addresses the challenges of an increasingly globalised, digital and sustainability-focused world. With the WiSo Strategic Development Plan 2030, we are setting clear goals to further strengthen our position as one of the leading academic institutions in management, economics and social sciences.
We aim to combine excellent research with societal relevance, to provide our students with a practice-oriented education, and to make a positive impact on people, organisations, society, and the planet.
Our strategic goals until 2030
Research
- Advance research on grand societal challenges through research collaboration
- Increase external funding to support our research
- Enhance doctoral education to improve research quality and output
Teaching
- Boost relevance and competitiveness with an attractive programme portfolio
- Ensure student success throughout their academic journey
- Enhance WiSo's international outlook
Transfer
- Integrate and align Affiliated Institutes better to enhance impact
- Offer education to post-graduates by building a full-scale Business School
- Develop the exchange with relevant stakeholders and society to strengthen the communication aspect of transfer
Career
- Revise hiring and tenure of W1/W2 professors
- Define and allocate permanent academic faculty positions and departmental non-academic staff to best achieve our goals
- Support careers of non-professorial academic faculty
Governance
- Improve effectiveness and efficiency with department structure
- Create effective, efficient, and transparent planning and management processes
- Develop and implement a KP| system for performance and improvement assessment
Administrative and professional services
- Strengthen alumni network and connections with practice
- Establish active student recruitment
- Advance campus development
- Sustain and elevate employer attractiveness
Cross-Cutting Themes
At the WiSo Faculty, we recognise that future-oriented academic development must extend beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. This is why we encourage collaboration between our subject groups and have also integrated five specific transversal topics – Artificial Intelligence & Digitalisation, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Internationalisation, Sustainability, and Societal Impact – into all aspects of our strategy. These cross-cutting themes shape our research priorities, teaching methods, and institutional development, ensuring we remain at the forefront of innovation and societal impact.
By embracing artificial intelligence and digitalisation, we equip students and researchers with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate an increasingly technology-driven world. Diversity and internationalisation are essential for fostering an inclusive academic environment that attracts top talent and encourages global perspectives. Our commitment to sustainability and societal impact ensures that our research and educational initiatives contribute to long-term, positive change in business, policy, and society.
These themes act as guiding principles across all strategic focus areas, reinforcing our mission to educate responsible leaders, drive impactful research, and foster meaningful connections between academia and society.
Our top ten Priorities for 2030
- Restructuring of the WiSo Faculty from a chair-focused structure to a departmental structure.
- Establishment of a holistic workload concept.
- Strengthening of Academic Director roles.
- Implementation of our WiSo Teaching Approach.
- Adoption of appropriate cohort sizes: 80–100 students in bachelor’s and 50 students in master’s programmes.
- Evaluation and potential refocusing of Key Research Initiatives.
- Full commitment to the University of Cologne Business School.
- Enhancement of WiSo’s international outlook.
- Revision of our hiring and tenure processes and overall employment models.
- Advancement of external collaboration (alumni, organisations, advisory board, Affiliated Institutes).
Shaping the Future Together
With the WiSo Strategy 2030, we are driving innovative and future-oriented faculty development.
We invite all members of the WiSo community to actively contribute to this transformation process and collaborate in shaping a sustainable, globally successful, and socially impactful future.
Please reach out to Gerold Gnau or Eva Peters:
Eva Peters, M.A.
International Accreditations
Building: 101, BT 3 (New Extension Building, Universitätsstr. 24)
Phone: +49 (0) 221 470 – 76032
E-Mail: eva.peters(at)wiso.uni-koeln.de
Gerold Gnau, Dipl.-Kulturwirt Univ.
Managing Director
Building: 101, BT 3 (New Extension Building, Universitätsstr. 24)
Phone: +49 (0) 221 470 – 8814
E-Mail: dekanat(at)wiso.uni-koeln.de
