Als erste Fakultät der im Jahr 1919 neu gegründeten Universität zu Köln feiern die Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften dieses Jahr ihr 125-jähriges Jubiläum. Die „WiSo“-Fakultät entstand damals aus der 1901 gegründeten Kölner Handelshochschule. Ein Herzstück des Jubiläumsjahrs ist eine wöchentliche öffentliche Vortragsreihe vom 5. Mai bis 14. Juli 2026, jeweils von 17:45 bis 19:15 Uhr, mit anschließendem Get Together bei Kölsch und Häppchen im wiedereröffneten Hörsaal I und Foyer des neu sanierten WiSo-Hochhauses.
As the first faculty of the University of Cologne, founded in 1919, the Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. The “WiSo” faculty originated from the Cologne Commercial College, established in 1901. A highlight of the anniversary year is a weekly public lecture series from 5 May to 14 July 2026, from 17:45 to 19:15, followed by a get-together with Kölsch and snacks in the reopened Lecture Hall I and foyer of the newly renovated WiSo high-rise building. The series covers current issues in economics, politics, and society, presented in an accessible and open manner for all interested parties. It is part of a diverse anniversary programme featuring additional formats and a large open day in October 2026. The WiSo Faculty of the University of Cologne warmly invites journalists, the people of Cologne, and all interested parties from the region to participate in all events, to think, discuss, and celebrate together.
Opening on 5 May 2026: When Knowledge Becomes Abundant – On the Future of Business Administration in the Age of Intelligent Machines
The opening lecture will be given by Professor Dr Detlef Schoder, Founder and Managing Director of the Cologne Institute for Information Systems.
Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2026
Admission: 17:45 | Start: 18:00
Venue: Lecture Hall I, WiSo Faculty University of Cologne, Universitätsstraße 24, 50931 Cologne
Registration: Please register in advance using the following link: https://terminplaner6.dfn.de/b/63bbdc8a210b3bc9f1943efd052d1c83-1674414
Note: Separate registration is required for each event. Registration is free and non-binding and serves organisational purposes only. [All lectures will be held in German]
Further Highlights from the Programme:
19 May 2026: The Art of Making the World Better: Organ Donation, Pandemics, Climate – and the Economic Architecture of Cooperation
On 19 May, Professor Dr Axel Ockenfels, Founding Director of the Adenauer School of Government and Director at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods, will speak.
Topic: “Cooperation as the Key to Global Challenges”
28 May 2026: “Made in Europe”
As part of the “Selten Salon” of the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute, Professor Dr Isabel Schnabel, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, will speak about Europe’s innovative power.
Topic: “Made in Europe” – How Europe Can Better Exploit Its Economic Potential
From Commercial College to an Impulse Generator for Society and the Economy
For 125 years, the Economic and Social Sciences in Cologne have shaped debates on markets, institutions, and social cohesion. Today, the faculty stands for practice-oriented teaching with social responsibility, impactful research — including in the Cluster of Excellence ECONtribute and the Center for Social and Economic Behaviour (C-SEB) — and a strong dialogue with the city, the economy, and politics. The anniversary year is seen as an impetus for the future, with formats that make science tangible and promote exchange.