During its 33rd Graduation Ceremony on Friday evening, accadis Hochschule bestowed degrees on over 100 graduates, including one doctoral candidate and the first student cohort from the Department of Education, which was launched in 2020.
The Graduation Ceremony is a special day every year: dressed in caps and gowns, the graduates – led by President Prof. Florian Pfeffel and Vice President Prof. Andrea Hüttmann – walk into the large Landgraf-Friedrich-Saal hall of the Bad Homburg KongressCenter. Wagner's Tannhäuser sounds from the loudspeakers and you see the proud faces of families and friends.
Highlights of the Graduation Ceremony
One of the highlights of the event was the first year of graduates from the Department of Education, which the university established in 2020. Gerda Meinl-Kexel, founder and Managing Partner of accadis Hochschule, emphasized with visible pride: “What educational institution has the opportunity to train specialists for its own teaching staff?”
The pioneers of the department completed the dual work|study program in “Early Childhood Education and Multilingual Education B.A.” with employers such as the City of Bad Homburg, accadis International School, and the “Kinderzeit Gute Zeit” organization. In addition to this program, the university now also provides courses in “Social Work and Management B.A.” and, starting in October 2026, “Full-Time Education B.A.”
Three times the exceptional grade of 1.0
Two Bachelor’s and one Master’s graduate achieved the exceptional grade of 1.0 and also received the highest possible score for their thesis. Gerda Meinl-Kexel and Prof. Christoph Kexel congratulated them warmly on these outstanding achievements. To loud applause, Markus Franz, member of the board of Taunus Sparkasse, presented a check to the three best students of the year, honoring their remarkable successes.
A highlight of academic achievement
Another special moment was the awarding of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree to Dr. Patrick Gürser. He completed his doctorate in collaboration with Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University and is the fifth “accadis doctor.”
Commemorative speech and acknowledgements for 25 years of accadis
The commemorative speech by Prof. Marcus Oehlrich, Head of the Finance and Accounting Department, added a special touch. For 25 years, he has been a cornerstone of every degree program and is very popular among students.
Under the title “Entrepreneurial – personal – international: the role of accadis Hochschule in the education market,” he looked back on the development of the university and its character-defining DNA.
Oehlrich praised the entrepreneurial vision of founder Gerda Meinl-Kexel, who took bold steps early on and introduced the first Bachelor's degree without ministerial support – at a time when this term was still hardly known in Germany. Entrepreneurial spirit, excellence in education, and an international orientation have characterized the university ever since: semesters abroad, global content in teaching, and a faculty of which around 95 percent have international experience.
Reflecting on his own continuing education at Harvard University and currently at Stanford University, Prof. Oehlrich emphasized that accadis Hochschule can hold its own in international comparison: “Based on my experiences at both universities, I can say with conviction: We have nothing to hide – we operate on a par with the most renowned universities worldwide.”
Prof. Oehlrich celebrated his 25th anniversary at accadis this year. Gerda Meinl-Kexel praised his outstanding commitment, passion, and loyalty to the university. As a token of gratitude, she presented him with a unique work of art: an abstract portrait bearing the names of all the students in the graduating class of 2025 – a symbol of the close connection between professor and student body.
Messages from the world of politics and academic rituals rounded off the celebration
Mayor Alexander Hetjes congratulated the graduates and emphasized the important role that accadis plays in the region. Hesse's Minister President Boris Rhein also addressed the young academics in a virtual speech.
The academic rituals, which are rarely seen in Germany, were particularly impressive. The turning of the tassel, in which the tassel on the cap is switched from the right to the left side, symbolizes the transition from student life to professional life. The subsequent tossing of the caps, in which the graduates throw their caps into the air together, symbolized their shared joy and pride in their successful graduation. These rituals, reminiscent of Anglo-American traditions, have given the Graduation Ceremony at accadis Hochschule a festive and international atmosphere for years.
The ceremony was accompanied musically by the young, talented pianist Alexander Preiss and the accomplished singer and presenter Marie Winter. With pieces such as “Pas de deux” and “Over the Rainbow,” they greatly delighted the audience.