Witten/Herdecke University and its Faculty of Management & Economics are designed to prepare students for leading positions in business, politics and society. We educate change agents, who are able to cope with the unexpected and who are prepared to assume responsibility. It is our professed aim to raise awareness amongst our students for the economic, ecological and social challenges of the 21st century.
The key philosophy of social responsibility outlined in the three guiding principles for Witten/Herdecke University is and remains highly important in view of future challenges. Today's economic systems operate within contexts that are formed not only by political and social but also by environmental, technological, demographic and health related issues. Responsible entrepreneurial activity is therefore an integral part of such wider contexts.
In contrast to the typical business school, our faculty's main objective has been from the start - in 1984 - to integrate other academic disciplines in economic studies and to also explore economic issues from the perspective of related fields to ensure practical relevance and applicability of our education.
In addition, all students have to take courses in the "Studium Fundamentale". The aim of these fundamental studies is to offer students new perspectives for their core studies and to better develop their reflective, communicative and creative skills. Once a week students of all faculties within Witten/Herdecke University explore fields beyond their own disciplines and attend lectures and classes in which topics from philosophy, aesthetics, arts and ethics are addressed. Additionally, the field of Studium Fundamentale consists of a variety of courses in social sciences and features a chair for "Politics, Sustainability and Transformational Dynamics".
The Conference was filled with student paper presentations that explored the links between knowledge, power and wealth and showed how rewarding it is to go after one's own questions. Once again, the lively exchange of students and scholars attending the conference showed the value of bringing together different perspectives and continuing to build the PPE network.
"You call it eco - we call it common sense: Sustainability in the Fashion Industry"
The conference provided international students and young professionals with a sound knowledge of the topic "Sustainability in the Fashion Industry" and offered an environment of deep discussion and vital international Exchange to future change leaders.
-	Community financing – new challenges, old problems?
-	Does Islam belong to Germany?
-	The Trump Administration – Much ado about nothing?!
The Centre for Sustainable Leadership mainly focuses on the food sector. Here, it aims to support the values of global responsibility by addressing topics like strategic management and sustainability, sustainable leadership, executive education as well as evaluation and communication of sustaina-bility.
As best practice case and only project of water research, the Witten project for the saving of water in Southern India "WaLUE" (www.walue-india.de) was honoured by the Asian Development Bank. Prof. Dr. Karl-Ulrich Rudolph, Director of the Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management at Witten/Herdecke University, presented the project that will reduce massive loss of water caused by leaks and theft. The concept and its underlying business model will facilitate a resource-efficient use of water tailor-made simultaneously for the local requirements and the needs of possible financiers.