Over 120 guests, including alumni, bachelor's degree graduates, students and practice partners, came together at the Real Estate Evening at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences to exchange ideas, honor the achievements of the students and celebrate the graduating classes of the Real Estate Management degree program. Mutual networking between studies and teaching was intensified.
Welcome and review of the studies
Degree Program Head Bernhard Griebel opened the evening and led through the program. He looked back on the challenges and successes of the class of 2021: a start to the course in digital format via Webex during the coronavirus crisis and a successful graduation in person.
Presentation of the master's degree theses
Together with the master's degree students, Professor Cremer presented the current theses of the Real Estate degree program. Master's degree students presented posters with the problems they discussed in their theses.
Engineers without borders challenge 2024
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Engineers without Borders Challenge 2024, in which Professor Martin Zeumer and Professor Horst Roman-Müller reported on this interdisciplinary project involving eight students from the Real Estate Management degree program. A total of 50 students from Hochschule RheinMain worked on the task of developing a teaching and learning box for pupils in Uganda. The box - a STEM kit for 5th to 7th grade - was awarded second place in a competition involving 30 German universities. Particularly noteworthy: Three of the HSRM designs made it into the top 10.
Greetings from abroad
Student Michelle Gretz was connected live from Riga and reported on her semester abroad in Latvia. She shared exciting impressions of her studies there and emphasized the importance of international experience in the degree program for personal and professional development. The university promotes these activities very intensively. Every year, several students study at partner universities abroad.
Surprise for the 10th anniversary
They had not expected this: Professor Stefan Blümm and Professor Horst Roman-Müller celebrated their 10th anniversary in the Real Estate Management degree program and were surprised by Professor Bernhard Griebel with humorous anecdotes and a tongue-in-cheek review, supported by ChatGPT. As recognition, they received a symbolic medal from the department. Professor Stefan Blümm expressed his gratitude for the good cooperation within the team and the further development of the degree program. He looked back with great pleasure on the development of the former students in the real estate industry. Professor Horst Roman-Müller expressed his gratitude and addressed the graduates and alumni: "The path you have taken is remarkable. I am very happy to have come to the HSRM."
Awards for outstanding theses
The close ties between the industry partners and the department were reflected in the traditional annual award ceremony for the two sponsored industry prizes. Awards were presented for the best degree of the year and the best thesis. The department is very grateful for the cash prizes provided and the personal presentation by members of staff from the sponsoring companies.
Drees & Sommer, an international consulting firm for the real estate industry and practice partner of the Real Estate Management department at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, donated a sponsorship award for the best final thesis in the degree program. The prizes were presented by Ralf Molter and Jens Mattheis. Laura Heinzmann and Paul Geßner were awarded for their theses. Fabian Eckert received the €500 award for the best degree of the year.
On behalf of Aareal Bank, Dr. Kirsten Appel also presented prizes for the best bachelor's degree theses to Florian Brodersen, Marc Weber and Fabian Eckert. As the award for the best thesis again went to Fabian Eckert, the grant of €500 was awarded to the runner-up Marc Weber.
All graduates of the degree program were congratulated for their achievements - with a final hat toss. Special thanks went to the course speakers Aram Sharifian and Emirhan Hanilce for their commitment to the degree program.
Once again, the Real Estate Evening offered a successful mix of looking back, looking ahead and recognizing outstanding achievements. Close ties between students, alumni and industry partners were evident in the many conversations that followed the official part of the event. The strong connection between teaching and practical experience proved to be a central success factor of the degree program.
