In the biggest graduation ceremony in its history, the public policy school bids farewell to 300 students of its four master’s and PhD programmes.
On Friday, June 23, the Hertie School came together to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2023. In a festive ceremony with around 1,200 guests at Admiralspalast theatre, Hertie School President Cornelia Woll handed diplomas to around 300 graduates of the school’s four master’s programmes: the Master of Public Policy (MPP), the Master of International Affairs (MIA), the Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS) and the Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA), as well as recent PhD graduates.
“This year’s graduation is a special one with many premiers,” said Woll during the ceremony. “We are not only celebrating the biggest group of graduates in our school’s history, but we also bid farewell to the first cohort of Master of Data Science for Public Policy students,” she told the audience.
Two student speakers and politician Armand Zorn address the audience
In their graduation speech, this year’s graduation speakers, MIA graduate Colomba Martinez Cooper from Chile and MPP graduate Aura Arbulu Vasquez from Peru, addressed the community feeling that bound the 300 graduates from different programmes together. "Hertie, and in some way Berlin, is about community, about finding your place, your people, what moves you. And ultimately, it's about freedom and what you do with that tremendous power," they said during the audience's applause.
This year’s commencement speaker was German Member of Parliament Armand Zorn. In his speech, the expert on digital and financial policy spoke about making use of knowledge and giving back to others. "As you know, with great powers come great responsibilities. I want to challenge you, I want to motivate you as you walk out these doors. Make sure that what you have learned here during the last two years, that the networks you have established, all the baggage you have taken from the Hertie School, that you are using them not only for yourself, but try to use it for other people as well," Zorn said. "Make sure that you use your powers and your qualities for the good of other people and that other generations can also benefit from this kind of education."
Master’s Thesis Poster Competition winners
At the end of the ceremony, President Woll recognised the five winners of the Master’s Thesis Poster Competition. It is a well-known tradition at the Hertie School that all graduates are asked to compellingly visualise their thesis on a poster. A jury consisting of faculty members and PhD researchers decides on the best entries. This year’s winners are Júlia Cots Capell (MPP), Silvia Tosatto (MIA), Jan Kjell Lange (MIA), Neeraj Tom Savio (MIA) and Diego Alejandro Ricse (EMPA).
On to new horizons
For the new graduates of the Hertie School, career paths in the public sector, the private sector, academia and non-governmental organisations are now on the horizon. As part of the worldwide alumni network, they will work and thrive around the world.
Congratulations, Class of 2023!