Rector of the University of Mittweida Volker Tolkmitt – Honorary Doctor of DNU

On September 25, at a meeting of the Academic Council of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, a decision was made to award the title of Honorary Doctor of DNU to the Rector of the University of Applied Sciences in Mittweida, Doctor of Economics, Professor Volker Tolkmitt.

Professor Tolkmitt received recognition from the DNU academic community for his significant contribution to the development of a strategic partnership between our universities, the development of academic cooperation, and comprehensive support for Ukraine in Europe.

Doctor of Economics Professor Volker Tolkmitt has dedicated his life to the development of higher education in Germany. He began his teaching career in 2000 in Leipzig, and in 2006 he moved to a full-time professorship at the University of Applied Sciences in Mittweida. There, since 2009, Professor Tolkmitt has been the Dean of the Faculty of Economics for two terms, and since 2017, he has worked as Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs for five years. After winning the rector's election on February 15, 2023, he headed the university.

Professor Tolkmitt is a scientific expert and consultant on economics for several professional associations and organizations. He has published eight books and dozens of articles and reports on economics, finance, e-learning and game learning.

The esteemed German colleague was solemnly introduced to the members of the Academic Council by the Chair of the Council, Professor Iryna Popova, emphasizing the many years of cooperation between the universities for the sake of building a common European educational space.

Rector of DNU Sergiy Okovytyy told the audience in detail about the formation of fruitful academic ties between our universities. In particular, the history of long-term cooperation between DNU and the University of Mittweida began back in 2006. It was Professor Volker Tolkmitt who was one of the initiators and authors of the first partnership agreements - a framework agreement on cooperation (2006) and on the introduction of a double degree program for students of economic specialties (2007). Since then, in March 2008, the first three DNU students went to Mittweida to study. In total, over the entire period of cooperation with the University of Mittweida, more than 100 students of our university have studied in Germany under this program.

In addition, the political position of Professor Tolkmitt deserves special respect, namely his support for Ukraine in its confrontation with the Russian aggressor. From the first days of the war, in early March 2022, he organized a fundraiser among the employees of the University of Mittweida, with which medical equipment, functional beds and medicines were purchased. This charitable humanitarian aid from our German colleagues was loaded into a heavy-duty truck container and sent to Ukraine.

After such a sincere and informative presentation, the procedure of open voting for Volker Tolkmitt’s candidacy for awarding him the title of “Honorary Doctor of DNU” began. The members of the Academic Council of DNU made the decision unanimously. Now, Mr. Tolkmitt will be presented with the corresponding diploma and another highest university award – the medal “For Faithful Service to DNU”.

Інформаційно-аналітичне агентство
Дніпровського національного університету