It was with great joy and in a festive mood that the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH) celebrated its graduates in the Friedrich-Ebert-Halle in Harburg. Around 1,000 guests from 39 countries—including most of the 528 new graduates and 62 doctoral graduates—came together to celebrate the successful completion of their academic careers.
Prof. Wolfgang Kersten, Vice President of Teaching at TU Hamburg, opened the ceremony with an inspiring welcome speech: "You are all highly qualified engineers ‘made in Hamburg’. You have the potential to make the world a more sustainable, fairer, and more peaceful place. Technology is not just a tool, but your invitation to bring about change – starting with the small decisions you make in everyday life. Stay curious and love what you do!" he told the graduates.
The laudatory speech was given by Christian Peter Ahrens, TUHH alumnus and managing director of Peter Ahrens Bauunternehmen GmbH, who emphasized the importance of community: “Success rarely comes alone. It is people, encounters, and networks—like those that grow at the TUHH—that give us stability and direction. Especially in times of global challenges, we need engineers who take responsibility and help shape the future.”
The graduates of the Hamburg University of Music and Theater, Anna Olivia Amaya Farias and Lucia Lvjie Zhang, provided musical goose bump moments with Chopin's Largo for violoncello and piano and a touching melody by Gluck – a perfect soundscape between academic dignity and artistic brilliance.
The highlight of the evening: after the ceremonial presentation of the certificates, all graduates threw their hats into the air together – a symbol of their shared success. TU Hamburg wishes its graduates all the best and lots of energy for this new chapter in their lives!
