50 Years 50 Faces
Prof. Dr. Ralf Jahn
Managing Director of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Würzburg-Schweinfurt
For me, FHWS is …
an important and reliable partner to the economy in Mainfranken.
What do you appreciate about FHWS?
I appreciate three key points:
FHWS does more than just supply the local economy with new, highly qualified employees with its graduates.
New products, processes and services which can make a contribution to maintaining existing jobs and creating new ones in the Mainfranken economic region are also developed within the scope of applied research at FHWS.
And finally, FHWS also ensures that new companies emerge in the region through spin-off companies.
What was the best decision in your professional career and why? What has changed since then?
In 2023, I will retire and pass my position as Managing Director of the Mainfranken Chamber of Industry and Commerce on to my successor. Looking back over 30 years working at the chamber of commerce still brings me joy today. It was therefore probably a good decision to go into service at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce immediately after my law degree.
What do you think has shaped FHWS the most over the last 50 years?
I have been able to follow many of the 50 years of FHWS’ history, and perhaps even shape them a little. In my opinion, it was particularly significant that FHWS established a business advisory board in 2009 and thus actively incorporated the voice of the regional economy. I was also delighted that the Chamber of Industry and Commerce general meeting was able to start the "Mainfranken Economy University of Applied Science Advancement Award" as a fiduciary foundation in order to support technology-oriented, innovative research disciplines and management techniques, initiatives and projects at FHWS. The Mainfranken economy provided the foundation with a starting capital of 250,000 euros. On 3 August 2011, then President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Dieter Pfister ceremonially handed the Chamber of Industry and Commerce foundation over to the Gesellschaft der Förderer und Freunde der Fachhochschule Würzburg-Schweinfurt e.V. (Society of Sponsors and Friends). In February 2013, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce increased the foundation capital by 100,000 euros and more than 400,000 euros are available today, which I greatly welcome.
What is your vision of the future for FHWS? What might FHWS look like in 50 years’ time?
A vision of FHWS should develop from itself. I can only say that the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, as a representative of industry, will continue to support collaboration between businesses and our regional higher education institutions in the future because the interaction between research and practice ultimately results in innovations and products which benefit our region.
What is your insider tip for the cities of Würzburg or Schweinfurt and why?
Not just Würzburg and Schweinfurt, but the whole of Mainfranken is full of insider tips. My tip, therefore, is simply to remain curious when you are out and about in our region. Looking around not just the cities of Mainfranken, but also the many smaller communities is worth the effort.