About WHU
WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management is a leading German business school with an exceptional national and international reputation. WHU offers academic programs and continuing education for executives throughout their career. Founded in 1984 on the initiative of the Koblenz Chamber of Commerce and Industry, WHU has become a model for future-oriented research and teaching in business economics. WHU is synonymous with “Excellence in Management Education”, which it pursues in the following three core areas of activity: academic programs, research, and knowledge transfer in general management. WHU’s graduates, research and profitable collaboration with business partners demonstrates the School’s success in achieving its mission.
Greetings by the Dean
"As one of the best business schools in Germany and Europe, WHU is a special place to study, teach, conduct research, work, or develop your own business idea. A place unique in its pursuit of excellence in research and teaching, its community spirit, and its entrepreneurial mindset. I invite you to learn more about this outstanding institution and its community."
Professor Christian Andres, Dean of WHU
Mission and vision
WHU Mission Statement
At WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, we shape personalities and business by delivering excellence in research, teaching, and corporate connections. Our core values are:
- excellence in management education by focusing on ambitious goals and performance,
- a cosmopolitan sensibility cultivated by promoting diversity and the internationality of the school’s stakeholders – we are curious about diverse people, cultures and new ways of doing things,
- a caring community characterized by a family atmosphere and mutual trust, and
- our entrepreneurial spirit fostered by passion and innovation among all members of the WHU community.
Our core values underpin our positioning: Show courage and commitment always!
WHU Vision
WHU is respected as an excellent player among the top European Business Schools with thought-leading impact on four target groups:
1) researchers, 2) students, 3) managers, and 4) policymakers.
WHU generates knowledge from independent, high-quality research and from close connections between academics and the business community.
Mission Statement: Teaching
At WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, we are committed to developing and empowering future leaders who drive economic progress and societal change with integrity and innovation. Our excellence in teaching integrates academic rigor, practical relevance, and a global perspective, equipping students with the skills, mindset, and ethical foundation to thrive in a dynamic world.
Fostering Entrepreneurial Thinking
Entrepreneurship is at the heart of WHU. We cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset that empowers students to identify opportunities, take initiative, and create sustainable value—whether as corporate leaders, founders, innovators, or changemakers in society. Through interactive learning, hands-on projects, and engagement with the business community and beyond, we nurture critical thinking, creativity, resilience, and accountable risk-taking.
Embracing Responsibility and the Future
WHU is dedicated to responsible decision-making, promoting sustainability, inclusion, and social impact. Our innovative teaching methods, enhanced by the use of state of the art technology and AI, provide a dynamic learning experience tailored to individual growth. We strongly believe in lifelong learning, offering education that supports continuous personal and professional development in a rapidly changing world.
Together, we shape the future — responsibly, innovatively, and globally.
#1 in Germany, #22 worldwide
Financial Times Masters in Management Ranking 2025
#1 in Germany, #15 worldwide
QS International Trade Ranking 2026
Master in International Business
#1 in Germany, #66 worldwide
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2025
#3 in Germany, #20 in Europe
Financial Times European Business School Ranking 2025
Quality Culture in Practice: Excellence in Teaching and Learning
At WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, the continuous development of academic programs is a top priority. Under the guiding principle of "Excellence in Management Education," all WHU members are committed to enabling optimal learning outcomes for WHU’s students. At the heart of this approach lies a robust quality management system that fosters a culture of openness, dialogue, and innovation.
Systematic Quality Management
As a system-accredited institution, WHU is authorized to (re)accredit its study programs independently. This responsibility allows WHU to respond flexibly to developments in academia and practice, offering forward-looking academic programs. Quality management at WHU is not a one-time activity but a continuous process conducted in close collaboration with all stakeholders.
Assurance of Learning (AoL)
A key component of quality management is the Assurance of Learning process. In this process, overarching competency goals are defined for each program, with a particular focus on social responsibility, internationality, and entrepreneurial spirit. These goals are embedded throughout the curriculum and are regularly reviewed to ensure that students acquire the intended competencies.
Culture of Feedback and Continuous Improvement
WHU places strong emphasis on a well-established culture of feedback. Students have the opportunity to evaluate every course and thereby contribute directly to quality enhancement. In addition, regular dialogue formats between student representatives and university as well as program leadership support open and constructive communication.
WHU Foundation
Since 1984 the WHU Foundation's main purpose is to fund and support WHU. To this end, the WHU Foundation works closely with WHU’s administration.
Campus Vallendar –
Vallendar is located in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley. With its castles, historic towns, and towering vineyards, this section has been awarded UNESCO world heritage site status. Major cities are dotted along the banks, and Koblenz marks the meeting of the rivers Rhine and Moselle. Perfectly placed, Vallendar and its surrounding area offer plenty to see and do.
Campus Düsseldorf –
Düsseldorf is the capital of the state North Rhine-Westphalia and is located on the banks of the river Rhine. Its 600,000 inhabitants make Düsseldorf a vibrant and international city in which to live, study, and work.
Our renowned international faculty
At present, 45 professors are conducting high-quality research at WHU. Every member of our faculty is an international expert in their field, serving the academic world through innovative joint research projects:
Young academics with a doctorate are given the opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience, conduct their own research, and thus qualify to take up a professorship in the future. Assistant professors work at the school for up to six years and become part of the renowned WHU network:
Adjunct professors are experts distinguished in research and teaching who are employed full-time at another university. In their work as adjunct professors at WHU, they generally teach in WHU's programs and devote themselves to specific research projects - often in collaboration with other WHU faculty members:
Academically qualified persons may be appointed as an „Außerplanmäßige Professorin“ or „Außerplanmäßiger Professor“ if they teach regularly at WHU. This is possible for former assistant professors after a positive evaluation, for people with a post-doctoral degree („Habilitierte“), or for persons who otherwise fulfill the hiring requirements for a professorship. Through different backgrounds, „Außerplanmäßige Professorin“ or „Außerplanmäßiger Professor“ contribute to the variety of faculty profiles, whereby excellent performance in research and teaching as well as a clear contribution to the further development of the school are a prerequisite:
With the title Honorary Professor, WHU honors individuals who have rendered outstanding scientific services in the course of their professional activities or scientific field, and who have thus become significant personalities both for the academic field and for the corporate world.
WHU only honors those individuals who have made a long-term commitment to the future success of the school and thus ensure continued excellence. With their diverse expertise, they contribute to WHU’s high teaching quality.
In the 30 years since the school was founded, this honor has been bestowed upon only 17 individuals to date:
A Senior Fellow of WHU is an exceptional personality from an economic, political or societal background who has rendered remarkable services to the school:
