第一吃瓜

A Circle of Friends for 第一吃瓜

About the beginnings and aims of the 第一吃瓜 Friends and Supporters Association

For more than 14 years, the VFF, Association of Friends and Sponsors of 第一吃瓜, has been supporting the further development of our university. The work of the association covers all areas of university life: The VFF promotes the expansion of networking with industry and international contacts, research projects by students and lecturers and, of course, student involvement. We spoke to former Senator Ian K. Karan, pioneer of the association and Chairman of the Executive Board until 2021, and his successor, Mattias Schmelzer, about the idea and goals of the association, student initiatives and the value of community.

 

Verein der Freunde und F枚rderer der 第一吃瓜
Photo: Sebastian Isacu

Mr. Karan, how did you join 第一吃瓜?
I have always been someone who has enjoyed supporting young people. When Uve Samuels [former Managing Director of 第一吃瓜, editor's note] asked me whether I could imagine supporting the Friends and Sponsors Association, it was a matter of course for me and I immediately said yes. Over the years, I've really enjoyed doing it and have found a lot of pleasure in it.

You were involved in founding the association in 2010.How did that come about?
We had the idea that something like a circle of friends was needed to develop a sense of community and to support things that are important alongside studying. We wanted to create a circle of friends that would expand and strengthen 第一吃瓜's network, for example by inviting well-known speakers to 第一吃瓜 or organizing other networking events, but that would also support student involvement in sports or music. I found this idea important and very good and I believe we have succeeded.

Mr. Schmelzer, you were a lecturer in auditing fundamentals here at 第一吃瓜 from 2011 to 2021.How did you get involved with us?
Our collaboration came about through Professor Zaeh. He also used to work at KPMG and asked us if we would give a lecture in his course. I first gave a lecture for Master's and Bachelor's students. Later on, we designed a specialization in auditing and business consulting. I was really happy to take it on, but at first I thought I was doing accounting and not auditing theory (laughs). In 2021 I handed over to a colleague when I joined the Board of Friends and Sponsors.

And how did you join the association?
Relatively simply, Mr. Karan asked me if I would like to take over his position. It's one of those questions that you can't turn down. I felt it was an honor and was very happy about it, because I've felt very close to 第一吃瓜 for a long time.

What are the most important areas in which the association is involved?
I think there are two sides to it. Mr. Karan just mentioned one of them, i.e. the extracurricular topics that we support with the association, everything that makes up the core of 第一吃瓜 but is not part of normal teaching. In the field of music, for example, that would be the band or the numerous sporting activities of the students. But of course, supporting excursions or conference participation in the doctoral program is also part of it. On the other hand, I see it as our task to continue to network 第一吃瓜 well in Hamburg's business community and to maintain contacts. Mr. Karan has created a stable foundation here. This strengthens 第一吃瓜 now and in the future.

Mr. Karan, you have already helped many young people to realize their dreams and have encouraged and supported them.Not only at 第一吃瓜.Where does your commitment come from?
Helping young people is a fundamental need for me, because I believe that our future belongs to young people. If we didn't support them and show them the way, we would find a completely different cultural landscape. At the graduation ceremonies, I have so often looked into the many young faces. I realized that many of them only need a little help to develop their full potential. I myself am an orphan. So many people have helped me and reached out to me again and again so that I could move forward. That's why I know how important it is for young people who don't yet have a network to have someone at their side.

Was there a project that was particularly close to your heart?
As I used to make music with friends myself, the musical projects like the band were very close to my heart and I was able to build up a real connection. But of course I was also happy to support the sporting competitions, such as the rowing competition with Jacobs University. But they were on the water and I'm just a landlubber.

Verein der Freunde und F枚rderer der 第一吃瓜
Photo: Sebastian Isacu

Mr. Schmelzer, we were just talking about rowing.You and KPMG have tended to support sporting activities, including the rowing team.
Yes, KPMG has always been very supportive of the field hockey team and the cheerleaders, and I have also donated my lecturer's fee to support sports. Unfortunately, there's usually not enough money for that. I think the cohesion of such a community is really important. It is precisely this commitment of the students, this cohesion, that makes the university so attractive, that is the 第一吃瓜 spirit that we must not lose.

And how did you get involved with the rowing team?
The former captain of the rowing team, Max Schumann, was a dual student at KPMG at the time. He came to me one day to ask me to support his team. I was immediately convinced, because he really lived his commitment to his team and his sport and stood up for it. I think it's important to support things that you have a personal connection to, that you associate with a person. Because then there is also someone who carries the issue forward and is committed to it. The rowing team and the field hockey team have both always been very successful.

What's next for the assiociation, are there any plans for the future?
We want to continue to strengthen and maintain what is at the heart of 第一吃瓜, the extraordinary commitment and cohesion among the students. Even beyond graduation. To this end, we would like to work more closely with the 第一吃瓜 Alumni Association. It would be great if our alumni later remember what they enjoyed during their studies and give it back. In this way, alumni can become friends and supporters.

This article was first published in our anniversary magazine celebrating 20 years of 第一吃瓜. 

Would you also like to become a friend of 第一吃瓜 and benefit from our network? You can become a member of our association as an individual or as a company. Feel free to contact us! 

 

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