IfK bids farewell to 89 graduates at graduation ceremony in the castle
(21.07.2025) On 18 July 2025, a total of 89 graduates of the Institute of Communication Science (IfK) were bid farewell in the castle auditorium. Prof Dr Helena Stehle, Managing Director of the IfK, congratulated a total of 13 Master's and 73 Bachelor's degrees as well as 3 doctorates from the summer semester 2025.
At the beginning of the graduation ceremony, Helena Stehle welcomed the numerous guests, which included not only the graduates but also many family members and friends as well as institute staff. Prof Dr Sigrid Kannengießer then provided an insight into current research topics at the IfK. In her presentation, she explained some of the ecological, economic and social consequences of digitalisation and datafication, e.g. the harmful working conditions in resource extraction for digital technologies, the mountains of electronic waste or the energy consumption during training and the use of generative AI. Against this backdrop, Sigrid Kannengießer presented the results of her working group's research in which she and her colleagues are investigating how companies, non-governmental organisations and individuals can make digital media technologies and generative AI more sustainable, i.e. more socially, ecologically and economically just. She showed, for example, that AI-developing companies do not address the sustainability of artificial intelligence itself, but do address the possibilities of using AI for sustainability goals.
Dr Felix Flemming also introduced the IfK association MedienAlumni Münster e.V.. The association connects alumni and current students at the institute and supports numerous IfK projects. As 1st chairman of the association, Felix Flemming also awarded the MedienAlumni Münster prize for the best final thesis. Nadège Seibring was honoured for the best Master's thesis of the year 2024.
Madeline Hunfeld then addressed the audience on behalf of the Master's graduates. Under the title ‘A short seminar on the retrospective analysis and evaluation of the Master's programme at the IfK - Or: We are through!’, she took those present back to a seminar room at the University of Münster. Based on the structure of a seminar lesson, she showed which skills the graduates take with them from their studies - for a career in the media industry, but also for life. With some humorous memories, she looked back on the past semesters and thanked her fellow students, lecturers and IfK staff for the unforgettable time.
Sara Kohn and Maximilian Wunschik took over the speech for the Bachelor graduates. In their speech, they posed what is probably the most classic question for KoWi students: Can we actually communicate now? - Of course, the question was not meant entirely seriously, but was nevertheless systematically analysed: in three tongue-in-cheek hypotheses about contexts, perspectives and the diversity of the degree programme. Between group work, rain radar and cafeteria meetings, they showed that communication at university is not just about theory, but rather about roles, misunderstandings and real moments. The answer at the end: an honest ‘yes’ and the realisation that studying was much more than just learning material and passing exams.
The Duo Eigendynamik (Rebekka Wilhelm and Felix Feldmann) provided the musical entertainment for the evening. With vocals/guitar and saxophone, they delighted the audience with virtuoso interpretations of contemporary pieces from Duke Ellington to Foo Fighters. After Helena Stehle personally congratulated all the graduates and presented them with the obligatory gerbera, the event ended with a drink in the foyer of the castle.
Contact person public relations:
Dr. Stephan Völlmicke
Telefon: +49 251 83-23006
Telefax: +49 251 83-21310 (Geschäftszimmer IfK)