Kiel University honors two personalities: Pawlik and Lehmann-Matthaei honored!

Kiel University honors two personalities: Pawlik and Lehmann-Matthaei honored!

On November 3, 2025, we will look back on a successful October, in which the Kiel University of Applied Sciences (HAW) honored two of its outstanding personalities. In a ceremony, Professor Dr. Thomas Pawlik and Björn Lehmann-Matthaei honored for their special contributions.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Pawlik was awarded honorary citizenship of the university, a symbol of his many years of commitment. During his time as a lecturer from 1996 to 2010, he shaped the economics department with his focus on business administration with an international orientation. He also developed the Maritime Transport Economics major, which is still an important part of the course offerings today. After his active time at the HAW Kiel, he took up a professorship in maritime management at the Bremen University of Applied Sciences. This journey can be attributed not least to the valuable support and impulses that he gave as Chairman of the University Council over eight years. HAW President Prof. Dr. Björn Christensen praised Pawlik as a thoughtful advisor and committed companion to the university, which benefits the institutional spirit of HAW Kiel, especially in turbulent times.

A master of science and innovation

His colleague Björn Lehmann-Matthaei was also pleased to receive an award: the university medal. After 25 years as managing director of the research and development center Fachhochschule Kiel GmbH (R&D center), he has had a significant impact on the center. His work was crucial for the founding of the R&D center 30 years ago, which today acts as a hub for knowledge transfer in the region and strengthening the research infrastructure. Under his leadership, important projects such as the offshore research platform FINO3 in the North Sea and the CAPTN test vehicle “MS Wavelab” were launched. Every year, the R&D center realizes around 150 orders for regional and national companies and public institutions, and Christensen made it clear that this success is directly attributable to Lehmann-Matthaei's commitment.

The awards not only bring honor to the individual people, but also represent HAW Kiel's overall commitment to education and research. Today, universities are more in demand than ever to find solutions to society's challenges, and their contribution to the expansion of knowledge is undeniable. A look at the past shows that the proportion of people entering higher education has risen sharply in many regions. Just a few decades ago, only 10% of an age group were university-bound; this value has increased to 40% by 2022. In Europe and North America in particular, access is up to 80%, while potential remains unused in many regions of the Global South. ( BMZ ).

In conclusion, it can be said that the latest honors are not only good for the honorable ones themselves, but also for the Kiel University of Applied Sciences itself. At a time when research, technology and education are becoming more important, personalities like Pawlik and Lehmann-Matthaei are indispensable guarantees for innovation and progress.

With this positive outlook, we look forward to the future of the university and its many talents.

For more information about HAW Kiel and its activities, please visit the official website: HAW Kiel.