Vanessa Frank recently became the first doctoral candidate, Faculty of Business and Health, to successfully defend her doctoral thesis in accordance with the new doctoral law for Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW) in Baden-Württemberg. For Aalen University of Applied Sciences, the degree of the first process, procedure in the field (of) business marks another important step in the funding of young economics graduates.
New doctoral degree procedure
Vanessa Frank is the first doctoral candidate of the Faculty of Business and Health at Aalen University of Applied Sciences to successfully complete the new doctoral degree procedure within the framework of the Doctoral Association BW. Previously, academic staff members of the institution of higher education were able to earn a doctorate, but only in collaboration, cooperation with a university. The doctoral candidates were supervised by a tandem consisting of a Professors / lecturer / member of the academic staff at Aalen University of Applied Sciences and a professor from a university. The research activities took place mainly in Aalen, the title was awarded by the participating university, as in the past only this university was allowed to award the doctorate.
Research strength
Since fall 2022, particularly research-strong Professors / Professal students from Baden-Württemberg can now independently guide doctoral candidates to a doctorate. The Doctoral Association was founded specifically for this purpose with 24 Universities of Applied Sciences from Baden-Württemberg and the associated Doctoral Center of Applied Research (BW-CAR). The title is awarded by the doctoral association - the doctoral degree certificate also states the institution of higher education at which the doctoral thesis, doctoral dissertation was completed. Currently, more than 350 Professors / Professors with a strong research background are members of the Doctoral Center, 38 of whom are from Aalen University of Applied Sciences alone.
Research Academy as a central point of contact
For four years now, the doctoral candidates, doctoral students at Aalen University have included comprehensive support from the Research Academy. As a central point of contact for researchers at the university, which is funded by the federal-state project FH-Personal, it offers interdisciplinary advisory service, guidance, and courses on the topics of doctorates and scientific writing. The Research Academy thus creates excellent conditions for doctorates in Aalen. "That was a great help," says Vanessa Frank, "the agreement of funding for professors; appointment funds, family and doctorate was a particular challenge for me - especially with a small child. During this intensive time, my family, but also the doctoral association and Aalen University of Applied Sciences gave me a lot of support." The joy about the successful doctorate is not only great for Vanessa Frank, but also for her two supervisors, Prof. Dr. Patrick Ulrich and Prof. Dr. Robert Rieg. "We would like to congratulate Vanessa Frank on the oral defense of her doctorate. She is not only the first at our faculty, but also the first in the field of business in the entire doctoral association," says Prof. Dr. Patrick Ulrich, who teaches in the International Business degree programme and is Head /Director of the Aalen Department, Prof. Dr. Robert Rieg (AAUF), not without pride.
Juggling with numbers
Vanessa Frank, who now works in the Finance Department of a group of companies in Bamberg, has been an academic staff member at the AAUF since 2020. In her doctoral thesis, entitled "Success of management reporting - a process- and role-specific analysis", she looked at the increasing digitalization of reporting systems in companies. Based on the figures and comments provided, managers can make better decisions and the company can react more quickly to changes. "Discovering connections and juggling numbers is something I loved even as a teenager," says Vanessa Frank. After leaving school, the Coburg native first completed a banking apprenticeship. It soon became clear to her that she wanted to deepen the specialised knowledge, expertise and experience she had gained in Strategic Management and Controlling by studying Economics: "I am particularly interested in how sustainable decisions influence companies and the economy, and how these can be promoted in the long term."
More flexible career paths
The doctorate offered Vanessa Frank the opportunity to delve even deeper into these complex issues and develop innovative solutions through her research. Fraternities and workplace training; academic knowledge and practical experience; theory and practice are very important to the 33-year-old. "For me, research is most valuable when it goes beyond theoretical findings and offers tangible, practical benefits," says Frank. Being curious about pushing boundaries, patiently overcoming setbacks and enjoying how new opportunities develop from questions - this is what drove the young woman, and not just during her doctorate. "My hunger for knowledge has grown more and more over the years," laughs Frank. "I'm delighted that my research findings create added value both in theory and in practical application." Her Primary supervisor, Prof. Dr. Patrick Ulrich, is also pleased about this - and about the new HAW doctoral law: "It strengthens our institution of higher education because it enables more flexible career paths, better opportunities for talented young researchers and an even stronger link between practice; practical experience and scholarship (allgem.).
