Excursions

Attending a public hearing at the Federal Finance Court in Munich provided an exciting and practical complement to the lecture on procedural and valuation law. The students were able to witness first-hand how tax disputes are heard and decided at the highest legal level. Afterwards, they were also given an exclusive guided tour of the Federal Fiscal Court, which provided further insights into how the court operates. Our sincere thanks go to the Federal Fiscal Court’s visitor service, which made this special insight possible.

The Master’s programmes in International Business Administration and Global Management organised a joint alpine seminar on negotiation skills at the Brünnsteinhaus. The combination of the alpine setting and academic input provided students with a unique learning environment and the opportunity to experience the subject matter outside the lecture theatre for a change. The seminar provided valuable insights, intensive study and a view that made learning even more enjoyable. The group were particularly grateful for the organisation, including the coach transfer, and for how smoothly everything went.

Accompanied by Professor Dr Robin Hau and Dr Robert Luzsa, a number of students from the Business Psychology & Sustainability Management degree programme visited Professor Tobias Nickel at Deggendorf University of Applied Sciences on 13 May 2026. After attending two modules from the ‘Business Psychology’ programme at Deggendorf University of Applied Sciences, there was an opportunity to discuss matters with the students on site, tour the laboratories and talk about possibilities for collaboration. Prof. Dr Hau sums it up: “A fantastic and constructive day for us and our students.”

Sales in the construction industry: How do you convince professionals of the merits of premium drills?

Students on the Master’s course in Customer Management and members of the Excellence Circle were given the opportunity to spend an exciting day at Hilti in Kaufering. Hilti is a highly agile company which not only sells drills (which is what many people associate with the company) but has expanded its portfolio to include everything from services to software solutions. What does this mean for sales? How do you tackle these challenges of transformation?

Alongside such strategic questions, we also gained insights into the internal sales team and were able to practise sales techniques ourselves through role-plays under professional guidance.

Further highlights of the day included a tour of the production facilities and the opportunity to test Hilti products. Everyone really enjoyed this. Thank you to Julia Luichtl and Mike Eitzenhöfer from Hilti for their great commitment and open dialogue. These insights are extremely valuable and fascinating for students.

Practical insights, fascinating research and inspiring discussions: at the end of May, students on the Business Psychology & Sustainability Management degree programme had the opportunity to visit the Nuremberg Institute for Market Decisions (NIM).
A big thank you to Dr Benedikt Brand for the warm welcome and the fascinating insights into the institute’s work. During an open discussion session, we were able to learn about current research projects, discuss key issues and find out more about research into consumer behaviour and sustainability.
A particular highlight was the opportunity to experience a study on sustainable consumption in virtual reality for ourselves. The combination of innovative research methods and practice-relevant questions made a great impression on our students.
The visit provided valuable inspiration, opened up new perspectives and demonstrated just how exciting applied research can be.
 

As part of a joint project between the departments of Business Administration and Computer Science at Landshut University of Applied Sciences and the company DRÄXLMAIER, students developed a production chatbot for DRÄXLMAIER’s production facilities and put it directly into practice in Leipzig.

On 15 December 2025, students from our Business School visited KPMG in Munich. During the tax workshop, they gained practical insights into the world of tax consultancy – from international transactions to corporate tax. Through interactive case studies and group discussions, the students were able to gain valuable experience. The event concluded with a relaxed get-together. A big thank you to KPMG and everyone involved for the fascinating insights and the excellent collaboration.

The Excellence Circle had the opportunity to visit Texas Instruments and gain a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of a company whose semiconductors we all use every day, whether we realise it or not.

To start with, Gerhard Raetscher gave us a fascinating overview of TI – from the company’s structure to the latest technological challenges. Afterwards, Bettina Eisenmann and Wiebke Huhn provided us with valuable insights into the company and the recruitment process. A highlight was the discussion with Miriam Ehrer, a graduate of Landshut University of Applied Sciences and a member of the Excellence Circle. She gave an inspiring account of her journey to Texas Instruments and her experiences in her day-to-day work.

To round off the visit, Thomas Zwack took us on a tour of the production facilities – it was impressive to see how modern manufacturing, precision and in-depth expertise all work together.

Thank you to the entire TI team for their hospitality, openness and the inspiring discussion!

First stop: an in-depth and moving conversation with Marlene Schönberger, a Member of the Bundestag from Lower Bavaria, which took place in the chamber. The focus was actually on the topic of ‘target group communication in everyday political life’. However, it quickly became clear just how challenging the world of politics can be – including very personal insights into dealing with online hate and the darker side of political life in the public eye.

Second stop: The next day, we moved on to the PR Report Camp, where our budding communicators were able to get a taste of the real world through numerous case studies and workshops led by both young and experienced PR professionals.

An exciting, informative and memorable trip – and a successful start to their studies.

As part of the Tax specialism module, a field trip to the tax consultancy GKK Partners in Munich took place on 10 November 2025. The session began with an introduction to the firm, during which the students were given a fascinating insight into the firm’s working methods, structure and areas of practice.

This was followed by a presentation lasting around two hours on the topic of ‘Income from capital assets pursuant to Section 20 of the Income Tax Act (EstG)’. The speakers clearly explained the tax principles and illustrated them with practical examples, making the topic very accessible and interesting.

The excursion concluded with a get-together featuring food and drinks. This gave the students the opportunity to chat with the firm’s staff and learn more about their day-to-day working lives.

Thank you, GKK Partners, for the invitation, the organisation and this experience!

We’ve just had two intensive and inspiring days with the Excellence Circle! Under the overarching theme of ‘Character and Democracy Education’, the varied programme in Nuremberg offered exciting insights and perspectives. Together with the students, we analysed CVs, reflected on future trends and further developed individual goals.
In discussions with Claudia Globisch and Florian Lehmer from the Institute for Employment Research (#IAB), we gained deeper insights into academic discourse on social transformation – many thanks for this valuable input!
Another highlight was the visit to the Neues Museum in Nuremberg, which focused on democracy in art:
An in-depth examination of Gerhard Richter’s work in the context of the art market and the museum’s mission, as well as fascinating discussions on the exhibition “A Circle of 12 Gold Stars” by Jan A. Staiger, provided fresh food for thought on the relationship between art, society and democracy.
Two days full of fresh ideas, inspiring conversations and the realisation that education for democracy always also means personal development.
A big thank you to everyone involved – especially the students of the Excellence Circle – for the enriching dialogue!

In glorious weather, the Master’s programme in Market-Oriented Business Management set off for the Brünnsteinhaus to attend an intensive seminar on negotiation and sales management. Valuable insights were gained through intensive teaching sessions and practical case studies, and, as a bonus, the group had transformed into a really strong team over the course of the three days.

Being able to seize business opportunities more quickly and being closer to customers – these are the advantages of being a medium-sized business, particularly in a highly competitive market such as the furniture retail sector.

Students on the Digitalisation & Business Start-ups degree programme, along with Prof. Dr Mühlfriedel, learnt first-hand from Maximilian Biller, a third-generation entrepreneur, and Stefan Rothbauer, Head of Administration and an alumnus of Landshut University of Applied Sciences, what it means to work in a medium-sized company with over 500 employees and four sites in a constantly changing market environment.

Thank you for the fascinating insights and the highly informative tour of the company, including a glimpse behind the scenes!

From 18 to 20 May 2025, students on the Tax Consultancy degree programme, accompanied by Prof. Dr Zinser, attended the 63rd German Tax Advisers’ Congress at the International Congress Centre in Dresden. The event was organised by the Federal Chamber of Tax Advisers (BStBK) and provided a platform for in-depth professional discussion, high-calibre presentations and a wide range of networking opportunities. The congress began on Sunday evening with a welcome address by the President of the BStBK, Prof. Dr Hartmut Schwab, followed by a dinner in the trade exhibition area. That very evening, the students were able to take the opportunity to make initial contacts and familiarise themselves with what the exhibiting companies had to offer.

On Monday morning, the official opening took place, led by Prof. Dr Schwab, followed by a welcome address from Saxony’s Minister of State, Christian Piwarz. Dr Hans-Josef Thesling, President of the Federal Finance Court, then answered questions on current challenges and trends in tax consultancy. This was followed by a panel discussion on the topic “A Fresh Start – How Can Germany’s Economy Become Sustainable Again?”, which brought together different perspectives from the professional world, academia and politics. The specialist programme continued on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning with practice-oriented presentations, covering topics such as ‘The Latest on VAT’, ‘Income Tax Update 2025’ and ‘Taxes and AI’. These provided fascinating insights into current legislative changes, as well as technological developments, which the students found particularly interesting. In addition, on both days there was the opportunity to visit the trade exhibition to network and gather valuable information. The experienced participants confirmed that the Tax Advisers’ Congress was both inspiring and enriching.

Special thanks go to the Munich Chamber of Tax Advisers, which made participation possible by covering the conference fees, as well as to Prof. Dr Zinser and Landshut University of Applied Sciences for this valuable experience and the fascinating insights into the profession of tax adviser.

Off to the Brünnsteinhaus: our Master’s students on the International Business programme made their way from the lecture theatre to the mountains. Together with Prof. Dr Kumpf and Prof. Dr Peisl, they worked intensively on case studies – with plenty of opportunity for discussion, team-building and gaining new perspectives.

This term, the Marketing & Sales module, in conjunction with the Master’s programme in Market-Oriented Business Management, had the opportunity to visit Hilti in Kaufering.

A day full of highlights:
Impressive insights into the world of Hilti.
A challenging sales simulation.
Pure hands-on experience testing Hilti products.

Prof. Gronover was delighted: “Hilti’s direct sales approach is always fascinating, and you don’t see that kind of clear customer focus everywhere.”

Thank you to Hilti for this inspiring experience!

Prof. Dr Tina Krieger and the students on the ‘Entrepreneurial Skills 2’ course were guests of Dominik Obermeier, co-founder of HIVEMQ GmbH. In an inspiring conversation, he shared fascinating insights into his journey to founding a successful start-up – including the realisation that the original idea is rarely the one that ultimately leads to success.

Thank you for the valuable insights!

The ‘Entrepreneurial Skills 3’ course visited LINK – the City of Landshut’s start-up centre – where they had the opportunity to discuss fascinating start-up stories and interesting business models with Harald Elsberger, founder and CEO of Xpecto AG.

Particularly impressive were the inspiring story of Xpecto’s founding and the so-called ‘Elsberger’s Law’, which was the subject of lively discussion during the talk. The discussion centred on how different business models affect capital requirements and profitability.

The options are as follows:
1. Selling labour
2. Selling products
3. Selling usage
4. Selling the company

Conclusion: the higher the level, the longer the path to profitability – but also the greater the profit potential! An engaging discussion with lots of questions from our students.

Prof. Dr Gronover and Prof. Dr Krieger would like to extend their warm thanks to Harald Elsberger for the open exchange and the valuable insights!

The ‘Entrepreneurial Skills 2’ course gained exciting insights into the world of innovation and start-ups in Munich and Garching. At the unicorn start-up Personio in Munich, the students experienced a cool yet tidy start-up office, where the atmosphere was relaxed yet focused and professional. The extreme focus on the needs of the core target group as the key to success was particularly impressive. Furthermore, the company consistently uses key performance indicators to steer its course, which, alongside customer-centricity, is another crucial part of Personio’s recipe for success. Very inspiring insights into the world of a successful start-up!

At the UnternehmerTUM Makerspace in Garching, the students then immersed themselves in the fascinating world of prototypes and hands-on product improvements. The variety of machines and facilities enables Makerspace members to turn creative ideas into reality. This is where innovations are born and ideas take shape!

Thanks to a partnership between TUM and Landshut University of Applied Sciences, Landshut students who wish to start their own business with an innovative idea can, incidentally, gain access to a Makerspace membership via the university’s start-up centre.

Thanks to Personio and the MakerSpace for this inspiring excursion

Last week, the Excellence Circle of the Faculty of Business Administration visited the BMW Group plant in Landshut. An exciting programme awaited the students on the mentoring programme.

As well as engaging keynote talks, the tours of the light-metal foundry and the CFRP production facility provided excellent insights into the work carried out at the plant. During a group lunch, members of the Excellence Circle and BMW staff were also able to engage in in-depth personal discussions.

A glimpse behind the scenes at one of the ‘Big Four’: Together with Prof. Dr Zinser, our students on the Taxation specialism module and the Tax Consultancy degree programme had the opportunity to visit KPMG AG in Munich. From impressive views to fascinating insights into M&A transactions and practical group work, the visit had it all.

As part of the “Operations & Supply Chain Management” module, our students went on a field trip to BMW Plant 2.70 – the Dynamics Centre! Here, they were able to gain a fascinating insight into the global distribution centre for spare parts.

A big thank you to our colleagues at BMW for the fantastic tour! Anyone interested in an internship or a dissertation project at the logistics centre is welcome to get in touch.

35 first-year students on the “Media and Communication Management” degree programme travelled to Berlin with Prof. Dr Bürker for the PR Report Camp 2024! After a long journey filled with anticipation, they were treated to panel discussions on artificial intelligence and democracy, career talks and top case studies from the shortlist for the PR Report Awards, as well as candidates for the “30 under 30” list.

The takeaway: communication is more important today than ever before, especially for businesses. Attitude is less a question of communication than of action; emotional intelligence is something artificial intelligence cannot replicate; and clarity is also extremely important, for example in analyses.

Prof. Dr Zinser’s Taxation module visited the law firm GKK PARTNERS PartG mbB in Schwabing! The students gained valuable insights into the tax sector. Tax adviser Pascal Streit and partner Dr Michael Hoheisel provided practical insights into the taxation of investment income.

At the get-together that followed, the students were able to chat with colleagues from the firm: starting a career at GKK, benefits and career development opportunities were the main topics of discussion!

On 5 November 2024, as part of the ‘Introduction to Ecology’ course, students on the Business Psychology and Sustainability Management degree programmes went on a field trip with Prof. Dr Diana Hehenberger-Risse! Plant expert Xaver Keiler guided them through the permaculture forest garden in the Mattinger Hänge nature reserve in Lohstadt on the Danube.

The students learnt about the functions and interrelationships within a healthy ecosystem and how to create habitats for rare species. There were also plenty of ideas on how they themselves can contribute to nature conservation and species protection!

From 13 to 15 October, students on the Taxation module attended the 47th German Tax Advisers’ Conference at the Congress Centre Hamburg, accompanied by Prof. Dr Zinser. The visit was organised by the German Tax Advisers’ Association (DStV).

We are delighted to report on our recent mountain seminar in the Alps as part of the Master’s programme in International Business, which was attended by 29 students from 11 countries. The seminar focused on leadership in a global context and offered participants a unique opportunity to develop and refine their leadership skills in an international setting.
Students on the Master’s programme in ‘Market-Oriented Business Management’ learnt, during the intensive ‘Negotiation Skills’ seminar, about the parallels between leadership in the mountains and negotiation skills. Exciting insights could be put into practice straight away and, as the weather was also brilliant, it proved to be an informative and intensive experience.
Throughout the seminar, students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and adopt new perspectives. These intense experiences fostered close teamwork, enabling the development of innovative and collaborative solutions.
Outside the traditional academic setting, the students faced physical challenges, such as abseiling down steep slopes and the demanding ascent and descent of the mountain. These activities helped them to recognise and overcome their personal limits, providing valuable insights for their personal and professional development.
The mountain seminar offered the students not only academic and professional development, but also valuable personal experiences. We would like to thank all participants for their commitment and enthusiasm!

Having first examined in depth, as part of their lectures, the requirements for lawful reporting under commercial law and the risks of financial statement fraud, the students on the ‘External Accounting and Auditing’ specialism module the purpose of attending the Wirecard trial was to gain an insight into what may be the most serious accounting scandal in Germany. We were accompanied by Prof. Dr Zinser and students from the Taxation module.

The criminal trial against Dr Markus Braun, the former member of Wirecard’s Executive Board, is taking place in the high-security courtroom at the prison in Munich-Stadelheim. On arrival, we first had to pass through extensive security checks. Mobile phones, laptops and any items posing a security risk were taken into custody for the duration of the hearing.
During the subsequent hearing, the head of Wirecard Bank was called as a witness and was able to provide an interesting insight into the group’s lending practices, including in connection with alleged sham transactions. As expected, many questions remained unanswered – yet at the same time, the court’s meticulous approach, through which individual aspects were pieced together to establish the truth, left a deep impression.