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News Item, , Witten/Gütersloh: University of Witten/Herdecke establishes Reinhard Mohn Institute

With the creation of the Reinhard-Mohn-Instituts für Unternehmensführung und Corporate Governance (Reinhard Mohn Institute for Corporate Management and Corporate Governance – RMI), the University of Witten/Herdecke is honoring its long-time patron and guiding spirit, Reinhard Mohn. The late entrepreneur and philanthropist was a key supporter of the university, one of Germany's first private higher-education institutions, during its start-up phase. Mohn's ideas on corporate culture and corporate management will be further developed at the recently created research institute in accordance with the latest academic findings.

The institute's work will focus on a problem-oriented analysis of issues relating to corporate management, corporate governance and controlling. The institute will also serve as a platform for exchange among experts from the business, political and academic spheres.

 

"With his generous financial support and his commitment as the long-time chairman of our Board of Directors, Reinhard Mohn made a key contribution to establishing our institution and providing it with the reputation it now enjoys nationally and internationally," said Dr. Martin Butzlaf, the university's director. "Through his social, economic and political vision, he provided society with new ideas again and again. This will also be the new institute's mission and responsibility."

The Reinhard Mohn Institute will be home to three permanent professorships and three guest professorships, as well as recognized lecturers and a research project. The professorships will include the Dr. Werner Jackstädt Endowed Chair for Management, Accounting and Control; the Chair for Corporate Governance & Board Dynamics; and the Reinhard Mohn Endowed Chair for Corporate Governance, Business Ethics and Social Evolution, which was established in 1991. The institute's director will be Prof. Michèle Morner. The institute will also receive financial support from the Bertelsmann Wissenschaftsstiftung.

"The global economic crisis and the resulting loss of trust in governance bodies and management are also presenting business researchers with new challenges. The institute will be carrying out first-rate research into the topic of business management in all of its facets and proposing evidence-based solutions," Morner said. In addition, the institute will focus on providing students with excellent, practice-oriented educational offerings. According to Morner, the institute's goal is to produce responsible managers who "understand the art of corporate governance."    
 
A festive ceremony will be held July 2, 2010 at the University of Witten/Herdecke to celebrate the opening of the Reinhard Mohn Institute.