From student founder to Professor of Business Administration
A twinkle in his eye, Prof. Dr Fares Getzin makes no secret of the fact that it took him ten years to complete his degree in Business Administration at the TU Berlin. This was not due to a lack of interest in the discipline, but because he had already set up his own business organising events as a student. Freedom and personal responsibility remain important aspects of his work ethic today. The fact that he did not have to give up these values as a professor, but was able to put them into practice in teaching and research, were strong arguments in favour of a professorship. “I also liked the fact that, as a civil servant, you also enjoy professional security” he says. In this interview, Prof. Dr Getzin looks back on his career and tells us why he enjoys teaching.
When did a professorship become an option for you?
Prof. Dr Fares Getzin: I started my own business while I was still at university; in my family, it’s quite normal to be self-employed. But my start-up unfortunately fell victim to the financial crisis. So I returned to the university as a tutor and got a taste of the academic sphere - more than I had during my studies. Today I would say that the seed began to germinate back then. In the light of my experience in business, namely that everything can be gone from one day to the next, I found the combination of academic freedom and professional security that a professorship offers highly attractive. At some point, I began to pursue an academic career with more direction and conviction, and found out more about the requirements for a professorship.
What did the next stages of your journey look like?
I gained the necessary professional experience: I worked for several years as an auditing assistant in a large management consultancy and later in controlling at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce. I got my doctorate thanks to a leave of absence from the management consultancy firm, and I had already found a suitable supervisor at the TU Berlin. At the same time - and this also played a role - I worked as a lecturer, not only at the TU Berlin, but also at Magdeburg University of Applied Sciences. I would also recommend that anyone considering a professorship at a University of Applied Sciences (UAS) gets a taste of teaching beforehand. That’s very helpful.
What convinced you to apply to HTW Berlin?
I actually attended several job interviews, but I didn’t feel that the respective universities were right for me. In the end, I received three potential appointments at the same time, which was quite funny, so I was spoilt for choice. I chose HTW Berlin because of its good performance in rankings, especially the one in WirtschaftsWoche, for which HR managers from the largest German companies are surveyed every year. I believe that good graduates are synonymous with dedicated students. Good rankings also help to establish cooperations with companies. Last but not least, the teaching profile on the Business Administration degree programme suited me and my specialisations in controlling and internal accounting very well.
Which brings us to teaching: what role does it play?
The teaching commitment of 18 weekly study hours per week is high, no question. You have to enjoy teaching, otherwise you won’t be happy as a professor at a UAS. But teaching doesn’t just mean being a one-man-show and using the “chalk and talk technique”, as I myself experienced during my degree, in lecture theatres where lengthy lectures were held on slides on overhead projectors and there was zero interaction with students.
Teaching can be organised completely differently. Academic freedom does not only mean freedom in research, but also in teaching. I choose interesting, up-to-date topics, such as the use of artificial intelligence in controlling, and develop suitable application examples. I only show possible options, the students have to find the path which is right for them. I see myself as a teaching companion who helps, advises and supports. “Make the mistakes now rather than in the exam,” I like to say. When I look at the results of the student evaluations, this approach seems to go down well. And of course, I can’t get enough of this positive feedback!
How much leeway does a professorship give you in terms of time?
Honestly: a lot of room for manoeuvre. I can spread my teaching over two to three days a week, which I personally really like. I use the days in between to attend interesting conferences and do research, establish collaborations with corporate partners and think about new methods for my courses. I take the time to familiarise myself with new software or chat with my colleague about how to integrate the Lego Serious Play set I recently purchased into our joint course on risk management - these are just some examples!
Another plus point: I can have a part-time job and thus keep my hand in in industry as well. Although the small, limited liability company, of which I am the managing partner does not generate any significant turnover, it’s a wonderful space for experimentation. We specialise in modern whistleblowing software and in e-learning on the subject of compliance.
To cut a long story short, I haven’t regretted my decision to accept the appointment at HTW Berlin for a second.