Cultural Studies at Leuphana: How to start your career!

Cultural Studies at Leuphana: How to start your career!

On May 21, 2025, the Leuphana University of Lüneburg will say goodbye to APL. Prof. Dr. Peter Pez, a striking face of the Faculty of Cultural Studies. His academic journey began in 1990 when he joined the university as a research assistant. Over the years, Pez played a central role in the development of the field of cultural studies, which was founded there in 1986 as Applied Cultural Studies and restructured in its current form in 2010. The course is part of the Leuphana Bachelor, where students critically engage with cultural and societal transformations.

Under Pez’s leadership, numerous changes were implemented. He took on seminars, standard lectures and large excursions, which at many universities are reserved for professors. These initiatives aim to increase teaching efficiency and simplify teaching structures. He also introduced a comprehensive optimization of geographical training, which not only affected cultural and environmental sciences, but also included the teaching component.

Academic achievements

In 1997 Pez completed his habilitation with an important thesis on the choice of means of transport in Kiel and Lüneburg. In the early 2000s, he increasingly devoted himself to structural changes in order to achieve the personnel relief that was necessary for successful university education. Despite good staff reinforcements, it became clear that structural changes were also essential.

As Dean of Studies and later Vice Dean for Budget, Pez headed the Faculty of Educational, Cultural and Social Sciences from 2009 to 2012. His innovative strength in teaching and his focus on performance-based allocation of funds leave a lasting mark on the faculty.

A variety of perspectives for students

The cultural studies degree offers students the opportunity to deal with current topics such as digital transformation, globalization, migration and gender relations. These areas of focus reflect the numerous career prospects that await graduates. Possible fields of activity include:

• Museen
• Bibliotheken
• Kulturverwaltung und -management
• Journalismus, Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und die Medienbranche
• Tourismus und Eventmanagement

The study model, which includes a Leuphana semester, a major and a minor, promotes a broad education and prepares students optimally for the diverse challenges of the modern professional world. In any case, it is the graduates' responsibility to deepen their individual interests through elective modules and practice-oriented projects.

Applications for the course of study take place online from mid-May to July 15th, with the allocation of study places based on criteria such as final grades and individual skills. With a standard period of study of six semesters, the bachelor's program is well structured and enables in-depth academic training.

Overall, Peter Pez has left a lasting influence at the Leuphana University of Lüneburg through his innovative teaching methods and his commitment to cultural studies. Its departure marks the end of an era in which many changes were initiated that took the department to a new level. These advances will undoubtedly shape future generations of students.

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