Students present academic research questions in a clear and compelling manner at the Three Minute Thesis Competition
How do you explain a research project in just three minutes – in a way that is clear, concise and engaging? Students on the Bachelor’s degree programme in ‘International Business Studies’ (IBS) took up this challenge in the summer semester of 2026 at the ‘International Business Studies Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT)’. The competition formed part of the sixth-semester English course (“English VI”) and offered participants the opportunity to demonstrate their academic and communication skills.
The focus was on presenting their own research question – either based on their bachelor's thesis or a potential bachelor's thesis topic. To this end, the students developed a three-minute video presentation and an academic abstract, and subsequently discussed their research in small groups with fellow students and academic staff.
The entries addressed current issues in Business Administration and Economics, including those in the fields of artificial intelligence, digitalisation, finance and accounting, human resource management, marketing, sustainability and international business. The projects ranged from systematic literature reviews to empirical studies.
The aim of the 3MT Competition is to present complex academic content in a way that is accessible to a wide audience. At the same time, students learn to focus their research on the essentials, to present it convincingly and to reflect on it critically. By combining academic work with communication in English, the competition strengthens key skills for the remainder of their studies as well as for international and professional contexts. Many participants also reported that the competition left them feeling well prepared for their bachelor's thesis.
The winners were selected by a jury comprising Prof. Dr Kirsten Thommes, Prof. Dr Urska Kosi and Jun.-Prof. Dr Sylvia Hubner-Benz. The competition was organised by English lecturers Rachel Lindner and Bridgette DeCot from the IBS Language Department. The winning entries and further information are available on the website at go.upb.de/3MT26.
Special thanks go to the Paderborn University Society for funding the prizes for the winners and finalists.
Background
The ‘International Business Studies’ Bachelor’s programme combines content from the fields of Business Administration and Economics with intensive English-language training. The aim is to prepare students for an international working environment and to enable them to confidently present, discuss and analyse economic issues in English. The Three Minute Thesis Competition brings these skills together in a practical, competitive format.
