Students from the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics present their research in a Three Minute Thesis Competition
The "International Business Studies Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT)" took place in the summer semester 2025. The competition was part of the English course of the sixth semester ("English VI") of the Bachelor's degree programme "International Business Studies". The students had to creatively present their own research work - specifically the topic of their Bachelor's thesis or a topic that could be of interest for their Bachelor's thesis - in a recorded three-minute presentation and a written scientific exposé. They then took part in discussion rounds in which their research work was discussed with other students and academic staff.
The students conducted research in fields including artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, finance and taxation, international business, management, marketing and sustainability. Some research projects involved detailed literature analyses, while others focused on the results of primary research. The 3MT Competition helped students to focus on their research specialism and encouraged them to make complex topics accessible and understandable to a wider audience.
Through the course input and participation in the 3MT Competition, students were able to deepen their English language skills for both professional and academic contexts and develop their critical thinking and research skills. Many students reported that they felt better prepared for their Bachelor's thesis.
The winners of the competition were selected by a jury consisting of Prof. Dr. Kirsten Thommes, Prof. Dr. Urska Kosi and Junior Prof. Dr. Sylvia Hubner-Benz. The winning entries and further information on the 3MT Competition can be found on the competition website:
Special thanks go to the Universitätsgesellschaft Paderborn for sponsoring this year's winners' and finalists' prizes.
Background
The International Business Studies Bachelor's degree programme is characterised by a special emphasis on communication skills in order to prepare students for the international working world. By the end of the programme, students should be able to confidently present, discuss and write about business topics in English. These skills are brought together in the 3MT Competition. In the summer term 2025, English VI and the 3MT Competition were led by Bridgette DeCot, Rachel Lindner, Katriona Fraser and Amy Ziemniak
