The School of Business at Mainz University of Applied Sciences honored two of its outstanding academics, Prof. Dr. Lydia Bals and Prof. Dr. Sven Pagel, at an academic ceremony on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Their scholarly achievements have an impact far beyond the boundaries of the university.
In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Hans-Christoph Reiss, Dean of the School of Business, emphasized the importance of research as a collective endeavor characterized by commitment, passion, and perseverance. In these fast-moving times, it is particularly important to recognize sustainable and well-founded scientific achievements accordingly.
Prof. Dr. Lydia Bals completed her external habilitation (postdoctoral lecture qualification) at the EBS University of Business and Law in Oestrich-Winkel on June 13, 2024. She also established international standards with her research in the field of global value chains and reshoring. In the Journal of Business Research, she was ranked 14th among the world’s most prolific authors in the field of reshoring. Her work has played a key role in positioning Mainz University of Applied Sciences in 19th place in the international rankings and has made a decisive contribution to advancing research on global supply chains.
Prof. Dr. Sven Pagel was recently awarded the Academy Prize of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate for his innovative approaches to digital transformation and knowledge transfer. This award not only recognizes his scholarly achievements, but also emphasizes the social relevance and forward-looking nature of his research.
“It is a rare event to be able to honor two such outstanding researchers in a joint ceremony. Prof. Dr. Lydia Bals and Prof. Dr. Sven Pagel impressively demonstrate how different fields of research—from global supply chains to digital innovations—can contribute to making our world a better place,” stated Hans-Christoph Reiss.
The School of Business sees this ceremony not only as a reflection on past achievements, but also as a source of inspiration for the future. The achievements being celebrated illustrate what is possible when dedication, expertise, and interdisciplinary collaboration come together—values that particularly characterize Mainz University of Applied Sciences.
