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Key people at Hertie School.
The Hertie School is a private graduate university based in Berlin, Germany, offering master's and doctoral programs in public policy, international affairs, and data science, alongside executive education. It emphasizes interdisciplinary, practice-oriented teaching and research, preparing students for leadership roles in government, business, and civil society. As of August 2024, the institution serves 836 students from over 70 countries, 1,073 executive education participants, and boasts 3,125 alumni. Its academic community includes 36 faculty members and 67 PhD researchers. The school is currently led by President Cornelia Woll, with Axel Baisch serving as Managing Director, and features deans such as Mark Hallerberg, Thurid Hustedt, and Andrea Römmele. The Hertie School was founded in 2003 by the Hertie Foundation, which remains its primary financial supporter.
The Hertie School is not a company but a private, independent graduate school in Berlin focused on governance, offering master's and doctoral programs in public policy, international affairs, and data science for public policy.[1][6] Founded in 2003 by the non-profit Hertie Foundation, it emphasizes interdisciplinary education at the intersection of politics, business, and civil society, with English as the working language and a highly international student body from over 95 countries.[1][2] Its annual budget is €30.2 million, and it prepares students for leadership roles in government, business, and nonprofits, with programs like the Master of Public Policy (MPP, launched 2005), Master of International Affairs (MIA, 2015), and Master of Data Science (2021).[1][6]
The Hertie School traces its roots to the Hertie Foundation, established in 1974 by the heirs of Georg Karg, who acquired the Jewish-owned Tietz department store chain (renamed Hertie after Hermann Tietz) during its "Aryanization" in Nazi Germany in the 1930s.[3][4] The foundation, named after this retail legacy, shifted to philanthropy focused on brain research, democracy, and social projects, using proceeds from selling its shares in the 1990s.[3][4] In 2003, it founded the school to advance research and teaching on modern governance and statehood, with official inauguration by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in 2004 and the first MPP cohort of 30 students in 2005.[1][2][8] Key early figures include Michael Zürn as the first president.[2] The school gained state recognition in 2005, full doctoral accreditation in 2017, and plans a 2025-2026 move to the renovated Robert Koch Forum.[1][5]
Hertie School rides the trend of data-driven governance and AI ethics in public policy, with its Master of Data Science program (launched 2021) addressing how data science intersects with policy, international affairs, and democracy amid rising tech regulation and digital transformation.[1][6] Timing aligns with Europe's push for tech sovereignty (e.g., GDPR, AI Act) and Berlin's status as a governance-tech hub, amplified by partnerships like the Berlin University Alliance.[5][7] Market forces favoring it include demand for interdisciplinary experts amid geopolitical shifts, brain drain in policy talent, and foundation support for democracy-strengthening initiatives.[2][3] It influences the ecosystem by producing alumni for global roles, hosting events on governance futures, and contributing to discourse via centres like the Jacques Delors Centre.[2]
Hertie School's campus move to Robert Koch Forum in 2026 will enable scaled enrollment, enhanced research, and deeper tech-policy integration, fueled by its Capital Campaign for scholarships.[2][5] Trends like AI governance, climate policy analytics, and hybrid public-private models will shape it, positioning it as a European leader in training data-savvy policymakers. Its influence may grow through expanded PhD programs and alumni networks, evolving from a niche governance school to a pivotal node in global tech-policy innovation—shaping tomorrow's leaders as its motto promises.[1]
Key people at Hertie School.
