UW/H graduate Marla Hinkenhuis: From the lecture theatre to the world of the EU institutions
After completing her studies in PPÖ - Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the UW/H, Marla Hinkenhuis joined the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Luxembourg.
Marla Hinkenhuis studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPÖ) at Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H). Today she works in the evaluation department of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Luxembourg. She is responsible for independent evaluations of the EIB Group's activities. In this job, Marla has found an exciting combination of economic and political issues, which she was already enthusiastic about during her studies at the UW/H. "In my job, I keep realising how important the ability to think in a networked way and work in an interdisciplinary way is in our complex world. The PPÖ degree programme prepared me very well for this," says the 26-year-old.
At the time of her higher education entrance qualification in 2014, Marla would never have imagined that her path would one day lead her to a global development bank. Growing up in Melle (Osnabrück district), she initially began studying medicine in Hanover, but did not fulfil her ambitions. "I realised relatively quickly that I lacked freedom in my studies and that I wanted to think more independently instead of memorising facts. During a summer academy organised by the Studienstiftung, I met a PPÖ student from Witten who was very enthusiastic about his studies. Although I didn't even know exactly where Witten was at first, I attended the next information day at UW/H and finally enrolled for the 2016 summer semester," says Marla.
"The world only works if people are committed to the issues that are important to them."
Studying in Witten was a very formative time for Marla: in addition to her subject combination of philosophy, politics and economics, she particularly appreciated the learning atmosphere in small groups with dedicated lecturers and the freedom to organise her course schedule according to her personal interests. Away from the seminar rooms, she joined the university choir, organised the oikos winter school - a week-long international conference on the topic of "Sustainability in the fashion industry" - and got involved in university politics. "Witten has a very active university community, which allowed me to get involved in many different ways and gain valuable experience. This is still useful to me today in my professional life," says Marla.
In 2019, she received the JMK Award from the Zonta Club Dortmund for her special commitment and professional achievements during her bachelor's degree programme. With this award, the international women's network ZONTA honours special achievements by young women in economics.
With her commitment to university politics and the small changes she and her fellow campaigners have brought about, Marla hopes to have created added value for future students. "For me, living together means showing solidarity with other people. We can benefit from the commitment of others and should - if we can - also give something back. I am convinced that the world only works if people stand up for the issues that are important to them - both in their appointments and as volunteers," says the UW/H graduate. Marla has remained true to this conviction and is currently active on the board of the Tönissteiner Kreis e. V. student forum. The non-profit organisation is a project forum for internationally interested, ambitious and committed students and young professionals who implement projects together and exchange ideas at international conferences.
After graduating from UW/H, Marla first went into practice. She worked at an organisational consultancy in Düsseldorf for two years before deciding to complete her Master's in Social Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). A conscious decision that Marla recommends to other students.
"After completing my Bachelor's degree, it was very important for me to gain my first professional experience and apply the knowledge I had acquired during my studies. The practical time between the two degrees helped me to find out how I wanted to develop professionally and professionally."
The connection to her university town of Witten remains
In addition to her work, Marla enjoys life in Luxembourg. Here she gets to know people from all over the world. And when she is looking for peace and quiet, she can quickly find herself in the countryside. When asked where her journey will take her next or whether she has already arrived at her destination, Marla replies: "I don't think you ever arrive. But I feel very much at home here right now." She remains loyal to her university town of Witten. "I met many close friends during my studies in Witten and I visit them often. I was also back at UW/H in November 2023 for the 'Meet the graduates' format. It was very nice to see the campus and so many familiar faces again. But I was particularly pleased that we were able to tell current students about our experiences and hopefully give them some valuable tips."
