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III. Buildings Integral to the Former Life and/or Persecution of Jews in Hamburg - Rotherbaum II/Harvestehude.No. 9 Von-Melle-Park.
After the Second World War the trades unions and co-operative societies suggested to the Hamburg administration that an institute be established for the training of future leaders within the social economy. On 1st November 1948 the Akademie für Gemeinwirtschaft (Academy of Social Economics) was founded. Its purpose was the training of individuals for leadership positions in the trades unions, co-operative societies and public institutions. Initially 71 students attended the academy, situated in an old villa in Mollerstraße. It was the first German institute of higher education to offer a university education to students not possessing the usual academic entry qualification. Conditions of study were previous professional work experience and the passing of an entry examination. In 1952 the Gesellschaft der Freunde und Förderer (GdFF) (Society of Friends and Supporters) was founded, which supports the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Politik financially and conceptionally. Today the society has around 1,000 members including some of the original 1948 students. In 1961 the Akademie für Gemeinwirtschaft was renamed the Akademie für Wirtschaft und Politik (Academy of Economics and Politics). Since 1963 a comprehensive restructuring of the institution has taken place. The final qualification was upgraded. Instead of a simple certificate, graduating students were awarded a certificate of graduation in Business Administration, Political Economy or Social Economy. The area of research was also broadened. In 1967, in the course of a reform of the system of teaching and examining, the period of study was lengthened from four to six terms (2 terms a year), and the annual student intake increased to 150. Today the annual student intake is around 550. In 1970, shortly after being renamed the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Politik (HWP) (Hamburg School of Economics and Politics), the institution moved into its current building at No. 9 Von-Melle-Park, sharing the same campus as the University of Hamburg. The Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Politik was not included in the formation of a Gesamthochschule, in which the final qualifications of technical colleges are accepted as an entry qualification to the University of Hamburg, or four terms at a technical college allow first term entry to the university. The Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Politik remained independent of the University of Hamburg, and in 1985 introduced a nine term university qualification, the Diplom-Sozialökonom, in addition to the six term graduation certificate. Since 1978 a Diploma has replaced the graduation certificate. A tiered educational structure allows students to progress from one level to the next. Today students study six terms and receive a diploma in Business Administration, Political Economy or Social Economy. Two additional programmes are on offer for students who wish to continue their studies. The first is a further three term study project after which students are awarded a Diplom-Sozialökonom (Diploma in Socio-Economics). The second is a further three term study of international economics after which students are awarded a Masters of Arts in European Business Administration. Besides offering a large degree of flexibility, this tiered educational structure facilitates the exchange of students with institutes of higher education abroad. Annually 10% of HWP students study abroad. No other institute of higher education has achieved this rate, which is that proscribed by the European Union. In 1991 the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Politik obtained the right to award doctorates and post-doctoral lecturing qualifications. In 1993 the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Politik obtained the status of a university at the conference of university rectors. It is Hamburg's smallest public university.
The mural on the wall above the entrance of the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Politik (Hamburg School of Economics and Politics), was painted 50 years after the end of the Second World War, and depicts Jewish cultural life in the Grindel Quarter of Hamburg. The project was initiated by students of the HWP and University of Hamburg. The theme recalls that today's university quarter was once the centre of Jewish culture in Hamburg. The Argentinian muralist Cecilia Herrero's painting is entitled Jüdische Kultur am Grindel in the 1920's and 30's. The work is the result of an intensive debate of the subject between the students, and meetings with Jewish survivors of the time. As a result of these encounters the desire arose to portray Jewish daily life, rather than the Shoah. The image portrayed is one of volitional individuals, and not of passive, mass victims. The Shoah is, however, implicit in the picture.
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