Introducing Prof. Dr. Josef Bongartz
In the following interview, Prof. Dr. Josef Bongartz, Professor of Private and Commercial Law, discusses his academic career, his teaching activities, and the unique features of the HFU Business School.
"My academic career began with the study of law (state examination) as well as philosophy, catholic theology and public law (Magister Artium) at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. From 2012 to 2023 I was a research assistant at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg at the Chair of German and European Legal History, Canon Law and Civil Law.
At the same time, I gained valuable practical experience as a research assistant at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in Frankfurt a. M. in the area of dispute resolution (Litigation & Arbitration) and during my legal clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe with stations at the Administrative Court of Baden-Württemberg, the Local Court of Tauberbischofsheim, Olfen Meinecke Völger Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater PartG mbB and Bendel & Partner Rechtsanwälte mbB.
From 2020 to 2022, I worked as a public prosecutor at the Mosbach public prosecutor's office and dealt with general criminal cases. Subsequently, from 2022 to 2023, I was a judge at Baden-Baden Regional Court and dealt with general civil cases as well as medical liability and inheritance law cases.
I have been a professor of private and commercial law at Furtwangen University since 2023."
1. How long have you been teaching at HFU Business School?
"I have been teaching at HFU since October 2023."
2 Which subjects do you teach and in which degree programs?
"I teach Business Law, Private Law, Commercial and Corporate Law, Civil Procedure and Arbitration, EU Trade and Consumer Law, Commercial Criminal Law and Compliance, Business Ethics and Regional Analysis Germany and EU in the degree programs Business Law (AWR), Business Management and Psychology (BMP), International Business Management (IBM & IBW)."
3. What do you enjoy most about your work as a professor?
"Essentially, there are four things that I find particularly rewarding.
a) Working with young people: It is extremely rewarding to work with students. Their energy, curiosity and fresh perspective on legal and philosophical issues are inspiring. Through the exchange with them, I can broaden my own perspectives and participate in their development.
b) Learning something myself during preparation or through the students' presentations: Preparing for lectures and seminars forces me to delve deeply into the subject matter and stay on top of the latest research. In addition, the students' presentations often offer new and unexpected insights that enrich my own perspective and knowledge.
c) The collegiality among professors: The collaboration and exchange with colleagues is also an important part of my work. The mutual respect and support within the academic community creates a stimulating and supportive environment that encourages new ideas and projects.
d) Dealing with topics that interest me: As a professor, I have the freedom to work intensively on the topics that particularly fascinate me. I can carry out research or deepen my teaching in these areas. I find this a great enrichment compared to my previous work as a judge or public prosecutor, where I was always determined by the incoming proceedings.
These diverse aspects of my work contribute to the fact that I see my work not just as a profession, but as a passion. The opportunity to continuously learn, teach and interact with others makes my role as a professor one of the most fulfilling and exciting."
4. What makes HFU Business School different from other universities and what makes HFU Business School so special?
"HFU Business School differs from other universities in several ways:
(a) Small groups of students: One of the outstanding advantages of HFU Business School is the size of the learning groups. Small groups enable more intensive and individual support for students. This not only improves the learning environment, but also creates more opportunities for direct interaction and detailed discussions.
b) The proximity and personal contact between lecturers and students: At HFU Business School, great emphasis is placed on personal contact. Teachers are easily accessible and available to students for questions and individual support. This closeness creates a supportive and motivating learning environment in which students can develop optimally. This is also reflected in the ratings of the business school and the university as a whole on online portals such as StudyCheck.
c) Strong internationalization: HFU Business School attaches great importance to internationality. This is reflected not only in the diverse composition of the student body and teaching staff, but also in the numerous international collaborations and partner universities. Students have the opportunity to gain international experience and develop intercultural skills, which considerably broadens their career prospects. For me, too, it is a great enrichment to meet international students in many courses. I learn a lot from them, develop an understanding of their teaching and learning cultures and thus hone my own intercultural skills.
In my opinion, these aspects make HFU Business School a special and outstanding place to study business and business law. Students benefit from a high-quality education in an environment that is both academically and personally enriching."