On May 27, 2025, Hof University of Applied Sciences hosted the first “Chess meets Economy” event – an innovative format that combined business, entrepreneurship and chess. Together with the Hochfranken economic region as a cooperation partner, representatives of regional companies and international students came together for an evening full of strategy, encounters and exchange.

The event kicked off with two exciting keynote speeches in the Audimax: Prof. Michael Seidel (Hof University of Applied Sciences) and Ingrid Lauterbach, President of the German Chess Federation, impressively highlighted the parallels between chess and economic decisions – from analytical thinking and risk assessment to long-term strategy.






These ideas were then put into practice: At the blitz chess tournament (3 2 thinking time) in the B-Foyer of the university, company representatives and international students competed directly against each other at the chess boards. Between the nine rounds, there was plenty of opportunity for personal exchanges, networking and discussions about career opportunities in the region. The companies presented themselves not only in sporting terms, but also as attractive employers – with roll-ups, information material and direct contact with potential specialists. Prof. Michael Seidel from Hof University of Applied Sciences, who was the winner in the team company category, and Jorge César Moreno Medina, an exchange student on the Global Management Master’s course, who won the team student category, particularly stood out.



The format was organized and promoted as part of the FIT project “International Students Successful in the German Labour Market (ISedA)”. The aim of this project is to enable international full-time students to make the smoothest possible transition into the German job market by successfully completing their studies and acquiring relevant professional and interdisciplinary skills. The event was moderated by Maike Schmoch and Juan Jesús Vázquez Campos from the FIT project team.