Meet Dr. Bernhard Koelmel

Dr. Bernard Koelmel is a Professor of Global Process Management at the Pforzheim University School of Engineering in Germany and the Chair of Strategic Technology at The International School of Management. Additionally, he is a visiting research scholar visiting the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University. Through a connection made as the head of the AACSB accreditation committee at Pforzheim, Dr. Koelmel is at Texas State to facilitate educational and research-focused collaboration between the McCoy College community and those abroad in Germany. 

After earning a Ph.D. in Business and Engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Dr. Koelmel worked for a handful of leading technology companies and startups in both Germany and Silicon Valley — one startup leading the innovation behind virtual reality and 3D mapping. His transition from industry roles to higher education came easily working at Pforzheim University due to the highly practice-oriented environment the school provides to students. 

“The University of Pforzheim is very practice-oriented, so all our research and all our projects lead to working with companies,” said Dr. Koelmel. “We are encouraged to work together with companies. At least one-to-three days a week, I work with companies. We do transfer projects together, research projects together — I am on eleven supervisory boards for companies to help guide them to their futures.”

Dr. Koelmel is teaching a graduate course in Enterprise Resource Planning and Business Intelligence (CIS 5370) at McCoy College, which focuses on the use of information technology across many facets of an organization. He looks forward to meeting faculty across all departments in the college for the potential to collaborate a few new research projects. Also, he is hoping to create an opportunity for a hybrid, graduate-level course at McCoy College with support from Pforzheim University. 

“The McCoy College of Business is exploring collaborative initiatives with Pforzheim University —through Dr. Bernhard Kolmel — in a number of areas dealing with entrepreneurship, strategic innovation, and lifelong learning with a particular emphasis in online delivery modes,” said Dr. Diego Vacaflores, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs at McCoy College. “Early discussion revolves around collaboration in the mutual recognition and crediting of modules, the creation of joint modules, combined with company visits and a cultural programme, and the creation of a hybrid/online double degree that advances the preparation of our graduate students.”

Recently, Dr. Koelmel spent some time working with the Net Impact team on the Circular Plastics Challenge. Students from Pforzheim University and the Texas State Net Impact chapter came together to brainstorm solutions that will rethink the plastics value change to address plastic leakage. Once the group finalizes and submits a proposal, five teams across the Net Impact organization will be chosen to present in a virtual final showcase with a grand prize of $10,000 for the winning team. 

“I enjoy working with diverse international visions creating 22nd-century methods to solve environmental challenges,” said Dr. Janet Hale, faculty advisor for the Texas State Net Impact chapter. “Combining international perspectives will bring a diverse approach on the Circular Plastics Challenge.”

Regarding the impact he would like to have at McCoy College, Dr. Koelmel would like to establish a new form of exchange for faculty and students to study abroad.

“At our university, around 20% of the students do a double degree,” said Dr. Koelmel. “This means that they have to go for at least two semesters abroad. We have a contract with these universities, and when they finish their bachelor’s, they have a degree from Germany and a degree from an international university. We also do this for master’s programs. This is what I would like to establish here at Texas State.” ✯

Images from "Total vernetzt! Professor Dr. Bernhard Koelmel" video on YouTube by Pforzheim University.

For more information, email Twister Marquiss, manager of marketing and communications for the McCoy College of Business, at twister@txstate.edu.

About the McCoy College of Business

Established in 1970, Texas State’s business school officially became the McCoy College of Business in 2004 following a donation of $20 million by Emmett and Miriam McCoy. The college, which offers classes in both San Marcos and Round Rock, is accredited by AACSB in both business and accounting, and has graduated nearly 42,000 alumni.