Brain City Berlin Ambassador: Professor Gabriele Mielke (VICTORIA | International University of Applied Sciences)
Professor Gabriele Mielke has been a professor of business administration at VIVTORIA | University of Applied Sciences in Berlin since 2012. She heads the school's master's program in business management and development. In the business administration bachelor's degree program, she is also responsible for the specializations in sports management and event, trade fair, and convention management. The former professional athlete has been Vice President of the university since April 2017.
Brain City Berlin: How would you describe your research focus?
Mielke: My main research interests are sports management and sports economics. I mainly focus on evidence-based research into the impact of events and the evaluation of sports-related measures. Also, the economic analysis of sports and sports marketing, especially team sports, are among my priorities. Also empirical market research as the basis of strategic management decisions to reflect increasing internationalization and digitization.
Brain City Berlin: What is the most exciting aspect of your research?
Mielke: The most exciting aspects are the international relevance due to the global interest in the research as well as the concrete relevance of the knowledge transfer. Sports management and economics is not some ivory tower field of research.
Brain City Berlin: What do you like about living in Berlin?
Mielke: The special quality of life in a cosmopolitan, multicultural, and vibrant city. The city of Berlin also enjoys an excellent reputation both nationally and internationally, also in research and science. As a sports metropolis, Berlin offers me ideal conditions for my professional development and research as well as for a suitable work-life balance.
Brain City Berlin: Which partnerships help your research?
Mielke: I have been able to create a remarkable national and international network of scientists, entrepreneurs, and practitioners. My research therefore benefits from numerous national and international research collaborations in science and practice, in Asia, South America, the USA, and Europe.
Brain City Berlin: What are the advantages of Berlin in comparison to other research locations?
Mielke: In no other city in Germany are there as many academic institutions as in Berlin. It is also clearly an advantage that the city is so diverse. The city has many scientists and researchers, many of whom come from abroad. They all are helping to drive the economic success and reputation of the city. Being international is therefore a part of Berlin's self-image.
Brain City Berlin: What is your advice to young people who are interested in studying in Berlin?
Mielke: To choose a program that suits your own interests and is practical. In Berlin you can find excellent academic opportunities at universities as well as attractive and practical degree programs at colleges and private universities such as the hwtk University of Applied Sciences. In many programs, theory and practice are closely interlinked, which greatly facilitates the later start into professional life.
Brain City Berlin: What kind of development would you like to see in the city?
Mielke: That Berlin continues to see research and development as a source of inspiration for an innovative economy and understands itself as a Smart City in order to improve the quality of life through innovation and technical progress.
Brain City Berlin: What do you wish for the future of the Berlin sciences?
Mielke: Science should continue to move Berlin and be understood as an important source of inspiration for the future of Berlin. My wish would be for research institutions and networks to network even more closely with researchers and academics from private universities.
Brain City Berlin: What message would you like to send to Brain City Berlin?
Mielke: I like serving as an ambassador for the Brain City and the sports metropolis Berlin and to strengthen the development and reputation of the city in a future-oriented way.