Our commitment to education, science and research

At BDO, we are convinced that education, science and research are the key to a successful future. The foundations for positive development in our country are created here, both socially and politically, and with a view to the economy. 

Our commitment in this area is manifested in a variety of initiatives, with a focus for us being on promoting the knowledge and skills of students. Through our diverse partnerships with renowned universities in Germany, we actively contribute to enabling students to receive a high-quality education on the one hand, and to gain insights into professional fields in the areas of auditing, tax consulting and management consulting on the other, while also supporting research in these fields. 

An outstanding example of our commitment is the BDO-endowed professorship at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT) in the field of business informatics. This professorship, established in 2023, focuses on the topics of digital audit support and data analysis in auditing. The professorship is held by Prof. Dr. Andreas Igl, who contributes significantly to the further development of these topics, which are central to us and our industry, with his expertise and experience. 

In line with the principle of lifelong learning, we also support initiatives and institutions that offer industry-specific training and qualifications – such as the Berlin Institute for Governance & Leadership (BIGL), which was established in 2024. As a non-profit organisation and affiliated institute of the Berlin School of Economics and Law, the institute aims to work at the interface between research and practice and create the foundations for responsible and forward-looking corporate governance. As a supporting member, we help to prepare corporate governance stakeholders, in particular supervisory board members, for the challenges of the future. The focus here is on topics such as sustainability, artificial intelligence and diversity. 

Through initiatives such as these, we not only want to contribute to the training of the next generation of professionals, but also to strengthen the transfer of knowledge between theory and practice. Our goal is to promote a sustainable, future-oriented educational landscape that meets the requirements of a constantly changing market. 

BDO also maintains close partnerships with various universities and educational institutions to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience. These partnerships enable us to support practical projects and research initiatives that benefit both students and our employees.


Together with numerous employees, 
we are involved in the following, for example: 

Lectureships

Lectureships

BDO employees from a wide range of fields work as lecturers at universities alongside their work with us. In this way, they pass on practical expertise while also providing a personal and realistic insight into their respective day-to-day work.
Guest lectures and workshops

Guest lectures and workshops

Our experts share their knowledge in the form of guest lectures and workshops at both universities and in our offices in order to combine theoretical content with practical applications.
Research projects

Research projects

BDO supports research projects that develop innovative solutions for current challenges in the economy. Through the exchange with scientists, we contribute to the creation of new knowledge.
Awards and funding programmes

Awards and funding programmes

We support talented students and projects at various universities, with a focus on the further development of the focus topics of our profession. We also support science and research through awards and donations beyond these topics. For example, the Professor Hans-Heinrich Otte Foundation, which has close links with BDO, sponsors the Thomas Fredenhagen Prize for patents and property rights developments, as well as transfer and business cooperation, which is awarded every two years by the University and the Lübeck merchants' association, along with an additional prize for outstanding achievements by young scientists.

In addition to this commitment, we support and assist students in a very practical way by offering internships and student trainee positions in a wide range of areas within our offices. Practical experience helps students to find a good entry into the professional world and to identify their areas of specialisation or expertise.