The 10th edition of the Marketing Area Report invites you to look back on an engaging and inspiring year 2021. The Marketing Area of the University of Cologne represented by Professors Bruno, Fischer, Fritze, Reinartz, and Völckner as well as the team of postdocs, PhD students, and staff is pleased to share with you detailed insights into our work over the last twelve months.

After a year characterized by a world-changing pandemic that has forced us to rethink the way we live, work, and interact with each other, we worked diligently to bring back some personal interaction for research and teaching. Leaving behind the days of closed lecture halls, libraries, and other university facilities, we have returned to research seminars, face-to-face meetings as well as hybrid teaching. In the research, teaching, and transfer chapters of this annual report, you will learn more about the recent activities, projects, and achievements within the Marketing Area.

At the core of our work is academic research, where we constantly strive for innovative and impactful ideas. By initiating and collaborating in cutting-edge academic research, we address issues of high social, political, and economic relevance. Whether in person or virtually, members of the Marketing Area contributed at globally recognized conferences such as the Marketing Science Conference, the European Marketing Academy Conference, the American Marketing Association Global Marketing Conference or the Theory + Practice in Marketing Conference. Moreover, during the past five years, our department has been able to publish 27 research projects in world leading academic journals. Through excellence in research and fruitful knowledge transfer with external stakeholders, we are committed to remain a leading academic institution in the fields of management, economics, and social sciences in Europe.

The teaching section highlights the growing popularity among students for in-demand skills related to data analytics, customer relationship, brand or marketing performance management.  Building a network of members of the Marketing Area and affiliated lecturers has enabled us to offer a total of 34 courses at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. High-quality and relevant teaching that successfully prepares the next generation for their future careers is a collaborative effort. We are grateful to our very dedicated lecturers and numerous speakers from the business community who greatly enrich our teaching activities. In addition to the course and seminar offerings, 148 students wrote their thesis with one of the Marketing Area - 92 at the bachelor's level and 56 at the master's level. 

The entire achievement would not have been possible without our post-doctoral researchers, doctoral students, and student and secretarial assistants. We are grateful to have such an outstanding team to help us navigate challenges and excel in teaching, research, and administration.

We hope you enjoy reading our Marketing Area Report 2021 and look forward to speaking with you if you have any questions or comments or are interested in working with us.