23 September 2026 | Carthage, Tunisia
From 5 p.m. at the Tennis Club de Carthage, the German Business School (GBS) brought together graduates, families, faculty, alumni and partners to mark a symbolic milestone: ten years in Tunisia. The anniversary falls in a special year, as Tunisia and Germany celebrate 70 years of bilateral relations. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, reflecting a community built one graduating class at a time.
A growing Tunisian-German ecosystem
Mr. Maher Tebourbi, Founding President of GBS, opened the ceremony by looking back at what ten years have made possible: a genuine Tunisian-German ecosystem, driven by the school's innovative programmes and by its ambassadors on both sides of the Mediterranean. On one side, undergraduate students who moved to Germany and now represent Tunisia there, in industry as well as in higher education, at organisations such as SAP, SRH and other leading players. On the other, Executives working in Tunisia, Germany and beyond, embedded in the Tunisian-German network and strengthening bilateral cooperation every day.
The Ambassador praises a model lived from within
As patron of the graduating class, H.E. Elisabeth Wolbers highlighted the importance of bilateral relations and the special ties between Tunisia and Germany. She commended the efforts of GBS and its students, who experience Germany through their studies, internships and careers. This dynamic, she noted, is embodied by the founder himself: a Germany alumnus, Maher Tebourbi dedicated himself, on his return, to promoting relations between the two countries. The Ambassador closed by congratulating the graduates, with a special word for their families and loved ones.
"The greatest success is the people"
For Mr. Jörn Bousselmi, Managing Director of AHK Tunisia, the success of GBS is measured neither by its facilities nor by its degrees, but by its people: the students who dared to take on a demanding academic journey, the faculty, the companies that trusted the talent trained here, and the graduates who carry the school's values in Tunisia, Germany and beyond. He described GBS as a bridge between Tunisia and Germany, between Europe and Africa, and between academia and business.
Turning to artificial intelligence, he stressed that knowledge alone is no longer enough: what will make the difference is the ability to think, collaborate, innovate and make responsible decisions.
"AI can produce answers. It can analyse data. It can speed up certain tasks. But it replaces neither curiosity, nor judgement, nor empathy, nor leadership."
Jörn Bousselmi, Managing Director, AHK Tunisia
This, he said, is a reason for optimism: the talents celebrated that evening are prepared "for the transformations of tomorrow."
AI, approached with method
Dr. Sami Bahri, AI expert and Programme Manager at GBS, in turn praised the courage behind the GBS project, which has built a vibrant Tunisian-German ecosystem brought to life by its students and Executives. He addressed the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, which GBS has chosen to tackle methodically by involving all stakeholders, and spoke of graduates ready to master its ins and outs. It is an experience he now hopes to export, through GBS, to Germany.
Graduates take the floor
The ceremony concluded with a speech by Ines Khemili, Executive MBA graduate. Drawing on her long experience as a colonel in the Tunisian Customs, she explained how the programme, enriched by study stays in Germany and intercultural exchanges, taught her "to take a step back and see the bigger picture." Her thesis, on building a Green Customs Framework for the Tunisian Customs and graded Excellent, now has the backing of the Directorate General of Customs as it moves towards implementation. She invited the academic, institutional and business leaders in the room to join this ambition, before thanking GBS, SRH, the faculty and her classmates.
"Today, we leave with a degree. But above all, we leave changed."
Ines Khemili, Executive MBA graduate
An anniversary dedicated to knowledge
Beyond the ceremony, the GBS tenth-anniversary celebrations included several highlights:
- a panel discussion on AI, Education and Society, co-organised with the Tunisian Forum for Knowledge and Human Development (FTSDH), AHK Tunisia and Grupo Romeu;
- a lecture on the economics of football and FIFA by Prof. Markus Breuer of SRH University Heidelberg;
- an information session on the SAP Master's programmes, presented by Prof. Robert Franz of TH Brandenburg.
Ten years after its beginnings, GBS now looks ahead to the next decade with the same ambition: to train talent able to meet today's challenges, to build bridges, and to keep Tunisian-German cooperation alive.
German Business School | Success upon quality
