Former SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert will be discussing the value of work at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) on Wednesday 15 April at 4:00 p.m. He will be speaking with Viadrina economist Prof. Dr Jana Costas as part of the Viadrina Debate on the topic "What is work worth? Between the platform economy, financial markets and social upheaval". Together and in exchange with the audience, they will discuss how digitalisation and financial markets are changing work and why traditional notions of security and advancement are becoming fragile at the opening of the summer semester at Viadrina. The discussion will be moderated by Mads Pankow. The event will be simultaneously interpreted into English.
The programme
After a welcome address by Viadrina President Prof. Dr Eduard Mühle, Dr Manja Schüle, Minister of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg, will give a welcoming speech. The talk between Kevin Kühnert and Prof. Dr Jana Costas and the discussion with the audience will be followed by the official opening of the Viadrina Coworking Space from 5.30 pm.
About the participants
Kevin Kühnert currently works as Head of Taxation, Distribution and Lobbying at the citizens' movement Finanzwende e.V., which campaigns for an alternative financial policy. Kühnert became known nationwide as chairman of the SPD youth organisation Jusos (2017–2021). From 2021 to 2025, he was a member of the German Bundestag; between 2021 and 2024, he was General Secretary of the SPD. Last year, Kevin Kühnert retired from politics.
Prof. Dr Jana Costas holds the Chair of Business Administration, in particular Human Resources, Labour & Management at the European University Viadrina. In her research, she is interested in the meaning and experience of work and organisation. Her book "Im Minusbereich. Cleaning staff and their struggle for dignity" has won several awards. Her study on remuneration in German music streaming also caused a media stir.
Mads Pankow is a publicist and political consultant and describes himself as a "commentator on digital change". He studied media, cultural and organisational studies and specialises in the philosophy and sociology of technology. From 2018 to 2022, he worked as a consultant for the Innovation Office at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs.
When and where?
Wednesday, 15 April 2026 | 4:00 p.m.
European University Viadrina
Große Scharrnstraße 59, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
About the Viadrina Debate: At the Viadrina Debate, the European University Viadrina presents itself as a place for debating socially relevant topics of the future – regionally and nationally. The series brings together experts, students and the interested public in a critical discourse on current issues between academia and civil society. The event series kicked off in October 2025 with the question "Shifting power through AI: who benefits, who loses?"
Further information and registration
For more information and to register, please visit:
www.europa-uni.de/viadrinadebate