International Business and Management (M.A.)

"Joining the Master International Business and Management program at Hochschule Osnabrück was a bit of a leap for me. After 5 years as a Digital Marketer, I was looking for a change. What I found in this program was beyond my expectations. It opened my eyes to the world of academia, something I hadn't really considered before. I've been lucky to study abroad during my bachelor's, but the sense of community I felt here was different. The local students and my international peers were so welcoming. We'd help each other through tough assignments, share meals, and talk about our backgrounds and beliefs. Those friendships made all the difference, especially during the tougher times. I owe a lot to Professor Böhmer and Professor Griese. Working with them as a research assistant, I learned things you can't always get from lectures. It felt good to take that knowledge and help out my classmates. Some subjects in the course truly pushed me beyond my comfort zone. It wasn't always easy, but it's in these challenging moments that I realized the value of stepping out of the familiar. With determination and the support I found here, I overcame those hurdles. But what stands out most from this program? The people. You meet folks from all over the world, learn from them, and build this amazing international network. It's a journey that's made me more understanding and open-minded. Lastly, I never expected much when I applied. But this university gave me more than just lessons. I got to work at the university and even received a scholarship from Deutschlandstipendium. It's been quite the ride, and I'm genuinely grateful for it."

"When choosing universities and programs, I put MIBM in Osnabrück as my priority #1 program because I liked the curriculum and classes of the program. Moreover, I wanted to have a wider option for my career specialization in the future. This program covers all the aspects of the business, that means I can have an internship in mostly any area of the business. Before going to academia, I would like to gain some more experience in the business corporations. I believe that this program fits perfectly my career expectations in the future. I truly enjoy my time in the city and Hochschule. I was afraid that I am not gonna make many friends here but thankfully my classmates are great people with whom we spend time not only in the classes but outside as well. Also I like how international our program is. During our classes we learn so many new things about new countries and cultures. I love our classes in our program, as well as very professional professors."

"The Master's program covers a broad range of topics and is particularly attractive due to its internationality. In addition, there are many different interesting elective modules that you can choose from. I particularly like the link between theory and practice. Osnabrück is a very beautiful city, there is a lot of life in the center and if you need a break and relaxation, you can get to the countryside very quickly. Because the city is very small, you can get everywhere by bike. I also really like the university with its combination of new and old buildings. The university also offers a lot of programs outside of the daily study routine."

"I really like the practical and international orientation of the program. As a national (German) student, I really appreciate the opportunity to study the program completely in English language and to study together in intercultural teams. What makes the study program special are the small study groups, so everybody knows and helps everyone. Thus, it feels like a small IBM family. In general, I like about both electives (Strategic Marketing and Digitalisation in Society) that we do a lot of group work and presentations, which enable us to continuously improve our presentation and communication skills. On the one side I choose the elective strategic marketing because I wanted to expand my marketing knowledge in general as I specialized in event management in my Bachelor’s. Furthermore, I wanted to get more insights in brand management and product innovation. And on the other side I choose digitalisation in society because I especially liked to get insights into programming. Particularly, I liked the e-business module because we had to apply our learned theory to the practice as we developed a practical concept for the fashion and sports store L&T here in Osnabrück."

"Before enrolling in a master program, I had spent five years building my career in a marketing field at two multinational companies. When considering a business master program, flexibility was a big part of my decision process as I wanted to balance my education and career in my first year and create a deeper understanding of my chosen field. The best thing about double degree program is the freedom you have to shape your own degree in two countries. Within your specialization, you can choose elective courses according to what matters the most to you. Many courses at the Hochschule Osnabrück are highly practical which prepare me for the real world to have the relevant knowledge and skillset in the field. Instructors are very supportive to students who require extra help and there is a lot of interaction between the instructors and students in the classroom. Studying in both Germany and South Korea has allowed me to broaden my horizons in academically, socially, and culturally. My degree allowed me to meet and interact with students from all around the world. I also like the fact that Germany is a pretty nice place to study and travel."

How did you get to your current position?

After completing my studies at Hochschule Osnabrück, I started as Corporate Development Manager at Fiege. Fiege is an international and family-run contract logistics provider with more than 19,000 employees. We take care of the supply chains of many well-known customers from various industries. Nestlé, Zalando and Bosch, for example. Already during my studies, I was able to gain initial experience in the strategy departments of incumbent corporations, such as the automotive supplier Hella. Due to my major field of study in SCM and logistics, FIEGE was the perfect challenge for me. As logistics is one of the most dynamic sectors, we constantly challenge our structures and business models. In this context, the development of the corporate strategy and the derivation of the strategies for our business units was the focus of my first year of work. In the meantime, implementation is in full swing. 

Here, I am responsible for strategy projects, which include projects to expand the company's service portfolio and competencies, for example. In addition, my department works on innovation management. Cooperating with and investing in start-ups to (co-) develop marketable innovations is the second exciting part of my job. 

What are the crucial experiences you gained in the IBM master's program?

The master programme IBM is a superb preparation for complex tasks in international companies. This is not only due to the technical knowledge acquired in the versatile modules, but also due to the diversity of the fellow students from all over the world.  The generalist orientation of the curriculum helps me in my professional life today to quickly understand the "big picture" and to communicate effectively with a wide variety of specialist departments. In particular, my specialization in change management allows me to communicate the necessity for strategic change clearly and to implement projects in cross-divisional teams. All in all, my time in Osnabrück (and also in Yogyakarta, Indonesia) was instructive, challenging and incredibly versatile. If you appreciate true internationality and are willing to leave your comfort zone over and over again, then this is the right place for you! 

How did you get to your current position?

As part of the A400M Local Support Center Community, my team is responsible for coordinating the material flows on behalf of the German Air Force. In order to satisfy the frequently growing demands, we are managing the provision of spare and repair parts on time, on cost and at the right quality for a current fleet of 33 aircrafts. Above the daily operational business, my work includes the creation and improvement of material processes that allow the securing of contractual and company-internal KPIs. The IBM master program as well as my master thesis, focusing on humanitarian logistics, has paved my way for this professional start in the working world. The specialization in Supply Chain has driven my motivation for this field and equipped me with the needed tools for working in such a fascinating and constantly changing environment. Logistics is needed in any business area, connecting people and goods around the globe.

What are the crucial experiences you gained in the IBM master's program that are useful for your current job?

The most crucial competence that I have taken from IBM is the sensitivity for international work environments. Being one of the great features of this master program, I experienced the significance to learn, work and interact with people from diverse nationalities, cultures and backgrounds. This is what I live daily at my company: Airbus, having common roots in four European countries and operating around the globe, is a truly international work environment. 

How did you get to your current position?

In fall 2016, I moved 9,000km away from home to pursue a master's degree in International Business and Management at the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück. Amid the uncertainty of moving abroad for education, I was grateful to land at such an internationally diverse, progressive, supportive and welcoming university. After completing my first three semesters in Osnabrück, I decided to pursue an internship at a tech company in the Netherlands as part of their Talent Acquisition & Engagement Team. During my internship, I gained hands on work experience and wrote my master thesis on the significance of a credible employer brand. Today, I still work at the same company where I completed my internship, serving the learning and development needs and wellbeing of our global workforce as a Learning & Development Specialist. In retrospect, I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for my decision to move abroad for the IBM Master Program. 
 

What are the crucial experiences you gained in the IBM master's program?

My time at HS Osnabrück opened my mind to new perspectives, opportunities, and connections. I gained a macro-level view of the world through the IBM learning curriculum, as well as greater awareness and appreciation for cultural diversity after studying with individuals from all over the world. The decision to study IBM at HS Osnabrück is amongst the best decisions I've ever made and unlocked the door to both enriching personal experiences and professional opportunities.