Georgia Smith, 20 December, 2023
Looking for a career change and a role that can take her around the world, Neuroscientist Annett Koenig decided to study an MBA at QUT. This year she had the opportunity to travel to QUT’s partner school, the WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany, to complete their MBA European Summer Program.
The topic, ‘The Changing Environment for International Business in Europe’, perfectly suited her ambition to one day work for a global company where she can travel and work in both Europe and Australia. With an international cohort, expert teachers and cultural immersion, the program far exceeded expectations.
An in-depth learning experience
The WHU MBA European Summer Program is a two-week course that offers a targeted and compact insight into international business in Europe with a well-balanced combination of lectures, group work, company visits and cultural experiences.
“It was fantastic,” Annett said. “The program is really structured. Each day you would focus on one topic with a professor who is an expert in the field. We never had the same professor twice.
“You take so much more in because you’re in a different hemisphere, it all feels really different and exciting. You can really immerse yourself in the topics.
“In the afternoon we would work in groups on the assignment for the day. You get to stay with your group for the whole program which was great because you learnt each other’s strengths. You’d then submit your assignment, maybe do a presentation and then wrap up the day.”
Annett said the highlight of the program was the company visits.
“We did three company visits with the European Central Bank, Bayer (the pharmaceutical company) and Werner & Mertz. For me personally, Bayer was excellent because I work with their products and see the brand every day at the hospital, so it was great to see that link.”
Another benefit of the program is that you can receive credit towards your MBA at QUT.
“I got two electives, so 12 credit points, taken off my study plan for this program.”
Develop an international network
The program brings students together from around the world, providing the opportunity to develop a network that spans continents.
“One of the most beneficial parts of the program was the networking,” said Annett.
“We had people from America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.”
Even being German, Annett found the international cohort made it a one-of-a-kind experience.
“I hadn’t been back to Germany in a decade. It was such a different experience coming back to learn with an international cohort.
“It wasn’t just European business, it was international because of the diverse international cohort. It was a great experience having so many different cultures and opinions in the room for discussions.
“Everyday they would have a social activity organised so you had the opportunity to make new friends and connections. It was a nice way to bring it all together and gave us all time to bond.
“We had two weekends there, so people would travel to different places in Europe together. Some people went to Berlin, Italy, London and Paris together for the weekends.”
A cultural immersion
The focus isn’t just on the academic component; included as part of the program are a number of social and cultural activities.
“WHU is located in this beautiful little village called Vallendar on the Rhine River, just out of the city.
“It’s a very culturally rich area and has an interesting history. As part of the program we took a boat to the nearby city and had a guided city tour, we even visited a medieval castle.
“It was nice to have the time to actually take in the history,” said Annett.
The cultural immersion didn’t stop there, the centrally located accommodation included as part of the course meant everyone had the chance to live like a European.
“The accommodation is all provided. You have your own room with a kitchenette and bathroom, but you all stay at the same place. It was really nice to live together, nobody was left behind.
“You can walk everywhere from the accommodation—the campus, the shop, the train station, the boat, the river and most importantly, the bakery,” said Annett, “you have to go to a German bakery, they’re really special!”
Annett’s tip? Come with an open mind.
“If you come with an open mind you can really immerse yourself into a new culture. You’re not just studying in Europe, you’re living like a European. You’re really embraced into the European culture.”
Open doors with an MBA
Studying an MBA at QUT means you have access to opportunities to study overseas at prestigious international business schools, like the WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management.
When talking about her experience at WHU, Annett was confident that it would benefit her career and was quick to recommend it to everyone.
“The program will definitely benefit my career. Particularly, the company visits, the diverse cohort and the course content.
“I would recommend the program to anyone. Everyone can get something out of it. It didn’t matter how old you are or what your background was, everyone loved it”
With Annett’s ambitions to work across Europe and Australia in a global company, and change careers while she’s at it, an MBA at QUT was the obvious choice.
“I want to change careers, see the business side of things and get a better understanding of it. As a senior neurophysiology scientist, I want to combine my experience in robotics and patientcare with my MBA and move into a different field.
“I would love to work in a global company where I can travel and work in both Europe and Australia. I chose QUT because it is triple international accredited, which gives me the flexibility to do that.
“Already it’s opened more doors,” Annett said, “I decided to join the Innovative German-Australian Business Alliance a year ago to network and to complement my MBA studies. I’ve now been invited to be on their board as an advisory member, and through the network I’ve formed in the alliance, I was asked to join the board of a not-for-profit as treasurer.”
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