'The study programme helped me decide what I want to do in the future.'

After Silke Heepen got her bachelor's degree in International Tourism Management, she decided to apply for the Master in International Business & Management at Hanze because of its international environment and its strong focus on practice. 'I liked the idea of studying with people from all over the world and being able to directly apply what we learn in class. For me, it was important to not only study theory, but also gain practical experience, by applying the knowledge learned in class to real companies.'

'Throughout the studies, we worked on different business topics such as marketing, human resources, and strategic management. This helped me understand where my interests really lie. While exploring the different aspects of business, I realized that I am especially interested in human resources. I decided to combine my master’s thesis with an internship in HR, which turned out to be a great decision. I did my internship at Yobbers, an international recruitment company, helping Dutch- and German speaking candidates to find jobs abroad. During my internship in Valencia, I had the chance to get an insight into a lot of different HR tasks. I took over in-house recruitment, screened applications, held job interviews with candidates and was in contact with candidates throughout the entire recruitment cycle. Moreover, I helped planning events for employees and prepared workshops, focused on the learning and development of employees. It allowed me to gain hands-on experience and confirmed that this is the field I want to work in. Overall, the study programme allowed me to get an insight into the different fields of business and helped me decide what I want to do in the future.

Intercultural competences

Moreover, working together with students from many different cultural backgrounds was another highlight of the programme. At first, this could sometimes be challenging, as everyone brings different perspectives, communication styles, and ways of working. However, supported by intercultural competence classes, I learned how to deal with these differences, communicate more clearly, and work more effectively in diverse teams. Now, I see these differences as a strength rather than a challenge, as everyone brings a new perspective to discussions.

Real-life project for Arriva

A big part of the programme consisted of group projects and assignments linked to real companies. We had a course focused on creating innovative, sustainable business ideas for the Dutch transportation company Arriva, where we worked on designing a business idea, which contributes to the sustainable development of Arriva. We had the chance to visit the Arriva office in Groningen and presented our business ideas to Arriva at the end of the assignment. This made the learning process very practical and relevant. Working in teams, managing deadlines, and presenting results helped me improve important skills such as teamwork, organization, and problem-solving. Even though group work can sometimes be demanding, it prepared me well for professional working environments.

My advice to future students would be to stay open-minded, take initiative, and use the many opportunities the program offers. These experiences can help you find out what truly fits you.'