Arriving on a hot day at the end of August, WHU Campus Vallendar burst back into life with the return of the students marking the start of the new academic year. The campus also welcomed incoming Master students as they arrived for their Welcome Week. This fall, 141 students began their studies across the three Master programs, hailing from all over the world. This year the 2019 cohort proved to be particularly diverse with 35% women and 26 nationalities, including those from Brazil, China, Italy, Spain, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Traditionally marking the beginning of the academic year and a week of highlights, the Welcome Week is particularly helpful for new students by sharing advice on how to start their studies successfully, but also providing an opportunity for the new cohort to get to know their peers and professors.
The official program kicked off on Sunday, August 25, with a campus tour and informal activities the following day such as a BBQ and a visit to the high ropes at Kletterwald Sayn, sponsored by Accenture. In the official welcome session on Tuesday, August 27, WHU Dean Professor Dr. Markus Rudolf cordially greeted the new students, after which Professor Dr. Jürgen Weigand, Deputy Dean and Associate Dean Academic Programs, Academic Director Master in Management and Master in Finance Professor Dr. B. Burcin Yurtoglu, and Academic Director Master in Entrepreneurship Professor Dr. Christoph Hienerth introduced themselves.
Throughout the week, students gained deeper insights into the three different Master programs and surrounding student life. They experienced the numerous student clubs and received information about additional support available such as a special ‘Get Integrated’ presentation for international students, with insights from recent Master in Management graduate, Tamanna Singhvi.
Fresh from completing her internship with global corporation Henkel, Tamanna shared her experiences and thoughts on how to approach studies and life as an international student in Germany, by pinpointing four areas of possible concern for new students – classes, career events, language, and culture. “Step outside of your comfort zone” she revealed, “it’s very easy for the same nationalities to stick together. Really leverage the opportunity you have at WHU to experience and interact with different cultures!” Regarding choosing classes she adds, “Finding a balance between what you are comfortable with and where your interests lie, with what will be challenging for you, is important.”
The rest of the Welcome Week schedule continued with a coffee and cake event sponsored by AT Kearney, and an introduction to the International Relations Office and the Career Center, which will both be important aspects of their student life at WHU. A presentation of the WHU Alumni Association InPraxi and an introduction to the WHU network rounded off the week.