“Every opportunity allows you to grow as a person”

KLU Open Day Summer 2019 Prof. Himme gives a presentation

Interview with Emily Erika von Bergen Takushi (B. Sc. Management, Class of 2020, Spokesperson of the Student Body, Representative) Jakob Stary (M. Sc. Global Logistics & Supply, Chain Management, Class of 2021 Spokesperson of the Student Body, Deputy) and Prof. Alexander Himme (Academic Director, Bachelor Program)

This article is part of KLU's anniversary magazine celebrating our 10th anniversary (see page 32-33). Have a look at the whole magazine.

What sets KLU apart from other universities that you know?

Emily: Through the years, you gain much better leadership skills. Every opportunity allows you to grow as a person. The diversity at KLU is great: when I grab a quick coffee or something, I meet new people from all over the world, even my home country. Another plus: the classes are so small that you can have better connections with the professors and you feel less nervous about asking questions.

Jakob: The atmosphere is so international, giving you lots of opportunities to gain insights from other people’s cultures and countries. And another really positive thing: the professors are active researchers, so we get a lot of brand-new insights from their research, and a feel for the latest trends. At my old university, we learned from a book—like in the distant past. There was no knowledge transfer like here at the KLU lectures.

Prof. Himme: I used to teach at public universities with classes of 200 or 300 students. The small classes at KLU are a huge advantage. I now know my students quite well: I know them by name, I know about their backgrounds. You can—in fact you have to—teach in a completely different way in this very interactive atmosphere. And: I have to say that I’ve never worked in a more international setting. At KLU we have assignments, we have a system to make sure that our students finish in the planned schedule. Students at KLU have many, many choices and can customize their own study program. We want them to choose specialization. And of course we give them guidance.

How’s the relationship between professors and students at KLU?

Jakob: The professors respond very quickly. You can ask questions during the lecture or right after the lecture – which is possible with 20 students. A small anecdote: we were working on a group project for Prof. Maria Besiou when the coronavirus lockdown began. Since we didn’t know what to do, we decided: “Okay, let’s just send her an email.” We received her reply three minutes later.

Emily: I have an example of personal contact: I was talking with my Economics professor about some political problems in my home country, Bolivia. It was wonderful to see how interested he was and also his tremendous knowledge about the topic.

Prof. Himme: Especially as a relatively young, “startup” university, it’s great to see students who have some drive and want to do some things beyond the classroom. We are obviously open to support students when they have initiatives, not just in the classroom, but also beyond.

How would you describe the community among students at KLU?

Emily: Because the university is so diverse, students at KLU are more aware of the differences between cultures. Coming from a more sensitive culture, we tend to communicate more indirectly, which sometimes could be a problem with more direct cultures. However, when I talk with people at KLU, I feel that they have already dealt with other cultures and are more empathetic.

Jakob: First you know everybody from your degree program, but later from all the other programs, too. And then we have so many events where you can get to know the whole student body. You don’t just know a few people; you know almost everybody.

Prof. Himme: I think many of our students are very motivated. They made a very deliberate decision to come to KLU. It’s a small but nice university, not a big one. So you have to make a conscious choice. What I see today is a very constructive atmosphere at KLU, but there’s always room for improvement – and the students are part of that process.

Could you give an example of students’ initiatives?

Emily: I am part of the student committees UniKonnect and KLU Thinks Big. On one, we bring speakers to the KLU to talk about their careers and future job opportunities; or we visit companies directly. This gives students insights into a given career path: whether this is their dream job or not. On the other committee, we create events that are like TED Talks to give students and professors the chance to discuss any topic that inspires them outside business or logistics.

How’s the support from KLU staff and general services, and the contact to the Executive Board?

Jakob: In the academic senate meetings it doesn’t feel like you’re just a student observer; it feels like you’re part of the Academic Senate and on the same level. In my eyes, there’s not such a big distance between the Executive Board and the students. We even watched the Super Bowl together with the President – from midnight to 4.30 in the morning! We were all a bit tired the next day, but it was worth it.

What do you think is special about your KLU program?

Emily: For me the best part will be my semester abroad. Since it’s mandatory, you don’t “lose” a semester. Second, there are the personal relations that you have with your professors. Third, the university is so open for new things, like my thesis topic, which isn’t management or logistics-specific.

Jakob: The learning processes are more continuous because you usually have class twice a week, and fairly long sessions. And at KLU, you only focus on three subjects and write your exams on them; I really like that approach. The teaching is much more interactive.

How are students involved in research? How’s the contact with practitioners and companies?

Jakob: The professors integrate their latest research in the lectures, which is nice. So you kind of get an idea what they are working on and what their new findings are. At the same time, Ph. D. students help with the lectures, so you also get some insights into what they’re working on. During the lectures, we have many visits from people working for several companies, who explain what they do and describe the company. This puts you in touch with the guest speakers and gives you some insights from a personal perspective on what to do after you’ve finished your studies.