Yimin has a BSc degree in Logistics Engineering from Beijing Wuzi University in China. She is enthusiastic about what she learned there: “I'm am particularly interested in modeling and remodeling of business processes. You can directly apply this to analyzing cases, which gives me a great sense of achievement.”
With an MSc in Global Logistics, she will be able to focus on an area that is very important for China and the world: supply chain management. “There are only a few people around the globe who can precisely define supply chain management. And since this is a relatively new concept – it didn't emerge until the late 1980s – I decided to learn more about it abroad,” she said to explain her choice.
Actually, Yimin's father chose logistics as her profession. At the time, the Chinese government was encouraging students to take this subject because professionals were in great demand. Yimin lived with her parents, who are also engineers, while she was getting her Bachelor's degree – and not only because of the high cost of living in Beijing. They still support her, because the strong family bonds that are traditional in China can be the source of good job opportunities. “It depends on who you know,” admitted Yimin.
Why did she decide to get her MSc at KLU? “Crazy me, I used a matrix to analyze and compare universities,” she said with a laugh. Hamburg was ultimately her top choice because of the harbor, the German educational system's good reputation... and because of KLU. The university specializing in logistics is supported by the Kühne Foundation, the Master's program there is in English, and KLU is recognized by the Chinese Ministry of Education.
Her reaction so far: “It is the first time I have ever participated in a ‘seminar.’ In China we only attend lectures. Here, we have a lot of teamwork and case studies and we can interact with our professors. I think this is a really good way of learning because you have to make your point and focus on it.” Yimin also appreciates the fact that there are students from 16 different countries in one class. “It is such a valuable experience to get to know all these various perspectives due to our different cultural backgrounds. There are so many opinions and interpretations sparkling through the discussions,” she said.
Yimin's first impressions of Germany are positive: “It is clean, cozy, and peaceful.” And she finds the clocks very amusing: “There are clocks everywhere! Maybe because of German punctuality? – I don’t know.” Is she homesick? “Well, for the food! I think it is strange eating cold food for breakfast and dinner. In China we have always hot food, especially for dinner. But I love German sweets. Chocolate, cookies – there are so many delicious cookies in Germany!” To keep in shape, Yimin likes to jog around Alster Lake. In her free time she practices calligraphy, but she says there isn't much free time left after all the lectures, seminars, and case studies.
This ambitious girl already has some plans for the future: “I would like to work for a couple of years and then apply to another program. I could imagine getting an MBA or a PhD in the United States.” But for now, she is focusing on her MSc at KLU. Her first exams are in January.
More information about our Master in Management program
More information about our Master in Global Logistics program