3rd Edition

JUNE 2022 ISSUE NO. 3

THE IMIS NEWSLETTER

BACK TO HIGHLIGHTS
CAMPUS ISSUE
WELCOME TO IMIS
Welcome to this third edition of the IMIS Alumni Newsletter, SPECIAL IMIS STORIES
a masterpiece edited by a student team of the Summer 2022

Management Communications class. After an absence of three
CULTURE & TRAVEL
years, we are back on campus to enjoy the face-to-face classes. SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL

Recent years have been so exciting with major developments in
CUISINE
our life, the IMIS course, and expanding IMIS Alumni Network. IMIS LIFE DURING
This edition reflects on lessons learned from past years while

exploring how humans can overcome hard times by supporting
COVID-19
each other as per the saying “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Enjoy reading!

“Ignorance leads to fear, fear leads to hate, and hate leads to violence. This is the equation.”
― Ibn Rushd (Averroes)

JUNE 2022

WELCOME TO IMIS! (1/3)

By Prof. Dr. Valerie Wulfhorst & Asif Shahriar

The IMIS Course started in 2014, as an English-taught
study program at the “FH Südwestfalen” Soest, combining
broad business knowledge with the latest trends in applied
IT. Since its beginning, it has grown in number and
diversity of students, professionalism in blended learning,
and practice opportunities for students.

Nowadays, many companies contact us directly to get our
graduates and current students for their job offers.

Prof. Dr Valerie Wulfhorst, course director since 2018, and Asif Shahriar, IMIS Alumni
himself and course coordinator since 2017, are reflecting on this development and sharing
their memories:

Valerie: Asif, we have been managing this course together now
since 2018. What do you think were the greatest challenges?

Asif: Yes, it has been 4 years that we have been managing IMIS
together, time flies! I studied IMIS (the pioneer batch) and
afterwards taught for 3 years, which means I experienced IMIS as
a student and a faculty. Therefore I would say it was quite
understandable for me to play my role. But regarding challenges, I
would say Corona time was really challenging. As it was new for
all of us and everything had to be online; also the admission
process, admission letters, enrolment etc., I must say it was not
easy to manage at the beginning. But thanks to all Professors who
made the quickest decision possible and made this difficult two
years much comfortable as it could be.

Valerie: Oh, really, do you think so? You are totally right that the challenges during Corona with
respect to the administration of our course were difficult at the beginning. But our quick decisions, the
commitment of all lecturers and especially our blended learning knowledge helped us so much to
quickly digitalize everything and to move to online teaching mode. We already knew how it works
before Corona started and nobody was even thinking about online teaching. Thanks to our blended
learning experts!

AMIT MUNDRA
EDITOR

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 2

JUNE 2022

WELCOME TO IMIS! (2/3)

By Prof. Dr. Valerie Wulfhorst & Asif Shahriar

Asif: But Valerie, since you entered later in the management of the course than me, what would you
say were the best developments of our course since then?

Valerie: I would definitely answer with diversity. In the beginning, we had about 20+ countries
where our students come from. Now we have a variety of 40+ countries, spread over 5 continents.
May I tell you my personal objective?

Asif: Sure! Why not!? Go on...

Valerie: Until I retire (which is still some time…;-)) I want to cover all continents and, hopefully,
nearly all countries in the world. Look at the dots in our world map, Asif! Could I send my message
to the Alumni and current students here: If you know somebody from those countries which are not
covered yet, please make some advertising for IMIS! And I must also say what I like most about our
course: The motivation of our students.

Valerie: But what would you say, you studied IMIS by yourself, if you consider those times
compared to today, what has mostly changed?

Asif: I would say IMIS is in its mature stage! The variations and updates in the lectures, new
electives, a greater number of Partner companies for internship and working students, and last but
not least, our strong Alumni network. Nowadays, our Alumni offer most of the internship and work
vacancies. This helps our students to find these options easily.

Valerie: Yes, I am also very proud of our Alumni and their network. We can really rely on them if
we need something like presentations in our Lighthouse sessions, career counseling for our current
students, or even for small support like consent forms for our website pictures. And what I like most:
Meeting our Alumni personally: Whenever I meet former students, I am so proud, and it is so great
to see how they have developed in their jobs, positions, and personal development.

Valerie: Asif, you attended all the Alumni events. I hope you are also attending the upcoming one
in June 2022? What is it like to be Alumni by yourself and at the same time have stayed at
university?

Asif: Yes, of course; I attended all Alumni events and hope to be there in future events – for sure !
I am muchly privileged that I am in a position where I still have contact with almost all the Alumni.
And it is a good feeling to see them every year at the Alumni event. At theAmMoImTeMntU, NwDe RhAave 175+
Alumni, and almost 100% of them are employed, and the number is growingE.DMIToOstRof them are
working in leading positions in companies. And I can see a bright and exciting future for this
community!

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 3

JUNE 2022

WELCOME TO IMIS! (3/3)

By Prof. Dr. Valerie Wulfhorst & Asif Shahriar

Asif: Let's talk about the future, Valerie. Can you tell our Alumni what we are currently developing
and what is planned for the future?

Valerie: Well, there are so many things which are developed and launched or will be launched in the
future: First, we have developed a chatbot for interested applicants so that it can automatically
answer their admission queries. This has been even simplified by understandable infographics to
better inform about this complicated application process. By the way, the chatbot was developed in a
Bachelor thesis by Tatiana Savelieva, who has just finished her Masters (congratulations!). Second,
we have developed “Lighthouse” – a self-development platform for international students to provide
orientation and direction for their professional careers to boost their employability. This semester, for
instance, our Alumni Zainub Teli (summer semester 2016) shared her experiences with current
students and provided career tips. Third, we have developed an Alumni website which is brand new.
There we will share memories and expand our networks (please check it here: www.fh-
swf.de/cms/imis). And finally, we are expanding our advertising activities with respect to even more
diversity. Last but not least, I would like to highlight our new study course, initiated and directed by
my colleague Prof. Dr. Peter Weber: He has launched IMIS Online, a part-time study course for
professionals who would like to keep their jobs and study online. I can really recommend this online
course as it combines the most recent IT skills with business knowledge and is extremely attractive
since you can continue working and studying in parallel. I would like to address our Alumni to
recommend this course to their companies (HR management), friends and networks!

Asif: Absolutely! And the IMIS -Online website (www.fh-swf.de/cms/imis-online) is handy for
getting more information about the program itself and also the certificate program. Well, it was
great talking to you, Valerie, and reviewing last years and recent developments!

Valerie: Yes, I also liked it and I am really appreciating working together with you and further
developing our study program – we will see which other ideas we will have in the future!

Asif: Yes, me too, it is a pleasure working with you! See you in the next brainstorming meeting ;-)

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 4

JUNE 2022 WELCOME,
LUMNI !

SPECIAL IMIS STORIES

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 5

JUNE 2022

REFLECTION:
W H Y D I D I C H O O S E I M I S ? - by Gift Chiamaka Madueke

BACKGROUND

Hello to all my readers, my name is Gift Chiamaka Madueke. I am currently
working as a Product Manager in a tech solutions company that builds
software products for various clients, which means I have to collaborate
with cross-functional team members as well as different types of
stakeholders. Product manager is a set career path in the tech space, but
there was a need to further hone in on international management, as the
world is a global village, and the tech space is where we have a unified
community that is not barred by geographical limitations.

WHY ARE WE HERE?

As a result, I believe that the unique value proposition of intercultural learning patterns, and the
learning of business process management, business marketing management, and corporate
innovation will immensely equip us to integrate smoothly into internationally established
businesses. Moreover, gaining advanced skills in analyzing, designing, and implementing business
information systems will act as a defining factor.

The overarching goal is to work towards ensuring that the business sector in the country,
especially in the Tech space, is carried out with Global business-standard practices. Managing
Tech solution products that deal with data analysis, deployed by both national and international
brands have been a start-point towards international project management, in understanding the
unique requirements and business best practices.

HOW IS THE EXPERIENCE SO FAR?

Since joining the program all this and more have been held true, as I have learned more about
management, intercultural teams, communication, and of course Information systems, which is
the bane of the Tech space. My experience and knowledge over the years in research and
reporting while working as a Research analyst, and as a Business development officer, have also
helped in contributing wholly to group assignments and activities.
The desire to study in Germany is due to the high standard of educational activities and a robust
curriculum that ensures the effectuation of that being specialized in, and also from a dearth of this
in Nigeria. Learning through practical training and critical reflection, while interacting through
interdisciplinary and international approaches will ensure total preparedness for integration into
international organizations, as I build international communication and collaboration skills. With
the high traction of International businesses in Germany, this will be the perfect place for
adequate knowledge mining for International business management practices and strategies,
which will be the right propeller for my career. Going out and exploring the unknown is a life-
changing experience. This allows me to know, understand and relate with people from different
parts of the world and also people from different walks of life.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 6

JUNE 2022

COFFEE BREAK WITH IMIS ALUMNIS (1/3)

- by Ngoc Nhu Bahn, Thi Thanh My & Van Huong Le

Time to meet up!

There are 3 graduated IMIS students who would share their stories with us. Through their
sharing, we can check up on our IMIS fellows, flashback on beautiful memories with old
friends, as well as get an insight into the career paths, salaries, and the competency of IMIS
students after completing the course at FH.

Can you introduce yourself?
- Nhi Vuong: My name is Kieu My Nhi - Vuong and I'm 30 years old.
- Frankie Kho: Hi, I’m Frankie Kho., I'm 28 years old, and I was with IMIS from 2018 to 2020
- Qui Huynh: Hi IMIS, I’m Qui Huynh, 28 years old, I studied at IMIS from 4/2017 to 1/2019

NHI VUONG FRANKIE KHO QUI HUYNH

Which company are you working for, at which position, for how long, & where?

- Nhi Vuong: I am a Data Analyst (for 2 years now) in Schustermann and Borenstein in Munich.
- Frankie Kho: I’m working at Crossmedia GmbH as a Digital Analyst for 1,5 years in Düsseldorf
- Qui Huynh: I’m a Freelance Data Scientist working at InfluData (by weCreate) for 1 year (from
5/2021). I am living in Vietnam, the company is located in Vienna and Hamburg.

How did you apply and get accepted by the company?

- Nhi Vuong: I joined the Best Secret marketplace, got the connection with them, applied for the job,
and got accepted.
- Frankie Kho: I apply on Linkedin, and got 3 phases of the interview:

1. Introduction interview
2. Assignment presentation
3. User interview
- Qui Huynh: I was recommended by the CEO of InfluencerDB (Robert) before it was shut down.
Johannes (CEO of InfluData) contacted me via email.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 7

JUNE 2022

COFFEE BREAK WITH IMIS ALUMNIS (2/3)

- by Ngoc Nhu Bahn, Thi Thanh My & Van Huong Le

How did the IMIS program benefit your career? Are you happy with your salary?
- Nhi Vuong: The good thing about IMIS is practical updated knowledge (especially from Professor
Weber), the second semester with online classes provides opportunities for us to look for an internship in
other cities. Because of time and location convenience, I have the chance to join 1-and-a-half years for 2
internships during the Master's course, which provides me with long-standing experience to be ready for a
full-time job after that.
About the salary, I am totally happy with it. But instead of salary, we should focus more on if an employee is
happy with the company, team, and position which is much more important for me to make decisions in the
long term.
- Frankie Kho: Business Intelligence really benefits my knowledge for this job. (google ad grants challenge
as well, since my company is oriented in the digital marketing industry, I used a lot of google ads and other
CRM tools)
I am satisfied with the 35k-45k annual salary, of course, I hope for more.
- Qui Huynh: IMIS program helps me a lot. The name of the program is exciting and on the spot of hiring
demand. I am happy with my current job.

Is there anything you wish to change about the IMIS program (that would be more helpful for
finding a job, advancing your career, etc.)?
- Nhi Vuong: Nope.
- Frankie Kho: More practical learning in BI would be helpful
- Qui Huynh: There’s a course for coding to help manipulate data.

Is there anything you want to recommend for IMIS students for their better careers?
- Nhi Vuong: Join internships before you graduate! Learning by doing and experiencing is faster than just
staying there and wondering about the future. By internship, you may know what you are lacking, and what
you should learn and improve.
- Qui Huynh: Learning Coding (Python/SQL). This is an essential skill for the leading generation.

Will you come back to the FH campus for the IMIS event? What kind of activities would
interest you?
- Nhi Vuong: I am not sure if I could come back as I live quite far from Soest.
About the events, I am thinking about the experience sharing and knowledge updating.
- Frankie Kho: Parties, of course. But let’s see, Soest is far away.
- Qui Huynh: Sure. I would love to join an Alumni event.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 8

JUNE 2022

COFFEE BREAK WITH IMIS ALUMNIS (3/3)

- by Ngoc Nhu Bahn, Thi Thanh My & Van Huong Le

Is there any fellowship heartwarming story you wanted to share?

- Nhi Vuong: A heartwarming fellowship story? It should be about my friend Cuc Nguyen. She is a master
in PowerPoint/Video design so whenever she has a presentation, I am surprised by her show and always
learn a lot from her.

- Qui Huynh: Yes, I have a perfect friend. Her name is Natalie. She was my IMIS classmate and my
colleague as well. The night before the day I defended my thesis, she invited me to her house, cooked for me,
and helped me practice the presentation. At 10 pm that night, I realized that I had forgotten the converter of
my MacBook display port to HDMI. Despite the heavy snow outside, Natalie rode her bike to the office and
found me one. She didn't let me go as she didn't want me to get sick before the thesis defense.

Before we go:

This was a great opportunity to catch up with graduated IMIS students. Knowing that they all get a
good job highly related to what has been taught in our program shows the high competency of
IMIS students, especially the up-to-date knowledge for in-demand jobs such as Data Science, and
Business Intelligence gives the students a better chance of acquiring jobs with good salaries. And
as mentioned by the interviewees, salary is important, but the working environment and chances
to learn from excellent colleagues are just important.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 9

JUNE 2022

FRESHER'S INTERVIEW
- by Hasanuzzaman Hasanuzzaman & Kauser Khandaker

IMIS EXPERIENCE JEWEL RANA
IMIS SS 2022
It was one of the best memories when I started my first
journey in the IMIS program. The day started with a SOUTH WESTPHALIA
warm, welcoming session. Through this session, we got UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
an idea about this program's overall course curriculum
and future job prospects.

We went through an “ICE BREAKING” session through
which all the students got to know each other. It was a
multicultural environment as students came from
different cultures.

The most enjoyable moment was the campus tour.
I got familiar with my beloved campus and its
different parts, for example, Mensa, the IT service
center, Bibliothek (Library), ...etc. I was enjoying every
moment while walking through the campus with my
classmates.

Moreover, the introduction to faculty members made
the day lively and enchanting. We got some gifts from
the IMIS family. But the best part was the chocolates
given by Prof. Dr. Valerie Wulfhorst. The day ended
with a cup of coffee, all together in a coffee house.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 10

JUNE 2022

INSIGHTS: GERMAN WORK CULTURE (1/2)

- by Muhammad Waseem Feroze, Sania Zahid Hanif, Ghulam Mujtaba

06, June 2022: IMIS students at FH SWF Soest, share a very diverse and potentially important
pool of skilled young workers, due to the multi-dimensional nature of its study program. IMIS
alumni have landed themselves in the arena of top multinational companies globally in functions
such as ICT, Finance, Human Resources, Business Development, and many more.

In addition to their academic and professional qualifications, the IMIS Alumni have gained
experience and insights into the German corporate sector and German working environment that
has allowed them to have a good employment prospect and their long term stay in Germany.
To provide insights to current IMIS students into the German corporate sector, we sat down with
three IMIS Alumni from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Vietnam to share their experiences with us.

MUHAMMAD SOHAIB RABNAWAZ

I graduated from IMIS almost 5 years ago and since then, I have been working within the Talent
Acquisition space at some of the rapidly growing tech companies across Europe. Currently, I'm
working at Revolut as a Talent Acquisition Lead where I'm managing a team of recruiters and HR
sourcers, and helping the company scale-out its design teams globally.

A PIECE OF ADVICE

First:
Make sure to do an internship or a working student
role during your master's. IMIS program offers a
great deal of flexibility for you to be able to do it, so
please make the most of it. It will set you up well for
success later.

Second: IMIS Batch of 2015
Start thinking about what you really want to do. You Team Lead Talent Acquisition
don't want to graduate and still do not know what
you want to do. It sometimes leaves you with no @ Revolut
clear focus. Hence, it's important to already start
thinking about your strengths, areas of interest, and
ultimately what makes you happy?

The job market has never been better. The amount of investments that have taken place over the past 24

months have broken all previous record and as a job seeker, there's a great opportunity to work with some

early-stage companies that are trying to scale up as well as more mature companies who already have a big

consumer base but are now trying to tap into different verticals. There are some really exciting products to


work on at the moment.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 11

JUNE 2022

INSIGHTS: GERMAN WORK CULTURE (2/2)

- by Muhammad Waseem Feroze, Sania Zahid Hanif, Ghulam Mujtaba

QUYNH PHAM

IMIS Batch Of 2016 My experience working in the Corporate Sector in Germany
HR IT Consultant has been very positive so far. Some of the perks include
chances to work on different topics, many movement options
@ Evonik Industries AG within the company/sector, chances for networking, a mix of
a fast-paced working environment and a good work-life
balance. Working in big(ger) companies often involves a big
chunk of working with other people, so I find that while it is
important to gain related experience and knowledge in the
field you want to go into, it is crucial to develop your
collaboration skills. Those could be for example project
management, presentation and facilitating skills, negotiation
etc... In general, it is always good to be willing to learn new
things and develop yourself further, regardless of what you
do.

Finally, I think that within the scope of our study, it is quite possible to go into a field in which
you have no to little experience. It might not be easy, but it is possible with the right amount of
courage, effort, support from others and maybe a bit of good luck. So, if you are in a similar
situation and are unsure what to do, I would encourage you to go for it. All the best and good luck!

AL WASIR ISLAM

The German Corporate Sector is really diverse and there is
always a lot to learn. One of the major things which can help
you to develop further in your career is to know how to sell
yourself properly with your work and how to convert any
effort or responsibility into monetary terms. In addition to
that, team bonding and analytical thinking also play a big
role in going further in your career. German work culture is
highly punctual, requires attention to detail and deadlines
are sacred, and high efficiency is expected.

A PIECE OF ADVICE IMIS Batch of 2018
Digital Analytics Manager
First, find your passion and then proceed in that direction. In
Germany, IT has a bit more English jobs than others, so keep that in @Grohe AG
mind while deciding on your area of interest. Second, use IMIS as
your first step to learn about how to combine the knowledge of IT
and Management.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 12

JUNE 2022 WELCOME,
LUMNI !

EDITOR -
Amit Mundra

CULTURE & TRAVEL

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 13

JUNE 2022

DIVERSITY OF IMIS STUDENTS:
A R G E N T I N A M E E T S L I B Y A ( 1 / 2 ) - by Belen Petruolo Lobo & Mawadda Hamza Elmabruk

Although the two countries are significantly geographically distant, they possess many similarities.
Both Argentinian and Libyan societies are considered traditional and of a collectivistic culture.
They have high familial values and are religion-oriented for the most part. Both countries have a
culture rich in folklore and superstition, as well as high respect and consideration for the teachings
of their respective religions. Argentina and Libya have an interesting mix of heritages that affects
their cuisine, culture, business etiquette and festivities.

CUISINE

Argentina's cuisine extends far beyond its very famous beef. From
Italian, German, and Spanish immigrants, you'll find an interesting
mix of indigenous flavours with a European palate, but Mate is our
national treasure. Mate is herb tea made of the yerba mate plant. It
is commonly consumed from a gourd called a "mate", with a metal
drinking straw, and the gourd is always shared by drinkers. Mate is
a representation of family and friends, we bond and develop
relationships around the Mate.

Ibrahim Alkhomsi, accessed 10th May 2022, https://www. Libyan cuisine is considered one of the most diverse cuisines in
instagram.com/brimabarhoom/ Northern Africa with over 250 recipes. Some of which originate
from Italian, Turkish and Andalusi roots while others are of
Amazigh and the region's indigenous peoples. Due to the
country's location, many dishes in the coastal area are rich in
seafood while people in the southern areas depend mostly on
fruits and vegetables. The coffee and tea culture are very
evident; green tea is consumed between meals and the morning
coffee is almost sacred. The national dish is Couscous (cracked
wheat), which is made in a spicy sauce with onions, hot peppers,
tomatoes, and chickpeas, topped with vegetables, lamb or fish. It
is cooked on Fridays in most households and served at weddings.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 14

JUNE 2022

DIVERSITY OF IMIS STUDENTS:
A R G E N T I N A M E E T S L I B Y A ( 2 / 2 )- by Belen Petruolo Lobo & Mawadda Hamza Elmabruk

Argentine business deals are usually based on personal relationships. Small talk always precedes
negotiation in Argentina. Soccer, family, and current events are all good topics to start with, but
avoid bringing up the Perón years or the Falkland Islands. Argentines have a reputation for being
bureaucratic and hierarchical. It's critical to have a local contact in order to navigate the landscape
and make the right connections.
Much like in Argentina, personal relationships make business relationships go a lot smoother in
Libya. Honour and Respect are important cultural values in Libyan society. As a reflection of their
stature and reputation, Libyans expect to be treated with respect. Furthermore, Libyans identify by
their clan affiliation. Relationships and Trust; understanding the principles of tribe and clan
culture, as well as who has the power, can have an impact on any area of business.

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

Argentina's May Revolution Day is one of the country's biggest celebrations.
The 25th of May is a national holiday in Argentina, commemorating the week-long revolutionary
events that resulted in the creation of Argentina's first independent government. Cultural exhibits,
patriotic speeches, and parades are held all over Argentina to commemorate this national holiday.
School parades are a traditional way of celebrating this day, where children and adults dress in
traditional attire and perform national dances. Moreover, families gather together to celebrate this
day and to eat “Locro”. Locro is no everyday meal. Almost a national dish linked with the 25th May
celebrations of the Argentine revolution.

Mahmud TURKIA, August 11, 2019 - accessed 16th May 2022, The most celebrated holiday in Libya is Eid Al-Fitr.
https://www.channelstv.com/tag/truce/ It is a religious holiday that is celebrated on the first day
of the month of Shawal which follows the holy month of
Ramadan in the Islamic Hijri calendar where people fast
from sunrise to sunset. On the first day of Eid, people
gather for morning prayer, dressed in brand-new clothes
and greet one another exchanging hugs and good wishes.
The houses are decorated and many traditional sweets
are prepared to give to guests who visit. Families gather
together and the kids are given candy, toys and money.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 15

JUNE 2022

NEXT STOP, KENYA! (1/2)
- by Immaculate Mutinda

As a Kenyan, I am intrigued by the idea of using it as a venue for our alumni for an activity trip –
specifically as a tourist destination. In this article, I will explore the idea further and give examples
of hotspots to visit.
Kenya has an alluring mix of wildlife and culture. It is home to the largest number of lions in the
world, as well as being the home of the Samburu tribe, who have perfected the art of traditional
hairstyling with cow tails. This article will give you a quick guide to some of the best locations for
tourists in Kenya. Each has its own unique appeal, whether you’re looking for activities to keep
you active, or a relaxing holiday away from it all. These destinations are all worth exploring on
your next trip to Kenya and should not be missed.

KENYA IN GENERAL

The incredible variety of landscapes found in Kenya makes it a perfect destination for travelers of
all kinds. From breathtaking coastlines to high-altitude lakes, to lush rainforests, and endless
deserts, there is something to suit all tastes and interests. One of the reasons why Kenya is such a
popular destination is that it is a relatively easy place to travel around. It is also incredibly
affordable, which makes it accessible to travelers of all budgets. Because it is such a well-known
destination, there are a lot of tour companies offering various excursions around the country. This
means you can tailor your holiday to suit your interests, and you’ll have different options to
choose from.

AMBOSELI NATIONAL PARK Source: Heleninwonderlust.co.uk

This is one of the most well-known destinations in
Kenya. It is famous for its stunning landscape, which
attracts both wildlife and tourists. In fact, it is one of
the best places in the world to spot elephants. The
landscape consists of wide expanses of desert,
making it a great location for sunrise and sunset
photography. You can also take advantage of the
clear skies and spot the Milky Way with ease.
Amboseli is also home to the giant Kilimanjaro,
which makes for a spectacular backdrop for
photographs. It’s pretty impressive up close too, and
it’s definitely worth climbing to the top for stunning
views of the surrounding area.

You can also go on game drives in the surrounding plains and visit the nearby Tsavo National

Park. This is home to a wide range of animals, including lions and zebras.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 16

JUNE 2022

NEXT STOP, KENYA! (2/2) - by Immaculate Mutinda

THE MAASAI MARA

This is a great destination for those who love to Source: micato.com
keep active on holiday. The Maasai Mara is one
of Kenya’s best-known wildlife parks and is one
of the most popular places to spot lions in the
wild. There are multiple ways to explore the
Mara. You can take a game drive in an open-top
safari vehicle or go on a walking safari. This is a
great way to experience the wildlife in its
natural environment, up close and personal.
You can also visit one of the many nearby tribes
to get a glimpse of the traditional way of life.

The Maasai people are renowned for their colourful clothing and hairstyles, which are created

using cow tails.

MOMBASA Source: julius-safaris.comsni

If you prefer to take things a little slower and
are looking for a relaxing holiday, then
Mombasa is the place for you. It is one of the
most popular beach destinations in Kenya and
offers beautiful golden sands and crystal clear
blue waters. Mombasa is also home to a rich
history and culture. You can visit the nearby
Fort Jesus, which was built in the 15th century
by Portuguese explorers. The nearby Swahili
villages are worth exploring, too, as they offer a
glimpse into the past. You can take a trip to the
nearby Shimba island and visit the Shimba
tribe. This is a great excursion for those who
are interested in the traditional way of life.

CONCLUSION



Kenya is one of the most diverse and beautiful countries in the world. There is something for

everyone, whether you like to relax on the beach, or keep active in exploring the landscape. Now

that you know what to expect from Kenya, there is no reason not to book your trip. This amazing


country has something for everyone, so what are you waiting for?

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 17

JUNE 2022

COUNTRY FOCUS: ZIMBABWE

- by Takudzwa Nongera & Tafadzwa S. Mashayamombe

Situated in south-central Africa, Zimbabwe is a country of rich cultural heritage. The lad of nearly
16 million inhabitants is bordered by South Africa (at Beit Bridge Border over the Limpopo River
in the south), Botswana (Plumtree Border Post), Zambia (Kariba, Chirundu and Livingstone Border
posts along the mighty Zambezi River to the north) and quad-border point with Zambia,
Botswana, and Namibia at Kazungula. Though landlocked, these high-volume transit points
improve accessibility in addition to the three major international airports located in the capital,
Harare, Bulawayo (the second-largest city), and the tourist hotspot Victoria Falls. Most of the
country’s major highways on its expansive road network have been going through maintenance
and expansion works to modernize them to cater for larger volumes of traffic.
Though relatively small in area, at approximately 390,000 km2, the southern African country’s
peoples are known for their warmth. This warmth could be traced to the multi-ethnic composition
of the populace, derived from centuries of embracing various groups within its lands. In the spirit
of inclusivity, the national constitution embraces 16 languages, including Shona, Ndebele, Sign
Language, and English as the official mediums of communication.

Over and above its warm peoples, the country boasts of
numerous attractions. Visit one of the “7 Natural Wonders of
the World” at Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya,
loosely translated to The Smoke That Thunders. One could also
engage in water activities along the river like taking boat
cruises, bungee jumping, or white-water rafting along the
rapids. If you are lucky, you could also come across some
elephants roaming through the sparse traffic in the town.

A visit to the mighty falls would not be complete without a date with the “Big 5” game animals,

lions, rhinoceroses, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards in Hwange National Park.

One could choose between a tented

safari experience or luxurious safari

lodges within the game reserve, also

one of the largest in Africa.

The escape to Zimbabwe could be capped off with a cruise PAGE 18
along the mighty Zambezi River to Lake Kariba. Whilst in
Kariba town, one could fish, visit crocodile farms, or enjoy
uniquely serene African sunsets over the lake.
The 4- or 5-hours drive from the resort town of Kariba to
Harare could be punctuated by a stopover in Chinhoyi.
There, one could explore ancient caves and descend to the
mythical sleeping pool with some crystal blue waters.
Guided tours through these caves would include the
folklore tales and mysteries surrounding the area.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

JUNE 2022 WELCOME,
LUMNI !

EDITOR -
Amit Mundra

SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL CUISINE

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 19

JUNE 2022

WINNER IMIS 2021: TOP HOME CHEF (1/2)

- by Jyotika Shrestha & Yuqing Zhuang (GUEST WRITERS

INTERVIEWEE:
YAMNA KHAN

At what age did you first start cooking? PAGE 20
I started baking pretty at an early age, because I enjoyed that a lot,
when I was around 11 or 12 years old, my aunt taught me how to bake
biscuits and cakes, so I started with the simple things. When I was 16,
I used to bake a lot of biscuits, lasagna and all that sort of things. I
actually started proper cooking when I lived on my own in Germany.
and then when I came back and then I got married, so that’s when I
was like really into cooking.

What inspires you to cook?
I like to try on new dishes. I like to eat food around the world, and if I
can travel I would like to repeat recipes in my hometown, or if I have
traveled I will replicate recipes for my family. Cooking shows, cook
presentation, colorful foods such as bell peppers, or maybe new
ingredients, all of these inspired me to cook.

From whom, or where, did you learn this recipe?
I made Biryani for the competition, which is a local dish from my
home country Pakistan. It is basically spicy rice. It is quite hard to
make because its very time consuming, I learned it very late honesty
recently. The recipe is from my mom.she taught me how it done, and I
watch her to cook it many times.

What would you say to someone who wants to learn cooking?
If you want to learn cooking, just do it. Watch a lot of recipes and I
would also say learn the science behind cooking. I forgot to mention
earlier, so I
also had the subject food studies in my A levels. that's when I learned,
you know, the science behind what makes the cake rise or fall or about
nutrients. So I would say, learn the basics, get to know why something
happens, watch a lot of videos and read a lot. that would honestly
lead you becoming a great cook. So whatever you want to do, practice
makes you perfect.

Please give some feedback on this IMIS Top Home Contest?
Its really interesting. The best part was that I got to interact with my
colleagues from years ago. So it was a lot of fun. Thank you for
arranging it.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

JUNE 2022

WINNER IMIS 2021: TOP HOME CHEF (2/2)

- by Jyotika Shrestha & Yuqing Zhuang (GUEST WRITERS

How has the epidemic affected your life? How did you adapt
it?
I guess it affected my life the same way as it has for others, I am
confined to my house and I can’t go out and I am relying on ahmm...
and I can’t travel but I guess everything being online makes it lot
easier such as online shopping ahmm work from home things like that
ahmm and ya I get to give lot of time to my house, but it sucks I
cannot go out and see…Ya
Could you recommend one of your favorite hometown
dishes besides Biryani?
My favorite dish besides Biryani, I would say Rashmalai which is a
sweet made from milk and sugar and other one is Gulab Jamun,
Kheer a rice pudding. There are also savory dishes made from meat
such as Nihari or Chicken Kadahi.
As a student, did you cook meals yourself, or you visited the
Mensa or ate out?
Ahmm. Actually, it honestly depended on the time so whenever I
could, I visited the Mensa, but I would also try to cook myself
specially when I am missing home. But I would probably cook twice
or thrice a week and then eat the same thing. Ahh... or I go for ready
to cook meal such as pasta sauce and pasta simply mix it up a typical
student life food Hehe.
Do you still have contact with alumni after graduation?
After graduation I came back to my home country and did not get
chance to meet the alumni ahh... but I have contact with some of my
Alumni friends through social media so interacted with them pretty
much in Instagram and on Facebook and WhatsApp also so that
keeps us in touch.
What is your most impressive thing during studying in
Soest?
Everything… I believe it was a lifeS EchMaEnSgTinEgReAxpBeRriOenAcDe tRhEe LdAegTrEeDe L I N K S A N D A D D R E S S :
itself is honestly great ahmm... I learned a lot. I loved how everything
was taught it was so much different than how things are done in my
home country, and I believe the career that I have now ahmm... I am
now a thriving digital marketing manager.
And everything I went through in Soest including my studies and
apart from the studies so if I look at the internship, the living the
challenges that I have faced and the opportunities that I had,
everything good and bad it is all contributed to who I am now and I
am glad for everything.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 21

JUNE 2022

IRAQI DOLMA

- by Ramear Faris

Dolma is a stuffed vegetable dish found in the Middle East,
Turkey, the Balkans, and Central Asia, with many
variations. Despite its Turkish origins, dolma has been a
staple of Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries and could
also be found in pre-Ottoman Arabic cookbooks.
It's like a stuffed cabbage roll that could be seen in Western
countries. The phrase comes from Turkey and literally
means "stuffed item." Many cultures have distinct names
and techniques for it. It's traditionally made with grape
leaves. In Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cyprus, Greece, Iraq, Iran,
Jordan, Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon, stuffed tomatoes,
stuffed eggplants, stuffed cabbage, stuffed zucchini, and
stuffed onions are used in addition to grape leaves.

There are various types of Dolma based on the region and the recipes followed, but the concept is
similar. The vegetables are hollowed out and stuffed with rice seasoned with spices and can also be
mixed with ground meat based on the preference of the cook. The stuffing is sometimes covered
in grape, cabbage leaves or swiss chard. After the stuffing phase, the dish is boiled and slow-
cooked. They come in a variety of flavors and can be served hot or cold, vegetarian or with meat.

RECIPE
Below
is a basic recipe to show how it is done in general, this is not meant to be exact steps on

how to make a Dolma, the premise is just to give an idea how the dish is prepared:

Step 1: Hollow out the vegetables. INGREDIENTS: Tomatoes, Zucchini
Tomatoes, bell pepper and zucchini. Rice Bell pepper Onions
Grape leaves Eggplant Salt
Step 2: Preparing the stuffing, which Ground meat,
is the rice mixed with ground meat
and preferred spices that are chosen
based on the preference of the cook.

Step 3: After the vegetables are
stuffed, the cooking phase starts. The
stuffed vegetables are boiled in a pot
submerged in water mixed with
tomato paste and salt. In some places
water mixed with some lemon juice
is used instead for submerging the
vegetables. They also spray some
olive oil over the vegetables before
boiling.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 22

JUNE 2022 WELCOME,
LUMNI !

IMIS LIFE DURING COVID-19

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 23

JUNE 2022

SOCIALIZING WHILE SOCIAL DISTANCING
- by Jenisa Thapaliya

They say we tend to gravitate toward things to which we’re restricted. That’s exactly the case with
COVID-19 and IMIS 2021 batch. Moving to a new country at the time of world crises and trying to
socialize while social distancing whilst attending all the virtual classes, it was definitely a task.

But all it took was one WhatsApp group, one-semester ticket, and a few like-minded people from
different countries coming together and pushing each other to socialize. We would google for
hours about the beautiful places nearby and start from there. We started our journey from the
nearest, i.e., Baldeneysee in Essen. Finally, being able to see the person and not their passport-size
face virtually was exciting. Understanding each other’s food preferences took some time, but it
was a learning opportunity.

Highlight: Segregation between the people who
wanted to go for a walk for fun and the people who
wouldn’t use walk and fun in the same sentence.

The next destination was Wuppertal which had
everything beautiful.

Highlight: Getting lost in the woods and intense
search for water, and finally drinking water like
we’ve never tasted it before.

Followed by Schloss Drachenberg. The castle looked
like straight out of a fairy-tale.

Highlight: We learned that hunger can be quite an
extreme emotion and always packing a sandwich
doesn’t hurt anyone.

These one-day trips were followed by many other
small gatherings, coffee meet-ups, sleepovers, and
some beer days. One of the most amazing outdoor
events has to be a BBQ party at Stadtgarten, Essen.

Highlight: From push-up competition to trying deer
meet for the first time to dancing in the rain in the
middle of the night, everything was amazing.

Now, things are different. Fast-paced western life caught us and led us to have our plates full. Some
of us being busy with internships and some with thesis, we don’t have enough time to have one of
those days, but I still wouldn’t have it any other way. Embarking upon this journey with all these
amazing people always brings a smile to my face. It might have started as an unusual situation but
I’m so glad that we got through it together. So, the quote ‘everything happens for good’ totally
makes sense.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 24

JUNE 2022

IMIS LIFE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

- by Md Billal Mia, Syed Whaidul Alam, Nafi Irtiza

The master’s course International Management and
Information Systems (IMIS) under the Electrical Power
Engineering Department facilitates such opportunities
for students. Experienced teachers and capable students
are the souls of this department. The classroom on
campus premise leaps up with joy by the activities of
the students. But due to the Covid-19 pandemic in early
2020, the regular activities of IMIS came to a halt like
the rest of the world. The teachers and students could
not physically attend classes on the campus. Again, because of the prolonging activities in the

embassies, many of the newly admitted students could not reach Germany on time. As a result, the
students of IMIS Summer semester 2021 coming from more than 30 countries had to complete
almost two semesters online from their respective countries. This situation created two types of
feelings among the teachers and students of this course.

Firstly, the normal pace of life and education almost stopped during this time. But with the help of
teachers and associated staff, online classes and examinations were conducted to continue
academic activities. IMIS has an E-learning platform, which is known as “Moodle” to students. All
the course and examination materials were properly arranged in Moodle that is why all the lessons
were enjoyable for the students. In addition, students regularly collaborated on WhatsApp and
LinkedIn to get academic updates. Being the students of IMIS Summer semester 2021, we have
seen how magically the WhatsApp groups “IMIS Social and IMIS Academic” have been working
for making friends and keeping us connected with various voluntary and academic activities. We
arranged an online Christmas program and thus continued our cultural activities as well. Students
did not have to go through any kind of semester delay because the system was well-sorted. The
students’ joy knew no bounds as they completed their semesters on time despite various
adversities due to the pandemic. Besides these, several alumni worked as volunteers in Covid-19
situations and made IMIS proud of their noble activities.

Secondly, there was a feeling of emptiness in all students of the IMIS family as they were deprived
of the opportunity to hang out together on campus, build strong friendly relations with the alumni
through various events, and sharpen themselves further by getting connected directly to the
teachers. But the things that we missed during the pandemic are happening altogether in our 3rd
semester. Physical classes again start taking place on campus. All the classmates are coming to the
campus and attending offline classes. Moreover, the “Management Communication” course works
as a bridge between our new and old students. Professor David Stevenson has included the
“Alumni Project” in this course, under which we will get the chance to meet the alumni. A few days
ago, we arranged a “food event” and have become acquainted with local cuisines from different
countries. Later sports events, photography events and some other exciting events took place
where new and current students of IMIS participated. In a nutshell, the “Alumni Project” is serving
as an IMIS family get-together. Established in 2014, this department has been maintaining its
success to date. The glory has never faded even during the pandemic time.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 25

JUNE 2022

A REFLECTION ON DISTANCE AND SOCIALIZATION

-by Efe Ahmet Dabanli

WHAT HAS PASS.

The pandemic has shaped entirely how we develop relations with others and how we maintain our
relationships with friends, colleagues, and family. It has been two years and since the beginning of
lockdown socializing moved to virtual platforms. Despite the social distancing, we still maintained
our relations.
From birth to death our nature is being shaped by social relationships and gets influenced by
positive, negative, and neutral interactions. This also affects our personality which helps us to
understand human nature.

Socializing is a fundamental need, and physiological
effects are not discussable when it is absent. According
to Harvard researchers, happy human beings have
quality social lives. They are describing quality as
more important than quality also, and this can lead us
to have healthy both physical and mental health.
The evolution of human social life has three
dimensions. Cultural, environmental and physical.

Due to this pandemic, we lost the ability to share the same environment and have physical or
close contact. We can still share the culture with each other however, it is limited due to its nature.

CAN WE ENDURE IT.

Physical distancing can be tolerated however, socialization can not. We are social beings, and we
need to socialize despite some limitations, the online environment, and different platforms.
Adopting social rules and technology can be beneficial.

Social activities including sport and events which allow us to protect the distance can be very useful
for both mental and physical health. Gathering groups in open areas can be a new trend in
meetings instead of meeting in closed restaurants or pubs. Also, the way the service sector is
providing entertainment should change. More open field areas can prevent loneliness entirely due
to its nature by protecting us. Besides, virtual activities which are established according to real-life
events can still be enjoyable. Book clubs, support groups, exercise groups, and even praying groups
can still be part of our lives in an online environment.

Lastly, online games can be a great way to meet new people with the same hobbies and
personalities regardless of the time frame or distance. Playing with strangers can provide new
feelings and create new friendships that traditional meetings can not provide.

To conclude, regardless of the solution provided, human nature is ready to adapt and improve
therefore, we should increase the awareness and variety of social network tools to prevent possible
future pandemics and our health both mental and physical.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 26

JUNE 2022

WE PLANNED, WE FUNDRAISED, AND WE HAD FUN!

- by My Dang, Thi Men, Thi Nhu Vy

On Wednesday, May 25th, 2022 at Fachhochschule Südwestfalen Soest Campus we held a
fundraising activity to raise money to support Alumni Event 2022 as well as to promote our
traditional cuisines. In preparation for a successful and well-organized event, we performed
several side activities before the event date

Forming groups joining the event: in this event we
had six groups serving food, drinks and other
services.
Teamwork within a team: each team had several
meetings about planning the event: firstly, we
made prototypes to forecast the raw materials and
human resources for the event day. Secondly, we
drafted the event plan including material
planning, human resource planning, financial
planning and marketing planning. Finally, we sent
the planning to our instructor requesting approval.

Teamwork among teams: members responsible for the marketing of each team worked together
to agree on a marketing plan, finalizing expected dates for the event to report to the instructor.

At 10:30, the fundraising team arrived on Soest
campus and started to prepare for the event. The
weather that day was quite cold, but luckily it was
sunny and not raining. After the tables and chairs
were arranged, fundraising items were displayed
and ready for serving, including cocktails and
traditional dishes of countries such as Vietnam,
Bangladesh, Nigeria, India, and Pakistan. It can be
seen that this fundraising activity received
enthusiastic support from other students and
especially from professors in the university.

Toan Duong, a BBA student who was present on that day, came to support all the stalls and gave
many compliments on the quality of the food and drink. The fundraising event was a meaningful
event when all the members were able to cooperate effectively with each other, helping to create a
smooth and successful event.
We want to share a few tips for organizing this event. Firstly, choosing a date and time is an
extremely important factor affecting the success of an event. We should choose the time from 10
am - 3 pm on a sunny day of the week, with the most students estimated to go to school, and
should not be selected before the holidays. Secondly, the coordination between the teams is
equally important. A fundraising event usually includes many booths of many teams, so there
should be close coordination between the teams from planning, marketing, booth setup, and sales
to ensure the smoothness of the event.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 28

JUNE 2022

“INHALE & EXHALE”: HOW MEDITATION CAN

D E C R E A S E S T U D E N T ’ S S T R E S S L E V E L - by Bebila Singh

ALUMNI & STUDENT LIFE CAN BE CHALLENGING AT TIMES.

When most people think of alumni and student life, they anticipate it as carefree and enjoyable.
They have no idea how much stress and anxiety it can come with. A student's life can be
challenging at times. Multiple assignments in various courses simultaneously project work, family
pressure, internship applications, and fear of missing out on social life can contribute to a very
stressful lifestyle.

Furthermore, during the Corona period, e-learning took away all the benefits of being a student,
such as hanging out with friends, doing project work together on campus, socializing with class
gossip, and seeing each other in person. Similarly, many alumni or students might have gone
through stressful phases when they are already dealing with many changes in their life, such as
moving to a new country, being around new people, adjusting to the culture, and balancing their
studies. All these factors affect our studies, make it hard to focus, and increase our anxiety. Given
that, would we not all want to foster our abilities further to better cope with this stress?

Luckily, we found that meditation is a helpful tool to handle stress. Research has shown that
mediation techniques can improve happiness, health, and even study results, regardless of age or
lifestyle. At the same time, it is an effortless practice that we can easily include in our daily life.
Meditation is doing nothing, yes! Completely nothing. Do you remember a time or a moment
when you did not do anything at all? It might sound like a strange question; however, we have been
keeping ourselves always busy, either scrolling hours on our phones or thinking about the next
assignment, talking with a significant other, etc. The next question might be how we can exactly
achieve “doing absolutely nothing.” On this, we want to share some easy ways you can start right
away; all you need is to give 10 mins of your time a day. It is advised to perform in the early
morning for more significant benefit, but you can do it whichever time fits in your daily routine.

First, find a quiet place and sit straight, either on a
chair or the floor; make sure your back is straight
and place your hands on your knees, palm facing
upwards. Second, close your eyes, inhale a long
deep breath in, hold the breath for a few seconds,
exhale it from the mouth, repeat it 3-4 times, and
relax and observe the normal breathing. Your
mind may stroll, and so many thoughts may
come; just let them come. Whenever distracted,
bring your attention back to your breath.

Whatever you experience during the process is unique from one person to another. As you are at
the end of the session, do not jump off and get back to your daily routine; instead, take your time
and observe the surroundings, inhale and exhale the breath and then slowly open your eyes and
smile. Now you are ready to deal with any challenge the day might bring.
So, next time whenever you feel stress or anxiety, remember to inhale and exhale.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 29

JUNE 2022

INSIDE THE RECRUITING PROCESS

by lksen Sögütoglu,Mohamed Kabir Garba, Honoriine Glwadys

Did you ever ask yourself why your application got rejected?
And how do those recruiters select the right applicant? Then you are not alone! One of our IMIS
students who is a recruiting expert in a well-known Company is sharing his tips and tricks
exclusively for IMIS Students. To help us understand how the recruiting process works. Follow
the road to your dream job below.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 30

JUNE 2022

CROSSWORD: FACTS ABOUT IMIS

- by Truc Phan Thi & Lyse P Ndonko. Nkechinyere Anozie

ACROSS
2. South Westphalia in German.
4. German synonym of personal pronoun "I" in English.
7. You get current news and offers related to the IMIS.
8. Germany is second largest country to consume this product. 9. The Capital of
North Rhein Westphalia.
11. The German word for where you refueled after challenging your neurons.

DOWN
1. Your favorite online portal as a student.
3. The bus stop name closest to the Soest campus.
5. Quiet, knowledge, research, information, shelves.
6. A software that made you more business intelligent.
7. FH have one campus in this city.
10. The course which got you to interact with Google

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 31

JUNE 2022

IMIS ALUMNI EVENT 2022

On 10 June 2022, IMIS students organized different team bonding This is our chance to

activities such as sports games, also a delicious dinner for ALUMNI come together for a

at Möhnesee in the evening that day ☺️ short time to re-live

On the next day, the IMIS students attended a cricket tournament fond memories or

which was organized by students of the different degree programs share in new

from FB EET. The mood in the pictures speaks for itself: The event developments.
was a great success!

Hope to see as many of

you next year.

As it is now the

tradition we will

again have our

Alumni Event,

organized by the MC

class during Summer

Semester 2023.
Please book Friday the

16 of June 2023 into

your calendars!
More details will

follow on time.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 32

JUNE 2022

GET THAT ALUMNI FEELING

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 33

JUNE 2022

ALUMNI NEWS - by Ibrahim Baydas

We asked some of our Alumni about the changes in their lives after graduation, the first impressions

of their new business life, their successes, regrets, happiness and advices. Here are some answers…

SUI YEE CHUNG TOBIAS KOCH
We celebrate Sui for working as a full-time We congratulate Tobias that he managed to
Business Intelligence Analyst in a private find a position as a Project Manager after
company in Germany right after her graduation. There have been many
graduation. Now we listen to her: changes in his life since his graduation:
"Although my private
time is less now as a “The biggest change I

full time employee, I experienced was

still enjoy the new moving from a little

challenges as there are village, close to Soest,

many new things to to Hamburg, which is

learn in the practical the second-biggest

area. The working city in Germany.

culture in Germany is One of the major

rather flat hierarchy. differences I spotted
Therefore, we can between my newly gained business life and
always talk to the my prior life as a student is that business is
supervisor regarding orientated towards efficiency and
our opinions, which is profitability, while university and research
quite different from often focus on details. I work in a small
the culture in Asia. company that deals which is highly
innovative and works with technologies
I was still very grateful for the master thesis such as blockchain, machine learning, and
opportunity at a company to which I was edge computing. Due to the size and the
applying via the Intranet post in Moodle. It spirit of this company, it is really flexible,
was a great experience to have the first sight and I received a lot of responsibilities right
of business life before graduation. I wish I from the beginning.
had traveled and explored more during my
studies time, as holiday planning in Having submitted my thesis at the end of
business life is not as flexible as a student. my Bachelor's, walking out of the Student
Service Office was a great feeling. Sadly, I
As I just graduated in October, I would not did not have the pleasure of submitting my
say I have some success already, but I am master’s thesis myself since I already lived
very happy with my current life.” in Hamburg. Instead, my girlfriend handed
it in for me. I missed a bit."

WISSAM SHAHIN

I graduated two years ago. After graduation, I have lived a happy and
successful life. I started my business life as a Business Intelligence
Consultant. I also worked as a BI Consultant in the airline industry.
Certification in BI development and architecture was important in my
career. I was using English at the beginning, but now I speak German and
improve my German skills.…

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 34

JUNE 2022

FROM FMCG MARKETER TO FINANCIAL DATA ANALYST

HOW I RELAUNCHED MY CAREER AFTER IMIS (1/2)

- by Thi Bich Van Hoang

Over time, companies have become increasingly reliant on the insights drawn from data
analysis. There is also a corresponding increase in the demand of human resources in the
field. Since this is still a new field, it can be noticed that many data analysts did not start
their careers on this path.
However, transitioning into a new career is like boarding a plane that is already taking off.
Let’s meet Anh Nguyen, who made a brave leap from position purely in Marketing to
Data Analysis, and listen to her journey. Anh is a newly IMIS graduate with an
outstanding academic result. She is currently working as Financial Data Analyst at
Qontigo located in Frankfurt. Let’s have a talk and get inspired!

Hi Anh, could you share a bit about your career
background and what motivated you to make a switch
in your career path?

ANH NGUYEN Hi Van, thank you for the invitation for the interview.
The topic sounds great and I am so glad to have this
chance to share my experience to IMIS students.
Before coming to Germany in the end of 2018 for the
Master, I had 3 years working in Brand Management
in Nestle Vietnam. So, I would say I had zero technical
background before IMIS. During the first and the third
semesters with all the courses conducted online, I
utilized the time to do two internships in Henkel, also
in Marketing, simply because that is what I am
experienced in and easy to be selected for the position.
One-year internships in Henkel in the field of
Marketing gave me great opportunities to strengthen
my communication skills, adapt to the German
working culture, and equip myself with market
knowledge. However, the more I worked in Marketing,
the more I realized that my highest interest was not in
creating a creative advertisement or coming up with a
new product concept, but more in analyzing market
data to get valuable insight for business.

My managers also noticed that I was good in creativity works but I was much stronger in analytic
areas. After understanding better my passion, I started to learn more about data analytics, especially
utilizing self-service BI tools such as Power BI to transform, visualize, and analyze data. I then got a
chance to do an internship in Qontigo where I was taking the lead of a project of transforming the
recurring Excel-based reports into Power BI dashboards. After the internship with great result, I
was promoted to be a full-time employee in the Market Intelligence Department.

Changing careers can be very challenging, especially when you make an unconventional move. Did
you face many challenges, and how did you overcome those?

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 35

JUNE 2022

FROM FMCG MARKETER TO FINANCIAL DATA ANALYST
HOW I RELAUNCHED MY CAREER AFTER IMIS (2/2)

- by Thi Bich Van Hoang

Changing careers is challenging, yes, but exciting at the same time. So, the challenges themselves
became the motivation for me to strive further in this area. The biggest challenge for me in this
movement was learning a wide range of new concepts and tools in a short period of time. I had six-
month internship to learn about the Financial Services industry, sharpen my knowledge in the field
of data analytics, and excel at the required tools like SQL and Power BI. However, the pressure of
learning many new things as fast as I can always kept me excited every day, since everyday was a
new day full of interesting things to learn. So, I would say, I overcame the challenges by keeping a
constant thirst for new knowledge.
How IMIS program helped you to make the move?
IMIS helped me in many different ways in this career move. First, the knowledge I got in those
subjects such as Business Intelligence, Information Management, gave me a good overview about
the data field which served as a strong base for me to learn further myself. Second, it sounds too
practical, but it is true, that the diploma in Information Systems increased greatly the chance for me
to get into the eye of technical recruiters. Last but not least, friends from IMIS are treasure to me,
who supported me with knowledge in the field, job opportunities sharing, and many more.

Do you have any advice for IMIS students who also want to change their career into a more
technical field?
Start small, think big. This is my advice. Don’t be afraid of challenges ahead, start learning, take a
course, connect with people in the field, join workshops, many things you can start with. But at the
same time, keep in mind what and where you would like to become.
Thank you for your inspiring sharing and wish you all the best in your professional and personal
life!

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 36

JUNE 2022

VIRTUAL PHOTO CONTEST - by Muhammad Shehbaz

PREFACE:
"As a student, it was a unique experience
for me to come to Germany and study
here. At the same time, it was also a rare
opportunity for me to meet people from
different nations belonging to various
cultures, religions, and ethnic backgrounds.

As part of my IMIS course, we as current
students were given the task to meet with
the Alumni of FH Südwestfalen. The main
purpose of creating this Management
Communication brief is to exclusively
inform the readers about the above-
mentioned experiences and what we have
learned so far from the organization of the
Alumni events.

After discussions in our class, various student teams were As it is now the

assigned several tasks. One of the tasks was to organize an tradition we will

online photography contest. Thus, the organization of the again have our

contest was assigned to our team. The team comprised of me Alumni Event,

(Muhammed Shehbaz), Rehan Akbar, and Muhammed Aamir organized by the MC

Aslam. class during Summer

One of the main purposes of the Contest was to bring the Semester 2023.
University's Alumni together once again and to offer them an Please book Friday the

ample opportunity to meet the current students of the 16 of June 2023 into

institute. The rationale behind the event was knowledge your calendars!
sharing between the current and past students in order to
have a healthy academic and professional discussion. Hence,
both the parties learn from each other.

One of the biggest challenges faced by us was the present More details will

COVID-19 situation and the restrictions associated with it. follow on time.
Therefore, the only solution was to organize an online event.
To prepare ourselves for the contest, we designed an As per Alumni, it was a great experience
invitation letter (the letter) targeted toward the current and for them to share their experience with
old students of the University. The letter was sent to the us and at the same time appreciate the
prospective participants through email and various social participant's photographic contributions.
media platforms e.g., IMIS WhatsApp group, Facebook One of the ex-student of the University
platforms, etc. The event was organized through an online informed us that by taking part in the
platform i.e., Instagram as “#IMISPhotocontest”. event reminded him of his days as a
It was a resounding success, and we were overwhelmed by student at the FH Südwestfalen.
the response, considering the present limitations due to the In fact, the majority of ex-students were
global COVID-19 pandemic. Various participants also willing and ready to act as mentor for us,
participated in the contest by uploading their pictures. The thus it was a mutually fruitful exchange.
winner of the event was chosen on the basis of how much Surprisingly, it was a collective
one's photograph is liked online. Consequently, Tharim agreement amongst the Alumni that the
Ishraq won as one of his uploaded contributions was admired event was like a breadth of fresh air for
the most. them as they were bored from their daily
Finally, we collectively as a team and the present students of professional chores.
IMIS thank all the contributors and guests of the contest.

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 37

JUNE 2022

SEMESTER ABROAD

- by Tanjina Islam

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND ULSTER UNIVERSITY, BELFAST

One of the modules in the IMIS course is called “Semester Abroad” where the student has
the possibility to study for one semester in a foreign accredited University. It is true that
for many foreign students, studying in Germany already is a kind of Study Abroad. But
students also exploit the opportunity to enhance their experience by studying for one
semester at another university in a different country. Which is situated in Belfast,
Northern Ireland. The duration of the course was 6 months, from September 2018 to
February 2019. According to him, the whole experience was simply amazing, starting
from the beautiful landscape, caves, enjoyable weather and above all, really nice
apprentices and educators who made his life really easy. Being far away from home, still
he felt at home and the result was evident, he scored an impressive grade and learned a
lot about his course content as well as Irish culture. His return to Germany was a happy
one with warm feelings inside.
To our surprise, the entire process of applying to study abroad is not that difficult or
lengthy, we just need to follow some simple steps. All the related information is available
on our FH Soest website in a well-structured manner, where it is mentioned which
documents to submit. In addition to that, we are blessed with the kind support of Ms.
Sabine Mahlstedt, who helps us to the optimum level once we bring all the documents to
her. With her help, we are able to send our application to the university in Ireland and
once they receive the application, they will contact the student back for confirmation. As
soon as the confirmation is received by the university, they will send an admission letter
along with “Visa Letter” to the student.

This “Visa Letter” is very important to apply for the visa as
we must apply for our visa individually. It contains all the
cSuErMreEnSt TinEfRorAmBaRtOioAnDabRoEuLtAtThEeDstLuIdNeKnSt sAuNchD aAsDthDeRnEaSmS :e of
the applicant, course duration, name of the course advisor,
place to stay and so on. With this letter along by other
related documents need to be submitted at the UK Visa
Application Centre for your visa processing and that is all.
Mr. Nnamdi Richard Mordi is really grateful to the FH
Südwestfalen for providing the opportunity of his lifetime
and he relished every bit of it. He starts motivating other
fellow students to go for the Semester Abroad module to
experience a new culture in a diverse environment.

MR. NNAMDI RICHARD MORDI IN
ULSTER UNIVERSITY, BELFAST
NORTHERN IRELAND

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 38

JUNE 2022
DAY IN THE LIFE OF IMIS STUDENTS
IN THE PANDEMIC

BY MINH HUONG PHAM & QUYNH NHU NGUYEN TRAN

GETTING READY FOR THE NEW ROUTINE

WELCOME Hi everyone!
TO ANOTHER
ONLINE We are Connie and Minh-Huong, Master's students of the IMIS
SEMESTER! program intake (2020/2021). It has been a special year for us
due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which left a significant impact
on our daily routine. Especially for students, our academic
year is no longer with offline lectures and hanging out with
friends on campus.

However, as IMIS students who experienced the Master's
program fully online, we realized that the “new routine” has
made us room to discover our potential! We realized that
spending more time at home allows us to focus on the
details of daily life and learn new things. Connie now has
more time saving from commuting to university to focus on
her German and driving license, while Minh-Huong is
occupied with her new interest in Web Designs and YouTube
as a Content Creator.

In this article, we would like to share with you what our
typical busy day looks like during this special time, hope to
inspire you with more ideas for the “new normal” and look
forward to hearing your own stories!

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 39

JUNE 2022

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 40

JUNE 2022

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 41

JUNE 2022

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 42

JUNE 2022

CROSSWORD: FACTS ABOUT IMIS
S O L U T I O N - by Truc Phan Thi & Lyse P Ndonko. Nkechinyere Anozie

ACROSS
2. South Westphalia in German.
4. German synonym of personal pronoun "I" in English.
7. You get current news and offers related to the IMIS.
8. Germany is second largest country to consume this product. 9. The Capital of
North Rhein Westphalia.
11. The German word for where you refueled after challenging your neurons.

DOWN
1. Your favorite online portal as a student.
3. The bus stop name closest to the Soest campus.
5. Quiet, knowledge, research, information, shelves.
6. A software that made you more business intelligent.
7. FH have one campus in this city.
10. The course which got you to interact with Google

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 43

JUNE 2022

IMIS ONLINE

Dear IMIS Alumni,

We hope you kept the IMIS program and FH SWF in pleasant memories and
that your personal career developed as desired. Today we are happy to inform
you that we are offering two new great options for further education, which
are related to the IMIS program you have successfully completed, which could
be of interest for friends and colleagues of yours.

Next to the IMIS program we established the ‘IMIS Online’ Professional
Master’s program. IMIS Online is fully aimed at professionals and is designed
in such a way that they do not have to give up their jobs but can study part-
time and primarily online (also from outside Germany). Therefore, the total
90 credits are spread across 4 semesters, resulting in a reduced workload in the
respective semesters. IMIS Online prepares students for leadership roles in a
globalized economy.

However, sometimes it can be difficult to complete an entire course of study
while working (even if it is aimed at working professionals), so we also offer
the individual modules as certificate courses. The modules can be taken
individually and the pace of study can thereby be adjusted by obtaining
university certificates without having to take up an entire course of study. All
modules completed as certificates can be credited towards the IMIS Online
Master if one later chooses to finish the degree.

In case of any questions, please reach out to Jennifer Beckmann (+49 (0) 2921
378-3760, [email protected]) who will be happy to provide you with
further information to answer your questions.

We look forward to welcome colleagues and friends of our IMIS Alumni to
our further education programs! Visit the IMIS Online website <<here>>

Kind regards from Soest

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 44

JUNE 2022

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

CGI - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING
MICROSOFT - STUDENTS & GRADUATES JOBS
VW - #HI CURIOSITY! HI YOU! PROGRAM
BMW - CAREERS AT BMW GROUP
ALDI SÜD - WORKING FOR ALDI SOUTH IT

Please keep us informed of job opportunities within your companies so that

we can update our Moodle blackboard, LinkedIn page, and annual newsletter


to help those Alumni striving for that perfect career.

REMEMBER:
THE STRENGTH OF WEAK TIES!!!

Until the next edition follow us on...

IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER PAGE 44

JUNE 2022

WRITE TO US

Write to us about anything, and please use this link to upload
EDITING TEAM
photos and other memories you would like to share with us.
Chief Editor:
As most of you are aware by now, the MC 3rd semester
Adil Haimoun
students take the responsibility to organize the Alumni event

held every summer. This is another task of that class, and we
Editor:
hope that you help support us in making further interesting
Elchin Abdullayev
newsletters by informing us of anything you feel might be of

interest to your fellow Alumni.  Proofreading:
Jose Francisco Javier
Please e-mail David directly with anything you might want to
Arriaga Izabal
include in the next edition, otherwise, please support the next

student group when they come calling for stories and pictures. Peer-Review:
Anna Lenska
Thank you all for taking the time to read what we have

worked on this semester, we hope you have enjoyed it. CONTRIBUTORS

A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication Gift Chiamaka Madueke
that is generally about one main topic of interest to its
Ngoc Nhu Bahn
Thi Thanh My
subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of
Van Huong Le
newsletters. Hasanuzzaman

Hasanuzzaman
Newsletters are published by clubs, churches, societies,
Kauser Khandaker
associations, and businesses—especially companies—to
Muhammad Waseem Feroze

provide information of interest to members, customers,
Sania Zahid Hanif
Ghulam Mujtaba
or employees. Truc Phan Thi
Lyse P Ndonko Nkechinyere

Some newsletters are created as money-making ventures
Anozie
and sold directly to subscribers. Sending newsletters to
lksen Sögütoglu
customers and prospects is a common marketing
Mohamed Kabir Garba
strategy, which can have benefits and drawbacks. Honoriine Glwadys
Bebila Singh
Dang Ngoc Hoang My
Nguyen Men
Vuong Thi Nhu Vy Nguyet
Efe Ahmet Dabanli
Syed Whaidul Alam
Md Billal Mia
Nafi Irtiza
Jenisa Thapaliya
Ramear Faris
Arnab Kumar Chowdhury
Takudzwa Nongera

Tafadzwa S.

Mashayamombe
Immaculate Mutinda
Belen Petruolo Lobo
Mawadda Hamza Elmabruk

CONTACT US @ [email protected]

©IMIS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2022