How a semester abroad can shape your understanding of International Management
"Hei, nimeni on Saskia ja opiskelin Suomessa."
This is Finnish and translates into "Hello, my name is Saskia, and I studied in Finland."
Why did I chose Finland - the small, inconspicuous country in northern Europe, with a language that is difficult to understand but also almost impossible to pronounce? Studying the master of International Management, Marketing & Entrepreneurship at the OvGU in Magdeburg, I wanted to take an Erasmus semester. So, in August 2019, I moved to study at the University of Tampere.
Finland – a Well-Growing Economy
In the last few years, the Finland’s capital Helsinki has managed to become a hot spot for the global start-up scene. The Finnish economy consists mainly of services and Germany is one of Finland's most important trading partners. Furthermore, the country has one of the best educational systems in the world. As an international management student, there is hardly a country that could not be more exciting to look at.
An Unforgettable Experience through Intercultural Exchange
Through my studies, I was made aware of the basic theories of international management. But only during my semester abroad did I gain a first-hand understanding of what it really means to work in an international team.
In Germany, expressing criticism directly and having lively discussions is part of the working culture as I know it. In contrast, the Finns are slightly more reserved and small talk isn’t used frequently.
University life also differs a bit: Due to the vast distances in Finland, it is quite common that students have never met in person. Hence, teaching and group work is mostly done digitally.
During teamwork, responding to the different characteristics of each team member is just as important as bringing your own point of view into discussions. Surprisingly, many Finns study German as a minor subject. This made teamwork for me and my fellow Finnish classmates even more exciting.
Close connections to Finnish businesses
The exchange between students, teachers and professionals is important at Finnish Universities. Therefore, an essential part of the courses was the cooperation with local companies. To give you an example, we visited one of the biggest board game manufacturers in Europe and various start-ups.
In the context of responsible business, we visited a nuclear power plant which was a personal highlight of mine. Here, an exciting discussion between students from Finland, Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands broke out. After all, each country has different policies on the energy industry and climate protection. It was interesting to get to know the diverse backgrounds and personal points of views.
This also shows the unique nature of international courses: The respectful exchange with each other and learning from different points of views can be put into a European context which unites us all. 
International Management - A personal development that will shape your future
I believe, acquiring these skills will help you anywhere in life, especially when working in a multinational context. Understanding the various aspects of international teams and societies will enable you to make thoughtful, responsible decisions.
I can only heartily recommend that you also do a semester abroad.
“No matter where you go in the world, you will learn a lot about yourself and develop a more wholesome understanding of others.”
You will get to know people who will accompany you through an exciting time and friendships will develop beyond borders.
What will the future hold?
I have taken the Finns and the Northern European mentality so much to heart that I can imagine gaining a career in this region. Be it in management consulting or retail - maybe I will soon report as FWW Alumna from Helsinki, Stockholm or Copenhagen.
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Thank you, Saskia, for these insights into your experiences on international management as a student abroad.
Have you had similar experiences to Saskia or was your international exchange very different? Let us know your thoughts in an e-mail to malvina.liedtke@ovgu.de.