A stepping stone for your dream career

Why did you enter the SIBE program at Voith?

After completing my bachelor's degree, I wanted to start my career but at the same time continue my academic education. Therefore, I aimed at doing a part-time or job-integrated master's degree. Thanks to a working student job at Voith back in 2018, I was already familiar with the company and the internal training opportunities. I had a great time as a working student then, and during joint coffee and lunch breaks, my former colleagues suggested that the SIBE program at Voith was the right fit for me.

How did you come across Voith and your position?

Living in a town close to Heidenheim, Voith was known to me as an employer for a while. I ultimately found both my working student position as well as my SIBE position through the career website.

Why did you choose the International Management program?

The two degrees that can be obtained within only two years were especially attractive to me. After completing the SIBE program, you can hold both a German Master of Science in International Management and an international Master of Business Administration (MBA). I also think that international cooperation is becoming increasingly important in the course of globalization. The Covid-19 pandemic additionally shows that it is often necessary to communicate and interact across national borders in order to tackle a situation in the best possible way. The degree program provides me with a good basis for that.

How is the program structured and what is your position at Voith during your program?

As already mentioned, the program provides you with a double degree. For this reason, I attend the lectures for the Master of Science at the Steinbeis School of International Business and Entrepreneurship and the courses for the MBA at a Brazilian partner university. All lectures take place as multi-day block seminars approximately every four to six weeks. The seminars at the Brazilian university, where there is usually also a three-week stay abroad, complete the program for the MBA. At Voith, I work as an HR Business Partner and assume an advisory role for managers and employees in the company.

What are the responsibilities of your position?

I support managers and employees from different departments; our team is responsible for engineering and sales. Whenever personnel changes such as hires, relocations or organizational changes occur, it is the job of an HR Business Partner to advise and support employees and managers in the name of the company. Changes in personnel policy must then be coordinated with the works council. You could say that my tasks consist of consulting managers when HR questions arise while representing the company’s interests and adhering to the HR policy.

Which of your hobbies/traits also help you at work?

Due to my former deployment in the German Bundeswehr, I would describe myself as very disciplined, which benefits me when it comes to showing readiness and initiative during my SIBE studies. In addition, my biggest hobby, boxing, figuratively gives me the necessary striking power in asserting interests and discussions. Finally, my openness towards new situations, people and tasks has proven very helpful in both my studies and my job.

What networking opportunities are there for SIBE students at Voith?

About every two weeks there are shared SIBE student lunch breaks. In addition, exchanges on lecture contents and assignments take place on a shared drive. From time to time there are also joint events or dinners where contacts can be established. Two other SIBE students are assigned to neighboring departments of mine, which means that we foster a lively exchange and sometimes work on joint topics.

What do you like most about your SIBE studies?

What I like most about the SIBE studies is that I can assume responsibility within the company. Being able to continue my academic education while working in a full-time job is ideal in my eyes. During the studies, the focus on competency development stands out to me. Seminars are held to develop and refine your personal competencies and soft skills. This is rather uncommon for a degree program, but the targeted focus on personal development is an absolute enrichment in my opinion.

What should interested students bring to the table for this study program? To whom would you recommend the SIBE program?

Motivation, willpower and discipline are qualities that are often demanded in the program. I see the greatest challenge in the self-organization aspect, i.e., separating the study program and work from each other while achieving the necessary performance in both. Additionally, you should have good English skills, as many of the seminars are held in English. In general, I would recommend the program to anyone who is interested in starting a career directly after graduating with a bachelor's degree but does not want to forego further academic education.

What are your plans after graduating?

For me personally, there are two possibilities on how to continue after my SIBE studies. On the one hand, I can imagine starting as a professional, i.e., becoming an HR Business Partner and assuming further responsibility. On the other hand, I am interested in going even further in my academic career and aiming for a PhD.

What other advice would you give to future SIBE students?

If you are interested in pursuing the SIBE program, I would advise you to definitely take the plunge. There is a great network. Be open-minded and ask questions; there will always be people supporting you!

Why did you enter the SIBE program at Voith?

Before I started my SIBE studies, I had already completed an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk. Afterwards, I obtained my university entrance qualification and completed my bachelor's degree in business psychology. A regular full-time master's degree was not an option for me. However, I found the project-focused model of the SIBE program very interesting, as you can be a full member of both the company and your team during the two-year degree program. In my opinion, the study program is a great combination that ideally promotes both further education and professional experience.       

How did you come across Voith and your position?

Voith is a global company that serves various markets and offers a broad product portfolio. Innovations and new technologies have a high priority in the company, which especially appealed to me as a newcomer. Coming from the Ostalb region, I have known of Voith for a while. After graduating in business psychology, I liked the idea of working for a while in order to reorient myself. This is why I started working in the university programs team at Voith for nine months. My time there led to my start as a SIBE student at the company.

Why did you choose the International Management program?

The focus of my business psychology bachelor’s was on the areas of human resources and consulting, so you can say I specialized in these fields. With the SIBE degree in International Management, I hope to broaden my knowledge and qualifications. I believe more and more all-rounders are wanted, with prior knowledge in as many different areas as possible. In the future, I see myself working for a large company like Voith that has a global presence and works together across different continents. That is why I also liked the international nature of the master's program.

How is the program structured and what is your position at Voith during your program?

Currently, my studies consist of units on the so-called e-campus, which are approached in an independent manner. Additionally, there are virtual live seminars. On the one hand, studying at SIBE aims at developing your skills and personality further. Through the seminars and the support provided by your business mentor, you can specifically identify your own potentials and thus develop your competencies. On the other hand, there is a lot of project-related work, in which you prepare scientific project papers as your exams, as well as taking on the management and advancement of your own projects in the day-to-day business. In my role as a Junior Global HR Project Manager at Voith Paper, I have the additional opportunity to look at my daily projects from a theoretical perspective.

What are the responsibilities of your position?

I support my team on various topics. For example, we review M&A projects at Voith Paper and see whether there is a good fit from an HR perspective. We also prepare reports and deal with the topics of leadership, culture and talent management. My project, which I am also working on at SIBE, is the development and support of future talent pipelines at Voith Paper.

Which of your hobbies/traits also help you at work?

As a member of a band, I take over many organizational and structural responsibilities. Self-organization and time management are also very important during the SIBE program, which is why these experiences from my private life have often proven helpful in my studies as well as my job.

What networking opportunities are there for SIBE students at Voith?

There is a well-maintained SIBE student network at Voith, through which joint lunch breaks are organized. Additionally, there is a regulars’ table, in which DHBW students and interns can also participate. This makes it possible to exchange ideas across universities and meet lots of new people. In my position, I am also well connected within the HR organization at Voith.

What do you like most about your SIBE studies?

In general, I think the combination of studying and working is great, because you can directly apply the knowledge and ideas you gain in your studies in practice. Another advantage is that you are in contact with different companies and personalities during your studies and can thus expand your professional network. My area at Voith is also globally oriented, meaning I communicate with colleagues from North and South America, China and many other countries and regions. In addition, the SIBE program is one of the few opportunities to obtain an MBA without having to have at least three years of professional experience.

What should interested students bring to the table for this study program? To whom would you recommend the SIBE program?

You should definitely be open to new people and new projects in order to benefit from the SIBE program. Perseverance is also required, as the career-integrated model naturally represents double the workload. Of course, you should also have the necessary ambition and discipline since much of the work must be done self-sufficiently. This also means that good time management and organizational skills are a must. Depending on the position, further requirements might be demanded from those interested.

What are your plans after graduating?

I would very much like to stay at Voith after my studies, preferably here in HR, but I will also remain open to other potential areas. I would love to continue my work in talent management and thus work on a very project-oriented basis. That offers a lot of variety, and I have the feeling that I can leave a lasting mark on the company.

What other advice would you give to future SIBE students?

I would like to point out to future SIBE students that the study model offers a lot of advantages, including a great preparation for your professional career path afterwards. However, you should still be aware of the high workload. We often outgrow ourselves with new tasks and from a professional perspective, but the SIBE program is worthwhile in any case!

Why did you choose to start a DHBW degree program at Voith?

The advantage of doing a DHBW program instead of studying at a normal university is the alternation between three-month practical experience phases and theoretical phases. This gives me the opportunity of gaining practical, on-the-job experience in addition to the courses I take at DHBW. I chose Voith as my dual studies partner because, as one of the largest technology companies in the region, it affords me many exciting opportunities to look behind the curtain. I also think the company's international reach is very impressive.

Why did you choose this particular degree program?

My degree program is called Business Administration — International Business. One part of the program's curriculum covers subjects such as economics, business administration and marketing. The other part comprises subjects like "Principles of International Business" and "Intercultural Competences." This means the material is very multifaceted and rich in variety. The degree program also gives students the option of spending one or more semesters abroad, which is a great opportunity for me personally!

What skills or attributes should someone have if they are interested in this program?

Since 50% of the lectures are held in English, students should have a good level of English. Of course, perfect "Oxford English" is not required. From my own experience, I can say that you will get the hang of it and that your language skills will improve quickly over the course of your studies. Since the program has a large international component, you should also be open-minded and interested in other cultures and people from other parts of the world.

What was it like for you to start at Voith?

During the orientation week at Voith, all the dual-track students got to know each other initially. We were all a bit nervous at first, of course, but we soon realized that we had no reason to be. The atmosphere was easygoing and pleasant. I was also given a very warm welcome in my first department, and whenever I had questions, my mentor was always ready to help me.

To which departments have you been assigned so far, and what have your tasks been?

I spent my first practical phase in the "Diversity & Inclusion" division, a subdivision of the Human Resources (HR) department. My tasks in that department were mostly related to projects. For example, I was allowed to help plan the German Diversity Day 2020 that we celebrate at Voith.

What would you like to do after completing your degree?

Since I am in my first semester right now, I don't have any concrete plans for what I will do after getting my degree. We are expected to choose an area of specialty starting with our 5th semester. And after completing my bachelor's degree, there is also the possibility of doing a part-time master's degree program while working at Voith. I will ask other Voith students for their advice to help me figure that out because you can always compare notes with the other students you get to know while working at Voith.

What fascinates you the most about your studies?

Before I began my studies, I was not aware that there are more than 3000 types of paper. And most of them are part of our daily lives – take toilet paper for example.

Throughout the Bachelor of Engineering in Paper Technology, we learn about the entire paper manufacturing process as well as the machinery involved. Just to get an understanding of how complex this process is, these machines can be several hundred meters long, have more integrated circuits than an airplane and work at speeds of up to 120 km/h. But beyond looking at where the industry is now and the current state of the art, the study program also delves into what is awaiting us in the future. I can’t describe how exciting it is!

Why did you choose to start your career at Voith as part of a dual studies program?

The idea of gaining hands-on experience while completing my studies has always appealed to me, so it was an easy decision to make. It was by chance that I stumbled upon Voith, a family-owned company that impressed me with its employee-friendly, forward-thinking profile. Voith also operates in a sustainable, environmentally positive way that to me is very important. Because of the company’s international focus, we also have the opportunity to gain experience abroad, an unmistakable advantage in today's globalized world.

What have you enjoyed the most during your studies so far?

The best experience I’ve had during my studies was a trip to Brazil where I was able to work directly on a machine. It allowed me not only to observe the machine from a theoretical standpoint, but to experience the machine at work and above all in real time. My stay in Brazil was an important step forward as it allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.

How is the study-work program structured and what have been your tasks to date?

The dual studies program is constructed in blocks. We spend around three months at the Duale Hochschule in Karlsruhe where the students studying paper technology spend their time at the Paper Center in Gernsbach. The following three months are spent in-company. During the theoretical block in the first year of study, we take core subjects such as math, introduction to electrical engineering and communication. The first practical blocks are primarily spent writing a report on our tasks as well as getting to know other areas that are not included in the course, or accompanying colleagues on customer visits. In the second and third years, the theoretical blocks deal with the processes of paper manufacturing from the production of pulp to finishing. During the practical blocks we take on projects assigned to us by our company. Only the scope of the project is defined – for the rest, the sky is the limit! To wrap things up, we write a bachelor thesis, which is often done within the same department that we will be employed in.

Find out more about Karim Haikal and the dual studies in Gernsbach!