OBJECTIVES

Participating in the International Winter School on "Digital Intelligence for the Common Good" at Institut Mines-Télécom Business School (IMT-BS), France, was an enriching and memorable experience.

This semester exchange program offered the perfect blend of academic learning, industry exposure, and cultural immersion, deepening my understanding of digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence, innovation, and the importance of developing a digital mindset.

The interactive sessions, engaging classroom discussions, and company visits to Orange Telecommunications, Mecalectro, and CNIL provided valuable practical insights, while collaborating with students from diverse backgrounds enhanced my global perspective and teamwork skills.

I sincerely thank SCMHRD for this incredible opportunity. My heartfelt gratitude to our director Dr. Akhil Damodaran sir, Dr. Gauri Joshi ma’am, Ms. Sharayu Wadhvekar ma’am, and the Symbiosis Centre for International Education (SCIE), especially Ms. Manasi Joshi, for their constant guidance and support.

Participating in the Summer School on Markets & Management in Europe at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin) was a transformative academic and cultural experience.

The program provided valuable insights into the European economy, competition policy, and contemporary business practices within the EU framework.

Through courses such as The EU – A Dynamic Economy and sessions on Sustainability and Green Mobility, I gained a deeper understanding of monetary union, fiscal policy, regulatory frameworks, and the real-world application of EU competition law.

Exploring Berlin’s rich history and engaging with students from more than 20 countries broadened my global perspective and strengthened my intercultural communication skills.

View Arju Gahane Experience

My name is Martin Thomas from Berlin, Germany. From August 2021 to April 2022, I studied at Symbiosis International University (SCMHRD) in the context of a Double Degree Program from my Home University BSEL (HWR Berlin). For two semesters, I was living and learning in Pune along with other students from my HR MBA.

Although all my classes were conducted online and most of the events on campus weren’t happening or conducted online, I still had a great time being here and met lots of people from my studies and Pune. Because of the online classes, I was able to travel a lot and see the beauty and diversity of India.

Some friends and my family were sceptical about my stay in India, as there are some prejudices and false ideas about India in Germany. These come from the little knowledge we have about the country. I learned a lot about a culture, lifestyles, and mindsets that never occurred to me in Europe. I can only encourage students, especially from western countries, to come to India and experience it first-hand. It is an eye-opening and life-changing possibility to travel to such a diverse and pluralistic country.

I want to thank especially the Symbiosis International Office and Symbiosis Society staff, who helped me to settle down, deal with all the administrative formalities, and solve all upcoming problems.

My summer story unfolds, revealing a tapestry of experiences that have forever changed me. I knew my summer exchange experience would be something special the moment I stepped onto the vibrant campus of the University of Liverpool. I had no idea that the next three weeks would be a blur of enriching academics, breathtaking adventures, and meaningful connections with students from all over the world.

The University of Liverpool's dedication to creating a welcoming and supportive environment was clear from the start. Student coordinators greeted us with warm smiles, making us feel at ease in unfamiliar surroundings. This instant connection paved the way for long-lasting friendships, not only among my fellow exchange participants, but also among the local students who were eager to share their culture and experiences.

The academic courses for exchange students were carefully curated to go beyond textbooks, fostering an environment of active engagement and experiential learning. The courses—Group Psychology, Business Strategy, and Contemporary Leadership—brought learning to life through hands-on activities and real-world applications, demonstrating the university's commitment to our holistic development.

View Navnidhi Nagar Experience

The International Business and Consulting master's program at The Berlin School of Economics and Law (BSEL) had two specialisation tracks - Strategy Track and Human Resources Track. Both have around 20 students each with some common courses and some specialisation-based courses. The entire group was fairly diverse with students from Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, Zambia, Malaysia, and India. Some of the common courses included Consulting Skills and International Project Management, while the specialized courses in the the HR track included Industrial Relations, Training and Development, Strategic Human Resource Management, Performance and Reward Management. The academic environment in master's programs in Germany is highly research oriented. Most courses involve thoroughly reading and discussing complex journal articles, evaluations also involve more academic writing over the duration of a course, rather than written examinations. Lectures are well planned and of rather long duration with many group discussions and presentations.

The teacher-student ratio being high in management programs, there is a great amount of interaction between all students and professors. There is a good amount of group work that involves presentations, academic papers, reports, student-led teaching/ training sessions, and other practical work. There is frequent contact with professors and peer evaluations to ensure high involvement of all members in a student group. During my two semesters at BSEL, which was essentially my first ear of MBA, I was able to collaborate with most of my colleagues there and now have a good network of future consulting and HR professionals, along with highly accomplished economics and management faculty. There were many accomplished program alumni who delivered guest lectures at the university and were happy to connect with us. There is a great amount of cooperation between all the public universities in Berlin.

View Shitij Mahajan Experience