You are the first students studying at International Business School in Vienna. It is approximately two months that you have been there, so I am very much interested in your first impressions, how you feel about your studying and living in Vienna.  But first, let me ask you about your motivations, what led you to choose to study at IBS Vienna?

Catherine: I have been raising children for the last ten years, so I was looking for a way of refreshing my skills, my major is Human Resources, and a master’s program seemed a good way to do that. Originally I come from Australia, I have been living in Europe for 12 years, including Vienna for 5 years; my husband is German. I wanted to study in my native language, that also means that I wanted to study in English not in German, which I could have done also, as chances are that we might move back to Australia at some stage. I also wanted to get a certificate that is recognized in Australia. I found a number of programs, and this one seemed to be very practical based, the module content seemed to be what I was interested in, and the schedule fitted  me well also. And of course, a British Certificate is highly recognized in Australia.

Milena: For me there were a couple of reasons why I chose to study in Vienna and this program. I was born in Serbia but I have been living in Canada for about 20 years. For the last 6 years I have been working for a Recruitment agency. I decided to take time off from work to pursue my studies further, as it was easier to focus on studies without commitment of work that kept me busy for about 40 to 45 hours a week. I chose the program in Vienna because my parents live here and I also wanted to experience more of Europe. Additionally, the program is in English and its duration is fantastic because I didn't have to be out of the job market for more than a year. Lastly, it is one of few master programs in Vienna that is recognized in Europe and North America and that offers Human Resources studies. I chose this field as my focus is in HR analysis and strategy and I feel that this program is in line with my interests and career goals.

Maria: I completed my BA studies in business in Vienna. It took me 5 years. So, I was looking for a program that does not last long and that does not take all of my time. These were my two crucial points. I am studying and working as well. I want to avoid the situation that I finish my studies at the age of like 26 without having any working experience. When I learnt about this option at an education fair, I almost thought that something was not right; it looked almost too good to be true.

In terms of the number of students at IBS Vienna, this is a small university program. How does size affect your studies, what kind of challenges, advantages do you see connected to the size of the academic program?

Catherine:  When I first studied, many years ago, I was one of 800 students in first year, I did not get to know everybody in the program, it was simply impossible. For me it is good that you can talk to a limited number of people - coming from different backgrounds - about what you do during the 6-8 weeks. Also, it is very intimate, we know what to expect, we know the deadlines and we get immediate answers. We also have more chances to participate. It is kind of a tutorial type of study. It is also very international and this is a huge plus for everybody. We have a Canadian, Australian, Croatian, Austrian, Ukrainian, Russian, Latvian, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, Hungarian person in the group. So ten participants represent almost ten cultures. To see the studying process, the application of knowledge and how these are connected to the different cultural backgrounds are very interesting as well.

Milena: I like that we have a very personal approach to teaching. It is almost like a mentorship program. If you have any questions or problems, the professors are very quick to help and offer further assistance. You just feel comfortable because it is such a small environment and we are all more like friends, it is not so formal as in a big class. Its easier to get to know one another and to feel more comfortable when talking about any challenges.

Maria: … and we all bring food and have some national dishes together.