Porträt-Serie: Internationale Begegnungen an der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät

WiWi Fakultät: What was your motivation to spend a semester abroad in Germany?

Ecem: Recommendation by a friend of mine who spent a year at the University of Würzburg. I wanted to learn German, too. I study Management Engineering and Germany seemed to me to be a perfect country to go for my ERASMUS year. There is a broad offer on English lectures at the Faculty of Econmics and Business Management and it was an important point for me while selecting the destination for my studies abroad.

WiWi Fakultät: Why did you choose the University of Würzburg?

Ecem: Recommendation of my friends who were very satisfied with the city, the social atmosphere, and the university. From the very beginning, I knew I want to study in Würzburg.

WiWi Fakultät: What cultural differences have you noticed so far?

Ecem: I feel more free as a person e.g. doing sports. People respect the rules here, more than in Turkey. In the daily life the Germans are not as polite as the Turkish though, but they are definitely more professional.

WiWi Fakultät: What will be the advantages of your stay in Germany?

Ecem: I come out of my comfort zone and everything is different here. I am trying to survive. I learn how to be more professional, since it is a different, more efficient working style. In case I want to work outside of Turkey in the future, I have to know different cultures and languages.

WiWi Fakultät: How was the assistance by our university/faculty before and during your stay?

Ecem: The Buddy Programme is a great thing. My friend (my personal buddy) helped me a lot with organisational issues at the beginning of my stay. The WhatsApp group with all the international students and buddies is a good way to get in touch with new people. The welcome session at the first day of the semester was very important, I saw all the other international students, the university building, the departmental coordinator and Professor Fehr – all that gave me a real idea of how a “normal” semester would look like.

WiWi Fakultät: Which experience have you particularly enjoyed so far?

Ecem: I travelled to Kassel and visited an art museum. It was an unforgettable moment in spite of the pandemic!

The Weinwanderung in October was a great experience, too. I acquainted many students there and now I feel that I am a part of a community.