Matthias Hubatschek is an IE University student in the Business Administration program, currently doing an IEU exchange at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. Thanks to our vast and prestigious network of partner institutions, all IEU students are eligible to participate in IEU’s exchange programs as a way to complement their academic studies with a meaningful, international experience.
We sat down with Matthias to discuss his time abroad at the University of St. Gallen.
Why did you decide to participate in the IEU exchange program?
Having lived in many different places all around the world, including London, New York, Seoul, and Boston, I’ve gained exposure to different cultures in different ways. In my opinion, going abroad and leaving your comfort zone is essential when it comes to developing personal skills and a global consciousness.
It was very important for me to have this kind of international mobility within my studies. This has always defined my individual career path and I wanted to keep this level of internationality. This was one of the main reasons that drove me to transfer to IE University in 2014.
IEU provided me with the global approach I was looking for. As a result of this, I’m currently doing an IEU exchange at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland and after that, I will do another exchange at St. Petersburg University in Russia, before finishing my studies with one last semester at IEU’s Madrid campus.
What are the main advantages of living abroad?
It’s all about the interpersonal experiences. Having to deal with a broad variety of people from different cultures and backgrounds allows you to empathize and explore new perspectives. It also prepares you to handle different mindsets in a professional setting, like coworkers and bosses.
This is something only taught outside the classroom, and IE University perfectly captures this with their International Mobility department, which distinguishes IEU from many other universities throughout Europe and the world.
Everyone at IEU works hard to ensure that students have their desired individual and international experience. This is also an aspect that in my opinion differentiates IEU from the rest.
Why did you choose the University of St. Gallen?
The University of St. Gallen is considered one of the best universities for business administration in Switzerland, and is ranked among the best universities worldwide. Their Master’s Degree in Management is ranked first in the world according to the Financial Times 2015 ranking.
As I am of German origin (and after all the time I’ve spent abroad) it was important for me to have a university experience close to home. St. Gallen is about 3 hours away from my hometown by car.
In my opinion, this quaint town is a good alternative to the fast-paced life and distractions of big cities, which makes it an ideal place for self-development. I really enjoy their efficient academic approach, with a spring semester that goes from February to May.
Classes are challenging, fast-paced, and get straight to the point. The professors are experts in their field, and are able to explain complex underlying concepts in an accessible manner.
What advice would you give to future exchange students?
Gain as much international experience as you can in the form of exchange semesters or even doing internships abroad. Try to diversify your insights, as you would diversify the risk of your investment portfolio. The best investment you can make, which is not affected by any market risk, is the investment in your own skills. So get out there!
Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions with us. If you would like to learn more about our IEU exchange programs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at university@ie.edu.
**Special thanks to Matthias Hubatschek who helped us write this post!