Twenty-two MBA and three undergraduate students from SBM went for a one-week Business Study Tour (BST) in Leipzig, Germany during 22th to 26th August, 2016. This activity wasco-organized by SISU SBM and Leipzig Graduate School of Management (HLL Leipzig),Germany. Ms Deng Shasha, a young lecturer from SBM, also joined the group.
This study tour centered around the topic of Industry 4.0. Through interaction and discussion, attending lectures and visiting enterprises, the 25 students experienced an excellent borderless communication. HHL has thoughtfully organized multiple subjects and activities for the students, including lectures given by learned professors, which covered a wide range of topics like Germany economic system, management and innovation on supply chain in industry 4.0 era, scenario strategy planning, etc. The professors encourage students to speak out in the class so that they can learn something new by sharing their thoughts with classmates and teachers. These classes extended international awareness for the participants. Gaining the first-hand management concept, especially Germanic Industry 4.0 concept, highly revitalized their mentality.
Besides theoretical studies, the students were also offered a chance to visit some German companies. During the visit, they had a close observation into how different enterprises operate under Industry 4.0 conditions, and held a deep talk with the workers and managements. SpinLab, a base for start-up businesses, and Lecturio, a successful creative company, provide them with the perspectives of how the small and medium startups in Germany develop and contribute to the society using all sorts of resources, and how startups’ social responsibilities are closely related to their developing opportunities. Meissen, the German porcelain brand with a history of 300 years, amazed the students with its outstanding skills, and gave them a direct experience of their German craftsmanship. The differences between BMW and Porsche factories, which are both local Leipzig companies, impressed the students most. BMW factory uses highly automated production lines, with Kuka Robots everywhere, while Porsche factory uses mainly manual assembly, which integrates harmoniously with advanced technology. These impressive differences made the students realize that Industry 4.0 is not merely about pursuing high automation, but about discovering how to make full use of human intelligence and passion under the extreme convenience and efficiency of the automated equipment. This certainly represents a crucial problem for managers of the new generation.
The five-day BST not only benefited the students a lot on business management study, but also impressed them with German culture featuring serious and strong characteristics, adventurous and inventive spirits, and passionate and straightforward personalities. Meanwhile, the students also impressed the German professors with their active participation in class and brilliant performances. After the course project, HHL held a brief but formal certificate conferring ceremony. The leaders in HHL highly praised their performances, and presented each student with a participation certificate and a college souvenir. Ms. Deng, on behalf of SISU SBM, expressed appreciation of HHL for all their tentative efforts during this study trip.
Established in 1898,Leipzig Graduate School of Management(HLL Leipzig)is the oldest business college in German-speaking countries, and also the first private college ever to be entitled as university in Germany. It is the first private business college certified by AACSB. Its MBA program ranks top 10 on the global level, and has a high ranking in Germany as well. With the support of both universities, SISU SBM has already signed an agreement with HLL Leipzig, making each other an important strategic partner, and initiated cooperation on talents cultivating, discipline construction and faculty resources exchange. SISU SBM has selected 2 bachelor students to join a double degree program in HLL Leipzig, which will undoubtedly extend mutual cooperation.
