“It has been a great learning experience for me” – Gazi Jahan’s experiences on studying International Business and Logistics
In 2013, electrical engineer Gazi Jahan moved from Bangladesh to Finland to pursue a master’s degree in Business and Technology in the Tampere University of Technology (now Tampere University). After graduation, he worked with several projects, focusing on business development and marketing communications.
He first heard of the International Export Competence programme (now International Business and Logistics) through a Facebook group. After researching the programme deeper, he decided to apply as its themes seemed relevant to his career path. And he hasn’t regretted that decision:
– The topics covered during the programme were contemporary, focused on up-to-date features and emphasised on practicalities, Gazi describes.
The International Export Competence programme offered Gazi an opportunity to regain and deepen knowledge and skills from his previous studies and work experience. International export-import related terms and conditions, documentation preparation and handling, payment methods, cultural dimension models and market analysis framework building are some examples of topics he enjoyed learning more about.
The teaching methods of the programme include different demonstrations, hands-on practising and group work. Gazi tells that these methods supported his learning journey well:
– The demonstration was prioritised in certain topics which I enjoyed the most and it allowed me to broaden my perspective. On top of that, I enjoyed the multicultural group works and I believe it made a positive impact on bonding relationships among the participants.
The only complaint he has about the programme is that the participants were not given enough time for adopting the Finnish language studies included in the programme. The language skills were taught in a grammar-driven way, and for those who had no previous knowledge of the grammatical rules, the pace was too fast.
One aspect of the studies is also to network with the multicultural student group studying in the programme. Gazi tells that the versatile group treated each other with respect. Working together was easy and even friendships were made.
Good group spirit was needed when the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly disrupted the programme. Both the study methods and the students’ plans for applying internships and new job positions changed almost overnight.
– Initially, it was challenging to adopt the new learning environment and it took some time to get adjusted. Moreover, this global pandemic caused businesses to shrink their operation, which badly affected finding work placement opportunities, Gazi tells.
However, Gazi himself has been successful with finding an internship for himself. He is currently working as an intern in Geneset Powerplants Oy. He is doing meaningful work for himself and for the employer, as his responsibilities include generating prospective leads in a new market, finding new sourcing opportunities, conducting marketing communications and creating and updating materials for external communication.
Gazi’s future goal is to find a permanent position where he can bring value to the company and make an impact on their daily operations. The International Export Competence programme has been a good stepping stone in his path toward this.
– Throughout the programme, it has been a great learning experience for me.
Are you interested to participate in the International Business and Logistics programme?
The application period is on now!