Johanna Niemeyer from Germany

Why did you choose the Master’s programme in Managing People, Knowledge and Change at Lund University?

"My decision to pursue the Master’s in Managing People, Knowledge and Change was an easy one; the composition of courses is unique, and the international atmosphere paired with high-quality education and the excellent academic reputation of the School of Economics and Management convinced me right away. As I aspire to start my professional career within management consulting, I wanted a programme that is intellectually challenging and examines relevant issues from multiple perspectives, while putting people in the center of attention.”
 
What is the teaching and learning style like?

“The teachers are enthusiastic about knowledge-sharing and highly qualified in their field of expertise. For me personally, an open and interactive teaching style creates an excellent basis to impart theoretical concepts while critically scrutinising them to a certain extent. The programme involves various group work projects in pairs and small teams where you get to work with a diverse group of great people throughout the year. The practical relevance is emphasised by inspiring guest lectures from practitioners, which complements regular lectures in a good way. Our examinations often involve two components: a team delivery, which is a written group assignment, sometimes paired with a presentation, as well as an individual contribution, which is a written ‘take-home’ exam, ranging from 3 to 5 days. Both examination forms involve the application of theory to practical cases and require us to critically question the standpoint presented in theory as well as our argumentation.”
 
How international was your batch? 

“On the first day of our programme, I was truly impressed by the diversity of cultural, professional and personal backgrounds. Our class united bright and ambitious people from 14 different nationalities and this enabled new perspectives and promoted stimulating discussions. In spite of this variety, it is great to see that we are all here because we share the same passion for people-related topics and work together towards a common goal.”
 
What was living in Lund like for you?

“Lund is a vibrant student city characterised by a broad range of activities offered by the nations and unions. As an active member of LundaEkonomerna, the business student union, I had the chance to make the utmost of my year in Lund. I got the opportunity to make an impact on educational developments, maximise my career prospects and make friends for life. Besides the extraordinary student life, Lund has a friendly atmosphere, with cosy cafes and many green spaces for recreational activities. Malmö and Copenhagen are easy to reach and great for a day trip. I can highly recommend Lund University to anyone who strives for an unforgettable student experience on a professional as well as personal level.”
 
What are you planning to do in the future? 

“I would like to pursue a career in the field of change management, organisational transformation and leadership, preferably within management consulting. After moving to four different countries over the last four years, I decided to return to Germany to start my first full-time job. Besides expanding my repertoire of change management methods and leadership strategies, my main takeaway from the programme is the importance of adopting a critical perspective and demonstrating reflexivity in all situations.”