Adnan Murad

In 2015, I decided not only to undertake a Master’s, but to do it in a foreign country – I was eager both to further my education and to set myself a new challenge by expanding my personal horizons. From the start, Germany was the clear choice of study destination for me, as one of Europe’s strongest economies with a lot to offer to new arrivals who have the ambition to make something of themselves. In particular, I fell in love with Berlin, the focal point of Germany’s start-up and entrepreneur scene.

A new chapter at IU International University of Applied Sciences

Once settled in Berlin, I had various reasons for being interested in IU (formerly known as IUBH). I had some German, but my English was much better, so the fact that all the IU (formerly known as IUBH) study programmes were offered 100% through English was a major factor in my decision. I also liked the fact that, having completed a four-year Bachelor’s degree, I would be able to complete a Master’s at IU (formerly known as IUBH) in one year. Very enticing when you’re eager to make your next career move! Finally, what sealed the deal for me was the reputation of IU (formerly known as IUBH) as a state-accredited, highly-ranked private university with great professors and a diverse student body. I knew my career development deserved the best it could get.

Dedicated staff, international campus

I opted for the M.A. in International HR Management, as I’ve always believed that talented people are a company’s most valuable asset; managing these talented people is one of the key functions in any company. Studying at IU (formerly known as IUBH) turned out to be a fantastic journey. From the staff to the services on offer to the campus environment itself, everything was both professional and welcoming. My professors were especially memorable for the way they were able to efficiently synthesise theoretical knowledge with practical application. They organised workshops on us and brought us on field trips to see how the topics we were studying could be used in real-world situations – I especially enjoyed our outing to the offices of Accenture. (I’d like to give Prof Dr Malte Martensen a special mention for his support and dedication.) In addition to the academic side of things, the internationality of the campus atmosphere allowed me to build friendships with people from all over the world, learn about new cultures, and observe life from different perspectives.

Opportunities for today and ambitions for the future

After graduation, I secured my first recruiting role with Circ, an electric scooter company in Berlin. Straight away, I was able to apply what I had learned in IU (formerly known as IUBH) to my day-to-day job in the fields of CV screening, candidate assessment and interviewing. Today, I’m in proud to be in a new role as Talent Acquisition Manager at Honest Food Company in Berlin. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to explore a new industry and help the company scale up. All in all, I can say that studying at IU (formerly known as IUBH) was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It allowed me to develop professionally while also engaging with my personal passions for exploring new countries and cultures. That international ethos is one that has stayed with me, and my ambition for the future is to found my own recruiting company with a global outlook and offices across the world.