Dear reader,

Welcome to SIMT's January email newsletter. In this edition you will find a portrait on Professor Dr. Karl-Friedrich Ackermann, new SIMT Managing Director, information on the SIMT Alumni Survey 2005, new Executive Education programs, portraits of SIMT students, and upcoming events.

This newsletter provides you with information on recent developments at SIMT, new programs, events and all other news. Thank you for subscribing to our free bimonthly information service.

Best regards,

SIMT Business School

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SIMT Newsletter | January 2006

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I. New SIMT Managing Director - Professor Dr. Karl-Friedrich Ackermann

Since the 1st of January Prof. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Ackermann, Head of the Chair of Human Resource Management of the Universität Stuttgart and Chairman of the Executive Board of his own consultancy ISPA Consult GmbH (Institut für strategische Personalführung und Arbeitszeitgestaltung), took the interim lead of SIMT. The Chairman of the SIMT Board of Trustees and Rector of the Universität Stuttgart, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dieter Fritsch, and the Chairman of the SIMT Board of Governors, Prof. J. Menno Harms, announced the change of the SIMT management.

The change of the SIMT management is a planned step of the integration of SIMT towards the Universität Stuttgart. Now the Universität Stuttgart is academically and operationally responsible for SIMT. Since August 2005 the external examination regulations are effective. The elite school SIMT is managed as the international business school of the Universität Stuttgart in cooperation with the Universität Hohenheim and the Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen since the 1st of September 2005. It is planned to complete the integration within the first months of the year 2006. With SIMT the Universität Stuttgart strengthens its cooperation with the economy, especially regarding advanced education for young professionals.

More detailed information on Prof. Ackermann

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II.  SIMT Alumni Survey 2005: MBA graduates are successful on the German and International job market

After graduating the chances of starting a career in a German and International corporation are excellent for the alumni of the Stuttgart Institute of Management and Technology (SIMT). This is the main result of the first SIMT Alumni Survey 2005. The SIMT MBA alumni of the Class of 2001 to the Class of 2005 took part in the survey.  

The result especially also underlines the advantage of studying at the location Stuttgart. The economy in the Stuttgart region offers the students perfect conditions for a later career. They already get in contact with their potential employer. While studying at SIMT the students also benefit from the German and International company network of the international business school.

74 % of the participating alumni received up to five job offers. 10 % received more than five job offers.

The MBA degree led to a significant increase of the average income of the SIMT alumni. This did not only affect the international alumni, who stayed in Germany but also those, who went back to their home countries in which the level of income is much lower.

29 % have an annual income from 40.000 to 60.000 Euro (before the MBA degree: 19 %) and 21 % earn yearly between 60.000 and 80.000 Euro (before the MBA degree: 10%). The annual incomes of the alumni range from more 80.000 Euro (10%) to less than 40.000 Euro (some 40%), whereas the income situation in the different parts of the world has to be considered.

Prof. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Ackermann, SIMT Managing Director and Head of the Chair of Human Resource Management of the Universität Stuttgart, emphasizes: "The result can be seen throughout positively." Ackermann refers to current studies on starting salaries of graduates, for example from the recruiting specialist alma mater. According to the Salary Survey 2005 of alma mater the average starting salaries of graduates vary from 35.000 to 39.000 Euro. But these numbers are only valid for the German market. The international SIMT MBA students benefit from already having approx. five years of work experience as well as a first university degree before starting to study in Stuttgart. At the beginning of their post-graduate studies at SIMT the full-time MBA students have an average age of 28 years. The average value of work experience and age is higher amongst the students of the part-time MBA programs.

The SIMT alumni mostly have a regular employment and often work for German companies in Germany or abroad. This is especially the case for those who graduated recently. They put in their knowledge and skills according to their first field of studies and work experience made before studying for a MBA at SIMT, for example as Product Manager, Sales Manager, Marketing Manager, Analyst, Purchaser, Logistic Manager, Controller, Manager Corporate R&D Planning, Manager Operations and Information Systems.

SIMT alumni are employed at international companies such as Accenture, Agilent, BASF, Behr, Bosch, Continental Teves, DaimlerChrysler, Danone, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank, Hewlett-Packard, IBM Deutschland, MGB Metro, Mitsubishi Fuso, Mittal Steel, Novartis, Philips Medical Systems, Porsche, Procter & Gamble, Samsung, Seiko, Siemens, Syngenta, T-Mobile, Trumpf und Union Investment.

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III. Human Resource Development at Behr - Business Management Program at SIMT

For the German company Behr GmbH & Co. KG, a systems partner of the international automobile industry, advanced education is indispensable for its employees. One instrument of the international corporation is a long-term Tailor-made Program for upper managers at the business school SIMT. The content of the program is developed in close consultation with Behr. The first part of the courses is on Controlling & Finance. Lecturers are renowned experts like Professor Dr. Péter Horváth, Professor Dr. Uwe Walz und PD Dr. Klaus Möller. The Behr Group is a specialist for automotive air conditioning and engine cooling systems. Group sales came to around 3 billion euro. Currently Behr employs 18,000 staff at ten development and 30 production sites worldwide.

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IV.   Leadership Excellence Program in English

In advanced training the Leadership Execellence Program is an important modul for managers responsible for employers. The program turns managers into socially competent and strategy orientated leaders. From May 15 until May 18 the first workshop of the Leadership Execellence Program in English will take place. The opportunity to register for this Executive Education program ends on March 10th.

For detailed information please go to the SIMT webpage. 

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V.  DAAD Award Winner - Ralph Heinze

In December 2005, Ralph Heinze was awarded a prize of 1000 Euro by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as the best foreign student at SIMT. This award honors his outstanding academic achievements. The German Academic Exchange Service is one of the world's largest and most respected intermediary organisations in its field. Scores of students, teachers, researchers and scientists supported by the DAAD have been able to gain valuable experience abroad.

Ralph Heinze is a 29 year old, high performance athlete from Mexico. He holds a Bachelor in Electromechanical Engineering from the Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City. Prior to joining SIMT he was working at a metal-mechanical manufacturing company as Technical Sub Director for three years. Before that he was employed at a German Pharma Company in Mexico.

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VI. Portrait of SIMT Exchange Student - Kirsten Karlen

In the spring of 2005, I elected to do the next term of my MBA abroad at SIMT, and now that the semester has come to an end, I can certainly say it was an excellent choice! I chose SIMT over a number of other attractive partner universities in Europe and Asia due to its wide array of courses, fabulous reviews from previous exchange students, and its location in Germany - a place that holds a certain fascination for me as both my parents have significant German heritages.

My first week, I had the advantage of taking part in orientation week with the incoming students, but taking all five of my core courses with the 2nd years, so I quickly met and got to know everyone. I was constantly thrilled at how nice, fun, and helpful both the students and staff were, and am eternally grateful to Sonja Schimmel in Student Affairs for all her help in getting adjusted and finding a suitable place to stay! As the semester progressed, I was very impressed with my courses, professors, and the truly multicultural environment at SIMT. The classes and profs were very interesting and I learned quite a bit not only about the topics themselves, but also about how they relate to a non-U.S. working environment. Between the professors' international experiences and the discussions in class involving students from all across the planet, I got a very multicultural perspective - key in today's global business environment.

Beyond academics, I was able to take short trips during weeks that were slower for me. A quick jaunt to Ireland, a drive through Switzerland and the Schwarzwald, and, of course, to Munich for Oktoberfest, where I met up with several other exchange students from Pepperdine for some mid-semester catching up. Additionally, the other U.S. students and I arranged a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner and party in November to share our tradition of eating turkey and hanging out with family and friends every fall. I have made some fabulous friends here - from Germany to Mexico, Indonesia to Bermuda - and I'm sure we will be keeping in touch both socially and in the business-networking sense for years to come!

All in all, I have had a wonderful time - both academically and socially - during my time here at SIMT. I'm very happy with my choice and will certainly go home and encourage more Pepperdine students to study abroad here in Stuttgart. And, I have encouraged several students at SIMT to try a term in California as well, to further solidify the SIMT-Pepperdine connection! There are certainly worse things in life than a summer in Malibu, CA...  

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VII.  Upcoming SIMT Events

SIMT Info Session

Once a month the SIMT opens its doors to everyone interested in the MBA program - full-time, part-time. 

On Thursday, January 26, 2006, 6.00 p.m. the next Info Session will feature:

*Welcome by SIMT Managing Director

*An overview of the MBA programs, including course content, admissions requirements and the advantages of studying for your MBA at the SIMT

*Presentation by current SIMT MBA student or alumni

*Questions and answers

The MBA courses are taught in English. SIMT students benefit from close partnerships with renowned global companies and universities worldwide.

 Event Venue: SIMT, Filderhauptstrasse 142, 70599 Stuttgart

e-mail us to register for this event

SIMT at the World MBA Tour

Use the opportunity to get in touch with the SIMT representatives at the World MBA Tour and discuss your next education and career steps.  Please select your perferred city and register for the fair:

*Frankfurt - Saturday, March 4, Hilton

*Sofia - Wednesday, March 15, Kempinski Hotel Zografski

Further dates will follow soon. Check the SIMT event site regularly for the latest dates.

SIMT at the Career Days in Prague

The Career Days are an opportunity for students to meet SIMT and Trumpf, and to improve their potential on the labour market and start their career. Ín March SIMT respresentatives will inform you on the MBA programs and career perspectives.

Date: Wednesday, March 01 - Thursday, March 02, 2006

Event Venue: Praque Congress Centre

Kiel Institute for World Economics

On January 30, 2006 SIMT hosts a high-ranked symposium of the Kiel Institiute for World Economics on the topic "Subventionen in Deutschland: Sackgasse oder Ausweg für ein Hocheinkommensland in der globalen Arbeitsteilung?"

More detailed information: Kiel Institute for World Economics

Arbeitskreis Personal

On February 24, 2006 the Arbeitskreis Personal will meet at the SIMT. At this exclusive event 30 CEOs and Human Resource Manager will discuss latest trends and facts of Human Resource Management.

More detailed infromation: Chair of Human Resource Management of the Universität Stuttgart

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