Dear Reader,

Welcome to the March edition of the SIMT newsletter.

In this issue we report on the recent event 'Stuttgart Meets Mumbai' in India, as well as inform you about the recent news and upcoming events. We also feature an interview with one of the SIMT Part-time MBA Program students, nearing the end of the program.

Thank you for subscribing to our bi-monthly information service.

Best regards,

SIMT Business School

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SIMT MARCH 2007 NEWSLETTER

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Contents

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I. Top Event in India: 'Stuttgart Meets Mumbai'

From 27-30 January 2007, SIMT were in India as part of the event 'Stuttgart Meets Mumbai' organised by the Honorary Consulate for India in Stuttgart. More than 45 delegates from Stuttgart, accompanied by the Honorary Consul for India for Baden-Württemburg and Rheinland-Pfalz, Mr Andreas Lapp, traveled to India for this event. 

SIMT gave several presentations during the event, which spanned over three days. Each evening over 500 guests attended the events, including representatives of many India companies as well as German companies with subsidiaries in India, many potential MBA candidates and people from politics.

On the Sunday evening event, SIMT were delighted that Padmashree Dr S.B. Mujumdar, the President and Founding Director of Symbiosis group, SIMT?s partner in Pune, India, gave a welcome speech. Dr Mujumdar spoke about his vision of the need and importance of internationality in education.

Following the successful 3 day 'Stuttgart Meets Mumbai' event, SIMT were fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Pune with a small delegation, including Honorary Consul Mr Lapp, for a one day forum on January 30th. In Pune, the delegation were treated to a wonderful reception at the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD) campus attended by 200 SCMHRD students. During the forum, speeches were given by Professor Subramanian, Director of SCMHRD, Dr Mujumdar, Honorary Consul Mr Lapp, Professor M.B. Athreya of Symbiosis, as well as SIMT representative Mr Peter Greulich.

Prof. Athreya gave an especially interesting insight into the importance and role of family businesses in India and likened this to the role which German middle-sized companies play in the German economy.

The attendees were then addressed in English and in German by two SCMHRD students. To conclude the formal presentations, the audience was treated to a colourful and passionate performance of classical and South Indian Folk dance.

Plans are underway for a joint event in Stuttgart for later in the year.

L-R: Mr Andreas Lapp, Honorary Consul for India for Baden-Württemburg and Rheinland-Pfalz and CEO of Lapp Group in Stuttgart, Mr Peter Greulich from SIMT, and Professor M.B. Athreya of Symbiosis honouring Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, President and Founding Director of Symbiosis Group.

Symbiosis Campus in Pune, India

Dancers perfrom classical and South Indian Folk dance

In collaboration with Lapp Group, SIMT plan to offer an excellent opportunity for two outstanding candidates: The successful candidiates will become students of the MBA program at SIMT and secure a three year work contract with Lapp Group after graduation. Lapp Group are active worldwide with offices in Europe, North and South America, Asia and United Arab Emirates. Applicants will be selected by Symbiosis' management institute SCMHRD and SIMT. Top achievers (male / female), one with an university degree in industrial engineering and management and one with an university degree in business administration, looking for an international career with Lapp Group are encouraged to apply. For further information please contact Mr Peter Greulich via email or telephone +49 0711 451001-29. You may send your complete application via email both to SCMHRD's Managing Director Prof. K.S. Subramanian at director(at)scmhrd.edu and Mr Peter Greulich at greulich(at)uni-simt.de. Applications can be sent from now until 30th April 2007. Start of the MBA program is in September 2007.

II. News in Brief

NEW STAKEHOLDER FOR SIMT

Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Johann Löhn, President of Steinbeis University Berlin, is the new Chief Executive Officer of SIMT.

Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Johann Löhn, President of Steinbeis University Berlin and CEO of SIMT

For more detailed information on Steinbeis University Berlin please click on the following link: Steinbeis University Berlin (SHB) (site available in English).

III. Student Interview: Chandler Hall

Originally from Unionville, Pennsylvania in the USA, Chad Hall has been living in Germany for the last 6 years, working for DaimlerChrysler in Stuttgart and is currently on the brink of completing his Part-time MBA program in International Management.

Chandler Hall, SIMT MBA Class of 2007

1.What was your job/career situation when you decided to pursue an MBA?

I have been working for DaimlerChrysler in the same department for the last four years. Undertaking an MBA program seemed like a good opportunity to expand my horizons, both in the sense of being a fresh intellectual challenge and also in that it would give me the ability to network with people from a range of different industries.

2. Why did you choose SIMT?

There are a number or reasons I chose SIMT. The internationality at SIMT was one factor. The idea of interacting with students from all over the world appealed to me. The fact that SIMT offered a Part time program also made studying there ideal ? I did not want to quit my job and pursue full-time studies, so this option suited me perfectly. Lastly, the geographic location of SIMT was ideal, as family and work commitments ruled out studying anywhere too far from the Stuttgart region.

3. What are the best elements in the SIMT MBA program in your opinion? What impressed you most?

One of the elements that really impressed me is the quality of teaching by the faculty at SIMT. I expected that the professors would teach in the same way that they would normally teach their large undergraduate classes. In fact ,I was pleasantly surprised by the interactive and engaging teaching style adopted by my professors. Another key element for me was the international exposure. My Part-time MBA class was comprised of students from not only Germany but a number of different countries, such as Brazil, South Korea, Spain, Australia, France and Tunisia. In addition, I completed my Master?s thesis together with a Japanese full-time MBA student. That sort of international exposure is priceless. Lastly, the flexibility of the faculty and administration was very impressive. They were very accommodating and receptive to the needs of each individual and had a very customer-oriented focus.

4. How do you think the SIMT MBA will help in the development of your career?

More than just the knowledge I have gained, is the mindset ? studying has opened my eyes to other possibilities, teaching me to think differently. It has increased my flexibility and made me more open to other areas. Another specific way in which my MBA will be beneficial is in strengthening my communication skills ? we have had to give numerous presentations during the course of studies and I?m sure these skills will be invaluable to me in the future.

5. How would you sum up the experience of studying at SIMT?

As MBA programs are fairly new in Germany, you have the feeling of being something of a pioneer. Very few people in Germany are in the same situation. The program itself was demanding, full of camaraderie, sometimes stressful. Having said that, it I had the chance to do it all again I would. The whole experience broadens your horizons and in the case of a part-time program, allows all the benefits of a new, multi-cultural, challenging experience while still maintaining the security of having a job.

IV. Upcoming Events

SIMT Graduation Ceremony 2007

At the end of April the students of the Class of 2007 will receive their MBA degree and celebrate their graduation with family and friends.

Date: Friday, April 27, 2007

Event Venue: SIMT, Filderhauptstrasse 142, 70599 Stuttgart

Graduation Ceremony at SIMT in Stuttgart, Germany

The graduates of the Class of 2007 come from Australia, Bermudas, Brazil, Germany, El Salvador, France, Greece, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Philippines, Spain, South-Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Tunisia, and the United States of America.

For more detailed information and to register please see the following link: http://www.uni-simt.de/events.html