A dual study program at COViS offers much more than just lectures and work experience—it provides exciting opportunities to gain international experience and think outside the box. Our dual student, Van Hung Tran, who is currently studying Business Informatics at the Steinbeis University, reports on his two-week stay at Jönköping University in Sweden. This part of his studies was not only an academic enrichment but also an exciting opportunity to explore new learning approaches and perspectives.
International Exchange as a Part of Everyday Work
In the daily routines of our dual students, there are numerous opportunities for international exchange—whether through projects with international teams or specific programs that complement their professional activities. For Hung, who is currently in the final phase of his bachelor's program and will soon write his thesis on the further development of our product, Bettertext, this was the perfect opportunity to gain new perspectives and ideas.
His stay at Jönköping University focused on two key topics: Business Management and Innovation and Technology. The university is renowned for its modern facilities and practice-oriented approaches, which help students apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios.
Business Management: Learning Through Simulation
In the Business Management course, Hung worked with an innovative software, Hubro Business Simulation, which simulated founding a company in a highly competitive market. The task: participants formed teams and were tasked with managing a company successfully, making decisions in areas such as marketing, development, and finance, and outperforming the competition with a set budget.
The simulation topic was the development and sale of jetpacks. Hung's team adopted a strategy to first develop a basic jetpack and later a sports model. They invested heavily early on to secure a competitive advantage but later realized they lacked the funds for marketing efforts, allowing some competitors to surpass them.
The goal of the simulation: participants learned to think strategically, operate in a dynamic market environment, and evaluate the impact of their decisions. Revenue was a target, but the primary evaluation was based on the detailed explanation of their approach.
Innovation and Technology: Creativity Meets Practice
In the second focus area, Innovation and Technology, creativity was key. The task was to develop and present a startup. Hung and his team came up with the idea of a company that simplifies the startup phase for other startups.
Business Model:
Unterstützung bei organisatorischen und rechtlichen Aufgaben.
Bereitstellung einer Website mit Leitfäden und personalisierter Beratung.
Finanzierung über prozentuale Anteile am Umsatz oder Eigentum.
Presentation: The concept was presented in a one-minute pitch and a more detailed five-minute presentation. Hung's team chose a humorous approach with real-world relevance, which impressed the jury. The result: their team won the competition for the best presentation and received a goodie bag from the university.
An Experience with Added Value
Hung describes the stay in Sweden as a "super educational week" with new learning approaches that are not commonplace in his studies. In addition to academic content, the weekend provided time to explore the region and make new connections. The costs for the stay were, of course, covered by COViS.
Why COViS Supports International Experiences
A dual study program at COViS combines practical experience with academic education—and international exchange complements this connection perfectly. Why? Because experiences like these promote personal and professional development, open new perspectives, and prepare students for the challenges of a globalized working world.
Through exchanges with other students, practice-oriented learning approaches, and the opportunity to develop and implement innovative ideas, our students gain valuable insights that they can directly apply to their work at COViS.
The study abroad experience in Sweden exemplifies how COViS supports and guides its dual students on their journey. The combination of theory, practice, and international experience is a core element of our training concept—and a real advantage for our future talents.
