Master’s Program Students in “Electronic Business and Digital Innovations” Attend Summer Schools
Darya Sopotko
, second-year master’s student in “Electronic Business and Digital Innovations” attended the NEMO Summer School at the University of Vienna
Innovations” attended the NEMO Summer School at the University of Vienna
"At the start of the third module, our academic supervisor sent out information about available mobility programs and summer schools. I wanted to join an exchange program for a long time, so choosing the right program became a priority for me. My main criteria were timing, country, and program focus. I needed to fit within a two-week work vacation, avoid exam dates at the university, and strengthen my skills in IT and e-commerce.
I chose the NEMO Summer School in Business Informatics, which took place from July 15 to 26 at the University of Vienna. Most lectures were dedicated to developing and implementing corporate digital twins and ecosystems based on conceptual modeling methods. Leading experts in this field came from around the world to share insights and demonstrate how these methods are applied in their home countries.
I especially enjoyed the program’s hands-on activities, where we developed a group project in conceptual modeling. Our team created a model of a smart home with specialized sensors connected to a computer to understand the IoT’s functionality, and we proposed a model for a smart city using drones as food delivery devices. My teammates were kind and responsive. Fortunately, everyone spoke English at a high level, making communication easy and clear. Interestingly, most of our group were graduate students, so interacting with professionals in this field was doubly valuable for me.
Our group stayed in a small hotel about a 30-minute walk from the university in a residential part of the city. Classes were held daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., leaving little time for sightseeing. To my surprise, all museums, shops, cafes, and shopping centers in Austria close at 7:00 p.m. on weekdays, and on Sundays, almost everything is closed except for gas stations. I decided to dedicate Saturday entirely to sightseeing in Vienna and Sunday to a road trip to explore more of the country.
Reflecting on the trip, I can say it was an incredible experience that gave me insight into European education, improved both my conversational and academic English, and provided new knowledge in conceptual modeling, which I applied in practice. I am very grateful to the university for the new friends and this opportunity!"
Olga Sidorova
second-year master’s student in “Electronic Business and Digital Innovations” attended the AEMS Summer School at BOKU University in Vienna
“I had a wonderful three weeks studying in the Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems (AEMS) program at BOKU University in Vienna. The course covered various approaches to sustainable development and reducing the environmental impact of economics, including the circular economy, the economy of the common good, and the concept of universal basic income. The program also included project management lectures, and we worked in teams on our own sustainable development projects throughout the summer school.
Additionally, the program featured extracurricular activities—panel discussions, movie screenings, and sports outings. The summer school brought together participants from all over the world, and the new friendships and cultural immersion were some of the main values I took away from this experience.”
Ramina Nurmukhametova
second-year master’s student in “Electronic Business and Digital Innovations” attended the AEMS Summer School at BOKU University in Vienna
“In July 2024, I went to Vienna to participate in the Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems (AEMS) summer school at BOKU University. It was an intense three weeks filled with studying, traveling, and new friendships. The course included five modules: Foundations and Nature; Finance and Money; Economics with Social and Environmental Values; Socio-Ecological Transformation; and Conclusions.
The program content was very diverse. In addition to lectures and interactive seminars at BOKU University, there were many off-campus activities, including sports nights, panel discussions, a visit to the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in the suburbs of Laxenburg, and opening and closing ceremonies. While the topics of sustainability and environmental issues aren’t close to my area of expertise, it was interesting to learn the basics from experts, and in challenging areas, there was always support from faculty or classmates.
Even though classes took up most of the time (with a 9-to-5 schedule, five days a week), I managed to spend some time traveling. The school community was incredibly diverse, yet friendly, open, and welcoming. In total, around 20-30 countries were represented, which made this trip even more special, as it’s not every day that you have the chance to chat with people from so many countries, learn about their cultures, and share experiences. Incidentally, our communication chat is still active, as people continue sharing interesting materials.
What’s especially nice to realize is that international mobility interests not only me but also my fellow students from our “Electronic Business and Digital Innovations” program. My friend and groupmate Olga Sidorova joined me for the three weeks (we only learned that we’d both applied for the program after our applications were approved!). Meanwhile, another of our classmates, Darya Sopotko, was also in Vienna, attending a summer school with a different focus.
Of course, studying abroad is more challenging in 2024, but there are no strict restrictions or prohibitions, and everything is possible with determination. All the effort was worthwhile, and despite the difficulties, I wholeheartedly recommend considering international mobility.”
