Im Rahmen der Examensfeier der Wirtschaftswissenschaftlichen Fakultät am 07. Juni erhielten die Absolventinnen und Absolventen des vergangenen Wintersemesters bei einer feierlichen Zeremonie ihre Urkunden überreicht. Unter den rund 60 Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern waren auch zwei Absolventen und eine Absolventin des Double Degree Programms dabei.
Die Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät bietet insgesamt drei verschiedene Double Degree Programme an. Studierende des Masterstudiengangs International Economic Policy können einen Doppelabschluss mit der Universität Ghent oder der Universität Verona absolvieren. Für den Masterstudiengang Information Systems bietet die Fakultät einen Doppelabschluss in Kooperation mit der Universität Liechtenstein an.
Die drei Teilnehmer der Absolventenfeier waren Teil des Double Degree Programms mit der Universität Verona. Im Rahmen dessen erlangten sie die beiden Abschlüsse in International Economic Policy (M.Sc.) an der Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg und in Economics & Data Science (LM) an der Universität Verona. Das Programm gibt es seit dem Studienjahr 2021/22 und ermöglicht Studierenden nicht nur den Erwerb zweier Hochschulabschlüsse, sondern auch internationale Studienerfahrungen und persönliche Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten. Bewerben für das Double Degree Programm können sich alle zugelassenen Studierenden der Masterstudiengänge International Economic Policy und Information Systems.
Pietro Fassoli ist einer der Absolventen, die am 07. Juni ihre beiden Abschlüsse feierlich überreicht bekommen haben. Er ist 26 Jahre alt und kommt gebürtig aus Sona in Italien. Wir haben ihm ein paar Fragen zu seiner Studienzeit in Würzburg und Verona gestellt.
Wir bedanken uns ganz herzlich bei ihm für die Beantwortung der Fragen.
WiWi-Fakultät: How did you hear about the Double Degree Programme and why did you choose it?
Pietro Fasoli: I first heard about the double degree when I enrolled in Verona for my master’s degree. I then met the first double degree student from Würzburg, who spoke very well of the university and the city. I chose to pursue the double degree because the prospect of earning two degrees while experiencing life abroad deeply intrigued and excited me.
WiWi-Fakultät: What special experiences or adventures in Würzburg and Verona do you particularly remember?
Pietro Fasoli: There were many adventures, especially in Würzburg. It was my first time living abroad, so both the city parties and visiting Germany had a special flavor right from the start. As for Verona, I was born and lived there for 25 years, so it’s hard to pinpoint specific adventures.
WiWi-Fakultät: What was the biggest (cultural) difference between the semesters in Germany and those in Italy?
Pietro Fasoli: Not many, to be honest. Clearly, there are cultural differences, and the experiences at the universities are different, but they are much less than one might imagine.
Generally, it’s true that I’ve noticed my relationships with Germans are a bit more difficult at first compared to Italians, but the friendships I made in Germany have remained and deepened. As a somewhat introverted person, I might feel more comfortable with this type of friendship. At the same time, a major difference I found is the lower pressure and greater freedom, even at a social level, regarding the timing of studies. I think that in Italy, there is unnecessarily too much social pressure to finish studies and start working as soon as possible. In Germany, I found much more tranquility in this regard, which allowed me to face the challenges I had with greater serenity and to fully appreciate student life.
WiWi-Fakultät: Do you already have concrete plans for your professional future and how have your study experiences in Würzburg and Verona contributed to this?
Pietro Fasoli: I graduated in December 2023. I had started working in Italy, then I had the opportunity to return to Würzburg to work as a PhD. I have been a new PhD student at the University of Würzburg since the beginning of June.
WiWi-Fakultät: What advice would you give to future students who are interested in a double degree programme?
Pietro Fasoli: I think it is a wonderful opportunity that the two universities offer. Whether your goal is to have an academic career or a career in the private sector, it is an opportunity that greatly enhances your CV. In almost all the interviews I have had, the double degree has always been one of the first and most decisive topics. Moreover, I believe that both universities offer some very interesting courses. In my case, at Würzburg, I had the opportunity to study international economics in greater depth, while in Verona there are several courses related to data analysis. Clearly, the choice should not be taken lightly, so it must be made considering that the program is not easy, but I believe that the benefits of living and studying abroad for a year fully repay the efforts one might make.
