First Months Of The Dual Study Program: Challenges And Successes

Theresa began her dual studies in Digital Business Management in October 2023 and is currently completing her first practical phase at Theobald Software. In this post, she shares why she chose this course of study, how her initial months in the program unfolded, and the key learnings from her first semester.

Time flies by. In September, I completed a month-long internship at Theobald Software. Since then, five months of my studies have passed, and the first semester is almost over. I want to take this opportunity to reflect on my journey into dual studies, my initial months at university, and within the company in this blog post.

Freshman week, meeting new faces, finding connections

Before my first day at university in October, I felt a wave of nervousness. Many questions raced through my mind: Where is my classroom? Who will I meet? Will I find connections quickly? How will the lectures unfold?

The first day at university is packed with information. However, in the afternoon, during a city rally through Stuttgart, there was still time to get to know fellow students better. Additionally, all new students participate in a “Freshman Week” with various communal activities to foster socialization outside the university. I joined a tour of the bars in Stuttgart with a fellow student. I recommend engaging in these freshman activities to break the ice early in the program.

At the end of each theory phase, several exams await. Since the exam period can be very stressful, it’s helpful to review lecture content on the same day. This prevents a buildup of material to be learned for exams and makes studying much easier.

My work routine in the company, exciting events & strategy days

In January, I began my first practical phase at Theobald Software. I was looking forward to reconnecting with my colleagues, most of whom I had already met during my internship.

From January to mid-March, I worked in the marketing department, continuing the project tasks from my internship. Concurrently, I tackled new and exciting assignments from various marketing areas. In the events and promotions department, I assisted in organizing a Community Day for partners and clients, scheduled for June. I was responsible for creating new page content for the partner section of the website and subsequently building the page using the content management system. Additionally, while writing my second blog post, I further honed my storytelling skills.

As part of employer branding, I, along with colleagues, visited two schools to present our training opportunities in a specialized lecture. Beyond the presentations, I had the opportunity to inform students about the dual study program at Theobald Software and share my own experiences with them.

At the end of February, the annual Strategy Days took place. All employees from both locations gather in Stuttgart to develop strategies on various topics. Through engaging presentations, I gained insight into the work of different departments. I also learned methods for preparing and conducting meetings in various workshops and contributed my ideas for improving intercultural collaboration within the company. Each year, Strategy Days conclude with a company party, where delicious food, good music, and a few drinks set the mood for celebrating the successful conclusion of Strategy Days.

Conclusion and Learnings from the First Semester

My first semester is coming to an end. During the past months at university, I not only acquired numerous new theoretical concepts but also learned how to organize myself in my studies. Especially in the beginning, the sheer volume of new learning materials can be overwhelming. Therefore, making notes during lectures and exchanging questions and problems with fellow students within study groups was particularly helpful for me. During my practical phase, I worked on several projects simultaneously, which sometimes made it challenging to keep track. The exchange with colleagues within the team and documenting project progress using project management systems proved to be particularly helpful.

I am eager to see what else my studies have in store for me and look forward to sharing my experiences in future blog posts!