Mika Voss

A hashtag that describes you?

#ambitious

Please describe yourself in three words.

Personal. Inspiring. Open.

The sense of community at ZU is special. Could you explain why?

The family-like atmosphere is what makes Zeppelin University (ZU) so special. That’s very important to me. I’m from Ravensburg on Lake Constance and already graduated from a fairly small high school with a truly family-like atmosphere. I’d always heard that ZU is known for its very special, family-like sense of community. It really struck me when, on the third day of my first semester, someone addressed me by name in the cafeteria. From that moment on, I thought to myself, “This probably isn’t the case at any other university in Germany!” All the professors at ZU know their students. You see each other and run into one another everywhere. It’s great!

The student-to-professor ratio of 1:9 is very close…

Yes, definitely. I’ve just finished my sixth semester, and I’m really glad that professors keep offering me their help—and that I can, for example, just drop by for a coffee and ask my questions without any fuss. At ZU, you can always request a private, one-on-one conversation. I really appreciate having that option!

How did you end up at ZU? You mentioned you’re from Ravensburg…

It took me a very long time to figure out what I wanted to study. For a long time, I wasn’t sure where my path would lead. What I did know was that I wanted to stay in this region, since I’m very involved in various sports and clubs here on Lake Constance. My search therefore focused on the cities of Munich, Augsburg, and Mannheim. I chose ZU because it was so close and, above all, because it has such a close-knit atmosphere and such a broad range of programs. I couldn’t have imagined myself moving to Hamburg at 18 and starting my college life there. For me, ZU was a smooth transition from home to college life.

Why are you studying CME?

Because I hope that CME will help me build the life I envision for myself. I want to work with lots of people and have realized that project-based work really suits me. My social circle is always more important to me than the subject matter itself. That’s why I see myself fitting right into this field. With a degree in CME, you can work at startups, go into research, or pursue a career in political consulting. I expect that after completing my bachelor’s degree, I’ll be able to further deepen my knowledge in a master’s program.

When you think back to your early days here at ZU—what advice would you give to future students?

They should just “be there”! As I mentioned earlier, I’m very active in sports. In Ravensburg, I play a lot of tennis and table tennis, and during my first semester, I was still living at home because I thought the transition to student life would be smoother that way. Looking back, however, that was a mistake. In the beginning, you’re making connections, so you have to be there—hang out with people, go to events, or even just be on campus doing nothing, drinking coffee, and seeing who you run into and who you can chat with. You should take advantage of the huge range of opportunities ZU offers and show your face at ZU as often as possible.

What student initiatives are you involved in?

Before I started my semester abroad, I was active in university sports and in a small initiative called “Families & Friends.” There, the next generations of family-owned businesses meet and have the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from one another.

Would you say you’ve made lifelong friends at ZU?

Yes, definitely.

Looking back—the pandemic has affected every single person at ZU in a personal way. Can you take anything positive away from the past two years?

Sure, there are the advantages that just about everyone would mention: flexibility, and many things became much more efficient. I really appreciated that some professors took the matter seriously and did a great job of transitioning their teaching to an online format. And I think the combination of “I teach myself the material and then discuss it again” worked really well. It allowed me to learn and understand so many things in a completely different way than I would have in a “normal” university setting. Simply because I had to teach myself. I really liked this new approach to learning and benefited from it personally. But I’m truly very glad that we can all be back on campus at ZU now—no question about it.

So you agree with many of your fellow students that ZU is a campus university?

I do think that ZU thrives on in-person teaching. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be any reason to go to a private university. Whether I’m taking a lecture online with 20 or 100 people doesn’t really matter in the end. I think this little community is definitely part of what makes ZU special and turns it into a truly unique campus university.

You just brought it up—the topic of private universities. Did that appeal to you right away, or was it more of a challenge?

At first, I was a bit put off by the idea of a private university. You hear so many stories, after all…. But now I know: At ZU, the whole environment is so open and diverse that people from every social background are truly welcome here.

What do people say about ZU?

ZU is definitely perceived as elite and demanding. People know the standards there are very high. Often, private universities are rumored to be places where you can “buy” your degree. I’ve never heard that about ZU. However, the image of the ZU is that many young people there study while sporting great clothes, living in great apartments, driving great cars, and spending a lot of money when they go out. That’s why, at the beginning of my studies, I always just said I was studying in Friedrichshafen—it could have been the DHBW (Editor’s note: Abbreviation for the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University). Now, though, I’m proud of my studies at ZU because, for me, ZU is exactly the right university. I know that it’s about intellectual pursuits here, not money.

Would you say that ZU’s Zeppelin Year helped you?

I thought it was nice to be able to broaden my horizons. Conceptually, the Zeppelin Year is really good. But throughout it, I kept asking myself when my actual degree program would finally start. I would have liked even more options to broaden my horizons even further. Many people got the impression that I felt the same way—that I was just killing time during the Zeppelin Year until my actual degree program began. I thought the Zeppelin Year was good in that regard because I took courses I would never have taken otherwise in my regular degree program. But I don’t think the Zeppelin Year is really a decisive reason to come to ZU.

And why should students come to ZU?

Anyone who wants to can get an incredible amount out of ZU! It’s very easy here to connect with professors and staff. If you take advantage of these opportunities, you can gain and learn an incredible amount. You also have the chance to spend a semester abroad at renowned universities all over the world. Plus, ZU has a great network when it comes to internships. You can constantly broaden your horizons and realize, “Hey, I, too, can make it to an internationally recognized university in California and do an internship in an exciting city!” If you’re willing to throw your life plan out the window every now and then, ZU offers you fantastic prospects for the future.

Please complete the following sentences. I’m grateful to ZU for…

… the new insights I’ve gained here and the new people I’ve met here. I’ve learned so much about myself here at ZU.

ZU stands for…

… personal development and not just mere functional professional training.

Could you please explain that in more detail?

Sure. There are many universities that simply want to prepare their students for a career without focusing on developing the person or their character. At ZU, there are so many exciting courses that challenge assumptions and fill in the gaps between theory and practice. That’s what makes it so exciting. ZU cultivates that certain mindset. Compared to some business schools, the typical ZU student certainly knows less about practical matters, but more than makes up for it with an alert and critical mind and a strong personality!

Thank you very much for this truly lovely and interesting conversation.

ZU Interview: Elena Francomano