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Alum provides financial and employability support for young students

From the very first day of their master’s programme, SBE students Can Temiz and Mamadou Jabbie have had both feet planted firmly in the professional field. They are supported by scholarships from LKPU, a boutique German firm specialised in management consultancy. They receive mentoring and support through the scholarship programme, which links the university with industry, helps LKPU meet its corporate social responsibility goals, and scratches the itch among a growing number of alumni to give back to their alma mater.

Last September, Temiz and Jabbie began their UM adventure at the School of Business and Economics (SBE), where Jan Koppetsch also studied over two decades ago. Koppetsch graduated with a master’s degree in International Business; today, he is a managing partner at LKPU. He has reconnected with his alma mater for a special partnership. 

“Every year, LKPU gives to a good cause,” Koppetsch explains. “They used to be one-off activities, mainly focused on symptoms instead of root causes. We wanted to meet our philanthropic goals in a more sustainable way, by making a structural contribution to knowledge and education and supporting young talent.” The decision to collaborate with UM was an easy one. “The university knows like no other how to bridge the gap between education and practice; the Brightlands campuses are a perfect example. And the Problem-Based Learning approach offers students a great deal of freedom while also requiring a high degree of creativity, which is very important later in your career. Creativity is one of LKPU’s four core values.”

LKPU supports German students who want to pursue a master’s degree at SBE. The financial contribution opens doors to higher education that otherwise might have remained closed. “The scholarship offers me a lot of freedom,” says Jabbie, who is following the master’s programme in Managerial Decision Making & Control. “The monthly contribution for the tuition fee, study materials and living expenses means I can fully focus on my studies, and I don’t have to worry about finances.” The time freed up by the scholarship enables him to engage in valuable extracurricular activities. Jabbie is an active member of SCOPE (SBE’s study association) and the Maastricht Student Consulting team. After all, the experiences and contacts students acquire during their studies can significantly enhance their career prospects in the future. 

Jan Koppetsch
Jan Koppetsch

The scholarship offers more than just financial support: Temizand Jabbie will also write their master’s theses at LKPU. “The collaboration with LKPU is very valuable,” says Temiz, a master’s student in Business Intelligence & Smart Services. “When you write your thesis for a company, you have to consider different objectives and wishes: those of the organisation, the university and, of course, your own. Making compromises and finding a good balance between those objectives is an important learning experience. LKPU offers me a lot of freedom and trust.” 

During his own studies, Koppetsch was given a similar opportunity at the consulting branch of Ericsson. Thanks to feedback and support from industry as well as academia, his thesis had added value for the professional field. The outcomes of Jabbie’s thesis, too, will be directly applicable. “This means that even as a student I can already make a positive impact on the business sector. LKPU gives me a taste of the different sides of consulting that appeal to me, such as project rescue and payments.” These are, together with “people practice,” the firm’s key focal areas.

“LKPU’s motto is we solve problems others ignore,” Koppetsch says. “We give our clients rigorous, honest feedback, which is sometimes necessary to help them face reality, grow and make informed decisions.” He takes the same approach when mentoring students. “What I hope to offer is a hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up perspective on deliverables. We have them look through a different lens at things they learn at the university, but will only really discover and experience in the field.”

If Koppetsch has anything to say about it, the scholarship programme is just the beginning of a broader partnership with UM. With fond memories of his alma mater, he is keen to strengthen its connection with the professional field and enhance student employability. “In the future, I hope to see an increase in the number of not only students, but also faculties. Perhaps we can one day work with the university to develop a module in which students solve problems we haven’t even conceived of yet.” 

For its part, LKPU opens a door to the professional field and provides access to valuable connections. By creating a good mix between academia and industry and helping to close the gap between education and practice, collaborations such as these offer young professionals the best of both worlds.

 

Text Anouk van den Brink
Photography Anouk van den Brink

Mamadou Jabbie and Can Temiz
Mamadou Jabbie and Can Temiz

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