Aytuna Barkcin
International Business Administration Program (i-BA) : M2 2021-
The Reason Why You Chose GSM
While deciding which university in Japan would be the best to study at, I considered several factors. One of the most important of these was the curriculum, in which I found that Kyoto University was a heavily academic-focused institution, and the wide variety of classes they offered was very appealing to me. As I studied Industrial Engineering in the past, which is quite different from management, I wanted to ensure that through my Master’s degree I would be able to gain insightful knowledge on a whole range of topics, some including: Strategic Management, Marketing, Macroeconomics, etc.
Additionally, the academic staff at KU, their expertise in their individual fields and the importance the University gave to research, free-thinking and self-improvement reaffirmed my decision in joining Kyoto University. It’s diverse student background allows for such a philosophy to flourish and contributed to why I chose GSM.
What is the attractiveness of GSM?
The way in which GSM’s classes are conducted is very special, with most courses being highly interactive and built on class discussions. This kind of teaching-method allows students from all different types of backgrounds to express their perspectives and views and makes for a fruitful learning environment.
In addition to this, many of GSM’s courses include group projects, which fits with real-life scenarios in many companies and enables students to prepare for their future careers. Compared to many other universities in which classes mainly consist of students simply listening, I believe that this type of learning environment that GSM provides is much more fitting to an MBA program and is more engaging for all students.
The Visions of Your Future
After graduating from GSM, I would like to apply the academic knowledge I have acquired into my career and gain some expertise in the working environment in Japan. I am particularly interested in the fields of logistics, e-commerce and marketing, and hope to attain industry experience within these fields in detail. My ultimate goal for the future would be to carry what I have learnt to my home country, Turkey, and help bridge local companies in their future globalization strategies and assist them in their smooth transition to new markets.
Your Recommended Subjects
The ‘Strategic Management’ course taught by Prof. Asli Colpan would be my biggest recommendation as it helped me see real-life examples of large conglomerates, what kind of methods they chose to grow their businesses and the critical decisions they made which ultimately led them to their success or failure.
Additionally, ‘Business Analysis and Valuation’ course taught by Prof. Matsumoto Shigeru was also very insightful as it allowed me to learn about how to conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of a company, as well as making forecasts regarding cash flows for the future.
I would also recommend the ‘Innovative Hospitality Management’ course, since it was really helpful in understanding some of the core principles behind Japanese businesses and the cultural connotations that come to play with long-lasting, resilient businesses.
Schedule of Your Day
My daily schedule changes depending on the courses I have that particular day, but mainly follows the flow of:
09:00-10:00 Having Breakfast and Tea, Preparing for Classes
10:00-12:00 Morning Classes
12:00-13:15 Lunch
13:15-18:00 Afternoon Classes / Self-Study Time
18:00-19:00 Dinner
19:00~Meeting up with friends / Relaxing / Working on Assignments
Schedule of Your Week
As for the weekend, I either try to go sightseeing to nearby spots or cities to take photos, attend my club’s meetings, go shopping, relax by Kamogawa, etc. A lot of the time, group meetings would also take place on the weekend, so it would be a juggle between having Zoom meetings and leisure time.
Message for Applicants
GSM offers a wide variety of opportunities for future students and has a strong curriculum with excellent Professors. Besides its academic advantages, KU is also home to many clubs and サークル, so there’s a lot of chances to meet new people and participate in many different activities and events! Kyoto is also a great place to study and live in and is home to many of the many touristic spots in Japan, so it’s an amazing place to experience the Japanese culture.
I would highly recommend students to apply to the programs GSM offers and gain the chance to meet people from all over the world, take insightful and intriguing courses and enjoy Kyoto!