HSBI Student from Cameroon Uses YouTube to Inform About Her English-Taught Industrial Engineering Studies on Gütersloh Campus

Gütersloh (hsbi). A smile flickers across the young woman’s face when we ask her what led her to apply for the Industrial Engineering programme. “Originally, I wanted to study medicine,” the 19-year-old says. “In February last year, my father made me aware of the English-taught Industrial Engineering programme. I did some research then and soon came to realise that this was the right thing for me, too.” She thus follows in her father’s footsteps, who had completed a degree in Industrial Engineering in Germany and subsequently lived and worked here for 14 years. Today, he works in his home country’s diplomatic service. In addition, the family – who lives in Cameroon’s capital city Yaoundé – own land that they farm, exporting the products they yield.

English-taught bachelor’s degree programme Industrial Engineering – full-time or work-integrated

Five months later, Treasure boarded a plane to Germany, where she spent her first weeks with an aunt in Dinslaken. Since October, she has been studying the English-taught Industrial Engineering full-time programme on HSBI’s Gütersloh Campus. So what is her interim assessment shortly before the end of the second semester? “I am particularly satisfied with the cross-disciplinary approach of my studies,” she says. “My dream of directing my own hospital has come much closer already.”

Anyone with such a dream should know what they are doing – both when it comes to technical equipment and the financial performance of a hospital. “Industrial engineers bring the relevant qualifications for such cross-cutting responsibilities,” says Treasure. “I am happy that my studies in Gütersloh will equip me with these qualifications and skills.” One look at the modules taught in the second semester shows the interdisciplinary approach to imparting knowledge. In addition to physics and mathematics, the curriculum includes accounting, procurement and logistics modules.

Isn’t that a little too much theory? “Not at all,” Treasure says, presenting her current project. Together with two of her fellow students, Treasure is developing a smartphone app, which is intended to enable children, illiterate people and even people with visual impairments to correctly separate their waste. “For this purpose, we use both colours and sounds,” she explains. The aim is to engage marginalised groups for sustainability issues.

Her goal: becoming an executive in health care

In the long run, she plans to return to her home country. While she is convinced that she wants to stay and work in Germany for some years after her degree to gain some professional experience, she also knows that she will be able to use her skills and experiences to move things forwards in her home country subsequently. “At a local level, in particular, there is huge potential for development in Cameroon. So far, it has not been used because there is a lack of relevant expertise,” Treasure says. “This is where I would like to contribute my know-how and experience as an industrial engineer in the future.” As the health-care sector is chronically underfinanced in her home country, this topic is especially close to her heart. According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, 70 percent of the population have to pay for medical services out of their own pockets. “That is something I want to change,” Treasure says.

Until then, Treasure will be studying for at least another five semesters. Perhaps she will also use her time in Gütersloh to change from full-time studies to the work-integrated version of her English-taught programme. “The study regulations allow for such a change,” she says. If she decides to do so, she will spend around half of her time studying on Gütersloh Campus and the other half applying her theoretical knowledge to practice in one of HSBI’s partner companies – and even get a salary.

Convincing YouTube appearances enabling fellow students’ participation and encouraging others

In any case, it is safe to say that this self-confident young adult enables others to participate in her new life here in Germany. Treasure has been running her own YouTube channel for four months now. Most of the videos she has posted there were made in her Bielefeld student residence. The short films have a peculiar charm, which is also due to the confident demeanour of their single protagonist. “First of all, I intend to document my student life,” she says and laughs. “This will make it possible for me to better recollect this time when I am an old lady.”

A few of her videos, however, have a clear message, which is directed to people that Treasure says are “wonderful people:” her fellow international students. “With my postings, I want to inspire others to see the opportunities such studies offer instead of only perceiving the burdens.” The films are the oeuvre of an energiser who wants to give tips and advice to motivate others not to give up and believe in their own abilities. This attitude is convincing, and in one of her postings on YouTube, Treasure Njimbong Jing says: “At the end of the day I am not defined by my fears but by my courage to keep trying.”  (tc)

For more photographic material, please contact presse@hsbi.de.