Cyriac Tomy Panackal
ICEUS-Absolvent
It was October 2, 2017—Gandhi Jayanthi, a national holiday in India—when my wife and I landed in Germany to begin our Master’s studies in Fulda. Looking back at the last eight years, I am incredibly grateful to Hochschule Fulda. Deciding to pursue the MA ICEUS was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Hochschule Fulda offered an exceptionally family-friendly environment for our studies. This support helped us complete two Master’s degrees, welcome two children into the world, and start our professional careers within our first 30 months in Germany. Whether it was the family room on campus or the professors and classmates who supported us as new parents, Hochschule Fulda truly earned its “family-friendly” seal.
Whether in my student job with Fintiba or my current role as a consultant in the field of migration and integration in Germany, the theories I learned during ICEUS have been invaluable. It has been amazing to apply communication theories—such as direct vs. indirect communication—when interacting with customers from more than 170 countries. Beyond the theory, the workshops and cultural insights have helped me immensely in both my professional and personal life. My ICEUS background consistently encourages me to keep an open mind.
Whether in my student job with Fintiba or my current role as a consultant in the field of migration and integration in Germany, the theories I learned during ICEUS have been invaluable.
In 2018–2019, as I was brainstorming my Master’s thesis, the faculty’s encouragement to look at real-world issues helped shape my career over the last six years. At the time, the nursing shortage was a top priority in Germany, yet many Indian nurses were restricted by WHO guidelines from being recruited. I submitted my thesis in November 2019 and was thrilled to see India removed from that restrictive list in March 2020. I am deeply grateful to the ICEUS faculty for allowing me to conduct research on such a live, impactful topic.
Currently, as I continue my research as a doctoral candidate addressing “Fair Recruitment in Germany,” I hope to create a real-world impact by opening horizons for more people. The MA ICEUS at Hochschule Fulda truly has the power to help you shape your career.