Andrea Krettek

As part of the “Alumni.Erzählen.” initiative, Andrea Krettek shares insights into her time as a distance learning student at FERNFH and explains how she applies the knowledge she gained to her professional practice.

I decided to pursue a distance learning program—specifically, the FERNFH—because …
… …only a distance learning program can be integrated into my current lifestyle. I ultimately chose the FERNFH because of the strong practical focus of the course content. (I had already gained some experience with the “distance learning” concept at the FernUniversität Hagen, but I dropped out of that program fairly quickly due to its lack of practical relevance.)

My personal situation during my studies … (job, family, free time, etc.)
… …I work (and have worked throughout my entire degree program) full-time in the pharmaceutical industry in clinical research, but I’m in the rather fortunate position of being able to organize my work quite flexibly even while holding a full-time job. I’m also a single mother of two teenagers, who were 11 and 8 years old when I started my studies. Free time definitely took a back seat during my studies: after the kids went to bed, my evenings and weekends were devoted to the many assignments I had to turn in and to studying. My biggest source of support during this time was my partner, who had to make many sacrifices in terms of time with me and our time together, and who helped me out a lot with everyday tasks, especially during exam periods.

Looking back, the biggest challenge for me during my distance learning program was …
… not losing my motivation, even during the pandemic. My class was only able to attend in-person courses and take exams on campus for half of the program; the second half was then necessarily conducted online, including the bachelor’s exam and even the graduation ceremony. As a result, the program lost a great deal of its appeal and “charm” for me, not least because of the lack of personal contact and interaction with my fellow students and instructors: The in-person days were always a highlight for me, a welcome change from the daily routine of distance learning. Having to conduct virtually my entire life—both professionally and academically—almost exclusively from my desk behind a monitor with a webcam was a tremendous burden for me. 

An experience from my college days that I fondly remember …
… … I was deeply impressed by the amazing things that can happen when six people—complete strangers and very different from one another—come together to pull in the same direction and pursue a common goal. Rarely have I experienced teamwork as strong and efficient as in my study group, and never before have I seen such solidarity and cohesion. Especially during occasional slumps in motivation, the group and the friendships that developed within it were worth their weight in gold! 

These are the career goals I’m currently pursuing: …
…I don’t currently have any plans to leave my job in clinical research, but I recently had the opportunity to move into management and take on personnel responsibilities. I’m currently getting up to speed in this role and am finding many opportunities to apply what I learned in some of my college courses in a practical setting. 

These insights from my studies continue to guide me in my job to this day…
……topics from the business portion of my studies, in particular, are relevant to my career today. I’m now much better able to contextualize and understand the interconnections and underlying factors within the company, and I’m able to apply the knowledge I gained from coaching and leadership courses in my new position. 

I benefited from this particularly through my distance learning program:
… …In connection with my bachelor’s theses, I was able to establish very interesting contacts with the Austrian Society for Euthanasia (ÖGHL) and had the opportunity to get a glimpse behind the scenes of the ÖGHL’s work, present my theses to the plenary session, and even contribute a little creatively myself. For my second bachelor’s thesis, I was able to conduct several high-profile interviews, including one with the lead attorney in the case before the Constitutional Court regarding the legalization of assisted dying, as well as with a well-known Austrian author. These experiences and insights have had a lasting impact on me and make me proud. Of course, my academic success has also had a very positive effect on my self-confidence. What remains is an unshakable feeling that “I can overcome any challenge!” 

These skills and abilities are becoming increasingly important in my profession/industry …
… … the ability to work in a team and time management. For me, these two together form the foundation of a successful distance learning program and are also of great importance for success in my career—regardless of the industry—and, of course, for a healthy work-life balance. 

My tips for preparing for the admissions process at FERNFH(admissions test, admissions interview): …
…you should take a very close look at the materials provided; then you’ll have a good chance. And don’t be afraid of the interview with the program director! 

In my opinion, these are the qualities you need to successfully complete a distance learning program: …
…staying power, for one thing. Even though, looking back, the three years went by very quickly, there are still occasional slumps during this long and very labor-intensive period when things don’t go so well. Determination, for another: keeping your goal in sight makes it easier to overcome those slumps. And, of course, the aforementioned ability to work well in a team, a high degree of self-motivation, and the willingness to enjoy your free time only in small doses for a while.

My tips for first-year students and anyone interested in a degree program or course at FERNFH:
… …don’t underestimate the potential of a well-functioning study group! Everything’s easier when you work together, especially when things aren’t going so well. And stay on top of things right from the start—the study schedules suggested by the instructors are definitely helpful and make sense. 😉   

I’d like to add one more thing…
… …my time at FernFH was very enriching in many ways and gave me some invaluable experiences and insights, as well as friendships, for which I am very grateful. I’m now eagerly hoping that the master’s program in “Aging Services Management” will also receive funding soon—then my alma mater will surely see me as a student again! 🙂