Interview with the 150th EBC*L Certified Manager

Student Patrick Hoffmann reveals his motivation and gives some exam tips to the head of the EBC*L Academy Prof. Dr. Daniel F. Leutgeb, MBA in an online interview.

On March 17, 2023, Mr. Patrick Hoffmann became the 150th EBC*L Certified Manager at the FH Technikum Wien.

Mr. Hoffmann, you are the 150th EBC*L Certified Manager. Congratulations once again on this achievement. Can you say a few words about yourself?

I am 22 years old and currently studying in the 6th semester of the Bachelor’s degree program in International Industrial Engineering.

What does your background look like?

Before I started my studies, I attended the HTL Rennweg with a specialization in mechatronics. Immediately after graduation, I did my civilian service in the technical department of a kindergarten. Already at that time I was interested in a joint technical and business degree program. I decided to attend the FH Technikum Wien because I liked the range of courses on offer and because I could also combine part-time studies with my work. Following my civilian service, I was able to start at Knorr-Bremse GmbH in the position of working student in the design of magnetic rail brakes and have now been allowed to work on various projects for almost two years.

How did you hear about the EBC*L program?

Before the start of each course, details about the current course are sent out via email. I was already very interested in the first e-mail and wanted to take part, but there was not enough time to participate in this semester. Although the next semester was also very time-consuming, I signed up for the course. Looking back, that was the right decision!

What were your reasons for taking part in the EBC*L program?

In my opinion, every technician should have a sound basic knowledge of business administration. Although basic business knowledge is already taught in some of the lectures in my degree program, I wanted to deepen this knowledge and found the ideal conditions for this in the EBC*L program.

To become an EBC*L Certified Manager, you have to pass three EBC*L levels (A, B and C). How did you cope with the individual levels?

In the attendance phases, we regularly rounded off the theoretical input with various calculation examples or case studies. This allows you to see what your current level of knowledge is and to apply what you’ve learned in theory directly in practice. The first two levels A and B in particular involve a lot of calculations, which I particularly enjoy. Level C is a bit more theoretical, but builds on some courses already completed in my degree program. That gave me a certain advantage.

What did your exam preparation look like? Were there any differences in terms of exam preparation between the individual levels?

Due to the intensive preparation in the attendance phases of the three courses, with many practical examples, the basis for the exam had already been created. Before the respective exam, I read through the scripts again and also calculated the examples again. This enabled me to pass all three exams on the first attempt. In total, the entire EBC*L certification took one and a half semesters.

What benefits do you expect from the additional training you have completed?

I would like to reorient myself professionally in the medium to long term, i.e. not work exclusively as a technician, and later also hold a managerial position. In this context, business administration basics are my daily bread. Especially the contents “leadership” and “human resources management” will help me in my future professional life and for my final career goal.

What advice can you give to students and those interested in the EBC*L program?

I can only advise you all to take a look at the EBC*L course. There is really interesting content and very practical examples are covered. What you learn can be applied in practice and serves excellently as a supplement to the courses in your studies.