Iranian Simin has enjoyed the study environment at the IBA

18. marts 2025

“I didn’t know much about Danish culture before I came here. But I had heard about your Danish pastries”.

Simin Jamalpour flashes one of her infectious smiles. Coming from Iran, Denmark and Danish culture are not naturally part of one’s general knowledge.

Today, Simin has become familiar with the small Scandinavian country. She has now lived, studied, and worked here for two years. And at the local language school in Kolding, the 28-year-old Iranian has even learned enough Danish to manage in daily life. She was already fluent in English.

Simin foran IBA — Simin Jamalpour chose to take her leadership education at the IBA because it gave her the opportunity to study in an international environment with students from other countries.

Simin completed four modules at the language school while also pursuing an education at the IBA International Business Academy in Kolding. Here in the beginning of 2025, she completed her ‘Master of Business Administration in General Management’, which the IBA offers in collaboration with Coventry University.

Simin came here in 2023 to undertake her leadership education. Before that, she worked as a Design Manager back in Iran.

“For almost three years, I led a small team of designers and technicians. The job sparked my interest in expanding my knowledge of business and leadership”, says Simin.

„I enjoy living here in Denmark. There is a good balance between studies and personal life, says Simin, who worked part-time while completing her master’s degree at the IBA.‟

She already held a bachelor’s degree as an Architectural Designer from Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz. Now, she wanted to study a leadership programme with an international profile. Ideally, in an EU country, she was eager to explore life in the western part of the world.

Her choice eventually fell on Denmark when she came across the IBA’s website. There, she read about an Iranian student who secured a job in Denmark after completing a master’s degree at the IBA.

Despite the Danish winter darkness, which took her by surprise, she is happy that she chose the IBA. Both academically and culturally, her time as a student broadened her horizons, just as she had hoped.

“I was in a class with students from several countries, such as India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Iceland. There was even one more person from Iran besides me. In my project group, we had different backgrounds, so it felt very international. And even though we had different educational backgrounds and cultures, we worked well together. I do miss that a little”, she says.

Simin’s positive experiences have influenced her sister, Nasim, who has also come to Denmark to study. She is studying engineering at DTU in Copenhagen.

Simin praises her friendly lecturers, who were also easy to reach outside of class.

“It was also okay to ask questions during the lessons—whether it was difficult or simple. I found the atmosphere very relaxed, and that suited me well”, she explains.

Now that her studies are over, she continues working part-time at Milling Hotels while looking for a permanent position where she can use her new education. Her hope is to stay in Denmark.

– I have gained many new tools. So, there are many places where my new education would be a good fit, says Simin, who is actively applying for positions in HR, marketing, and team leadership.