Three years of study are behind Melanie. She studied electrical engineering at Pepperl+Fuchs in Mannheim and recently wrote her bachelor’s thesis at the Pepperl+Fuchs site in Oldham, England. From the very beginning, she wanted to spend a semester abroad. In this interview, she talks about her experiences.
Hello, Melanie, how did your semester abroad come about?
I always wanted to spend a semester abroad to gain new insights and experiences. That was also an important reason why I chose Pepperl+Fuchs as an employer back then. Last year, I worked in the BU Innovation Unit Interface R&D department as part of my fourth practical phase. During that time, the developer meeting took place in Mannheim, bringing together colleagues from Germany, England and Italy. The positive impressions I gained during that practical phase ultimately motivated me to ask the internationally oriented department whether it would be possible to write my bachelor’s thesis with them as a part of a stay abroad. And it worked out!
What is your bachelor’s thesis about?
In short, my work focused on the redesign of an existing product from Pepperl+Fuchs. The original device had previously been analyzed, and based on these results, a new design was developed. My task was to validate this redesign in terms of functionality and also to evaluate it in terms of functional safety.
The suitcase is packed, let’s go!
What was your first impression when you arrived?
I worked in Oldham but lived in Manchester. My first impression of Manchester was „big city“! I was particularly impressed by the skyline – lots of skyscrapers and, in between, the typical brick buildings England is known for. Compared to the Mannheim site, Oldham naturally feels much smaller, but I noticed this in a positive way. I received a very warm welcome from my colleagues and had a good feeling right from the start. That started even before my arrival – I received great support from my colleagues in England and Germany, as well as from the training department.
So you felt comfortable being part of the team there?
Yes, absolutely. Everyone was very friendly to me and always had an open ear for me. When I arrived, my colleagues had just completed a project, and to celebrate their success, we all went together to Dovestone Reservoir near Greenfield. We went for a walk there and then had something to eat. That really strengthened the team spirit.
Out of the comfort zone
Where there any challenges?
It was my first time spending an extended time abroad, so every step I took was actually a step out of my comfort zone. In fact, it wasn’t that easy to meet new people. I had an apartment to myself, so I didn’t have direct connections, like roommates, for example. In the end, however, I did get to know a few people I got along with really well and we occasionally did things together.
And how did you spend your free time?
Since I often didn’t get back until late afternoon due to the longer commute, I usually spent my evenings like this: I’d get off in the city center, go shopping and then spend a quite evening at home. Sometimes I also went to the „Northern Quarter “, a popular meeting spot for young people. On weekends, I used the time to explore Manchester or went on trips to Liverpool and York. A special highlight for me was the open-air concert by Oasis. Although I didn’t have a ticket, I was able to listen to the concert from a nearby hill.
Experiences for life
What do you take away from this time?
With every step outside your comfort zone, you grow. Things that feel unfamiliar at first, like going out to eat alone, lose their intimidation over time. That helped me become more independent and self-confident. At the same time, I learned to be more open to other people. Professionally, I was able to learn a lot about analog hardware technology. I learned how important it is to work precisely in a team so that results are not only understandable but can also be used by others.
What advice would you give future dual students who would like to spend a semester abroad?
Do it! In my opinion, there are no downsides. I grew a lot through this experience. You gain an understanding of other ways of working and get to know things from a new perspective. Plus, it’s exciting to immerse yourself in a different culture.
