Studying and Working in Mannheim, Germany
January – July, 2001
Andrew Schumacher, Mechanical Engineering

Participating in the exchange program with John Deere and the Fachhochschule Mannheim was one of the most valuable experiences I have ever had. It helped me on both personal and professional levels.

Working for John Deere in Mannheim was a great opportunity for me. I was able to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world applications. It also showed me what engineers do in the workplace. Since the internship took place in Germany, it gave me a better international perspective. The “American way” is not necessarily the only way. Germans do many things differently, and although these methods may seem odd at first, they were just as good as the American methods. Now when I am faced with a problem, I can approach it in many different ways and analyze which is best. The foreign work experience provided me with invaluable skills that I would never have been able to obtain anywhere else.

At the Fachhochschule, I took courses that I normally would never have the chance to take. How many chances would an American student have to learn an automotive engineering and design class taught by Mercedes-Benz engineers? I also had the chance to interact with other students, which was not an easy task since I was trying to communicate in a foreign language. I feel that my people skills greatly benefited from this experience, and I made many friends from different countries with whom I still keep in touch.

The exchange was an experience that I would never trade for anything. It helped me grow and become a more well-rounded person. I now perceive things in ways I had never seen before and realize that there are opportunities not only in the U.S., but all over the world. If I were given the chance to do it again, I would most definitely do it.

Click below for an Instructional guide to the John Deere Exchange in Mannheim, Germany prepared by Andrew:

First Document

Second Document

11-29-01

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