School of Engineering – International Blog | Tag Archive

Carmen Araujo travelled around Switzerland a lot.

Get to know yourself better by studying abroad

Posted on 14. June 2019 by obst

My name is Carmen, I´m from Spain and currently I´m studying Industrial Management Engineering at Universidad of Valladolid. My main hobby is to spend time with my family and friends and I quite interested in the fashion industry.

I chose Switzerland because is a country close to mine and that gave me convenience when I had to move, as I am taking courses at both universities at the same time. It’s a good opportunity to get in touch with the German language and to enjoy its spectacular landscapes, it’s a small country that you can travel easily but taking into account its high prices.

There was nothing that especially caught my attention, everything was very easy and comfortable thanks to the international relations office people who do a great job. The way the classes were given at ZHAW School of Engineering was not very different from the way it is done at my home university, so I have felt like home all the time.

The best part of living abroad is the people you meet. We have travel a lot, we have share different cultures and we have helped each other in every issue. A great part of an exchange is the Erasmus Student Network, they have organised events for us every week. Academically, I could improve my English and learn a bit of German and carry out courses quite related with my home university bachelor.

Studying abroad means meeting a lot of students from different countries.

What I take with me from this experience is that I’ve been able to face situations that I did not think of before, it’s a way to know yourself better. And either in Switzerland or somewhere else in the world, I recommend this experience to every student, as part of your CV and mainly, as part of your personal development.

Winterthur, the perfect starting point for adventures

Posted on 9. May 2019 by obst

What would be the perfect home base, if you want to see Europe while studying? And where do you find the perfect mixture of nature and culture at the same time? Viv Marleen Tamme, an Aviation student from Estonia, says Winterthur.

First of all: Who are you?
I am a 21-year-old exchange student from Estonia. I came here to study aviation, specifically aircraft engineering.

What made you come to Winterthur?
Since my first year at the university, I wanted to study abroad. I looked at all the partner universities of my own university, the Estonian Aviation Academy. My initial idea was to study in the Netherlands, but I quickly noticed that this was nothing for me. I figured out that Switzerland was the country that really interested me – mainly because of the nature and culture. So eventually I decided to study in Winterthur. Once I filled in the applications, I got really excited and could not wait to get here.

What did you expect coming to Winterthur and ZHAW?
Let me think… Well, thanks to my research, I knew it would be quite expensive to move to Switzerland – you can read that everywhere and everybody tells you that. I wanted to live here anyway. Still, when I got here I was like «This is mad!» But I got used to it pretty quickly.

When it comes to studying, the ZHAW School of Engineering is not that different from the Estonian Aviation Academy – unlike I expected. But here the professors are not only focussing on teaching the students, they have to be involved into research as well.

How do you like it over all?
I love it! This is my second semester at the ZHAW School of Engineering. I remember when I got here I was quite scared because it was my first time living abroad. But at the same time I immediately felt at home. I live with a Swiss lady so I get to know the Swiss everyday life. Part of my studies is to learn German and I’ve even picked up some Swiss German. Though I cannot speak it, I can understand it a bit.

What are your highlights so far?
We formed a group of fellow international students and we do a lot together. Last semester we once had an international dinner party where everybody cooked something from his or her home country. We also travelled a lot. Last semester I mostly travelled around Europe – in Germany to the Oktoberfest in Munich and the Carnival in Cologne. We also went to Italy, Portugal and Mallorca, so I have seen many cities in this time.

One special event for me was New Year’s Eve as I spent it in the mountains with the family I live with. It was so much fun being in the snow and sledding. One day we went up the mountain to a nice little café. When it started getting dark, we took the sleds back down in the dark and therefore it was quite an adventure.

Are there any down sides?
No, not as far as I can think of. I have to admit I was really nervous when I had my first exam here in Switzerland. It was an oral exam and I never had those before but I managed to pass it.

What are your plans for the future?
This summer I have to go back to Tartu, as I have to study for two more years. Afterwards I want to work abroad, this was one of the initial reasons why I wanted to study abroad. After finishing, I will probably look for a job in either Germany or Switzerland. As the Aviation industry is very international and based on the English language, I have the freedom to work all over the world. I do not necessarily need to speak the language of the country where I work from the beginning but I will try to learn it for sure.

Do you have any advice for future students coming to Winterthur?
Just one thing: You need to have quite a budget. Not especially because it is expensive to live here but there is so much to see and experience. You do not want to miss that! So, as you will probably travel a lot, you would not want to worry about running out of money.

View over the Mediterranean from Mallorca

[Show thumbnails]

Knowing how to deal with cultural differences

Posted on 30. November 2018 by obst

My name is Ignacio Peluaga Lozada. I was born in Argentina, but moved to Spain at the age of 7.

In Spain I study Computer Science. But I wanted to go to a German speaking country and to a big city. From the available list of German speaking destinations Zurich was the biggest city so I applied to it. Then I found out I would go to Winterthur and not Zurich as it was stated on the list, but this was not a problem at all.

My first impression as introduction was at the Technikum: the building is old, but it’s clean. Back at home the building in which Computer Science is taught is quite new but not as clean and organised as the ZHAW School of Engineering. The infrastructure at the ZHAW School of Engineering is top in my opinion so engineering students can really learn what is needed for nowadays engineer positions.

My most memorable experiences are the ones I lived with the people I met there, specially the other exchange students at the ZHAW School of Engineering during the first semester. Also I had the chance to learn German and to study at an university which teaches what is really needed in the “real world” and not tons of (in a way) useless theory. Thanks to what I learned at ZHAW I was able to find a job in an area of Information Technology that I really like.

Ingacio (left) and fellow students a the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen.

I did like living in Switzerland as well. Even though it’s expensive everything is clean and organised. Also going on exchange programs is a unique opportunity to meet people from all around the world and to learn from them. Knowing how to deal with cultural differences is important nowadays.

My advice to people who are planning on doing exchanges is not do an exchange year when its going to be your last bachelor’s year and you have to pass 60 credits. You do not know what you will find at the destination university. ZHAW School of Engineering and my home university have different teaching methods and it is quite difficult to get used to this and therefore pass all the exams and get all the credits. Besides that, I would suggest that exchange semesters should be mandatory for Bachelor students because what is learned during that time can not be learned in any other way.

Ignacio (middle) and other exchange students on their trip to Schaffhausen.

Incoming portrait: Basil Gygax from UK

Posted on 12. October 2018 by obst

My name is Basil Gygax and I am 23 years old. Although I am a Swiss passport holder, I know little about my country as I grew up in the Philippines and Singapore. I am currently enrolled in a BSc in Air Transport Management at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. My main hobbies include flying (PPL), traveling, long distance running and swimming.

By completing an exchange semester in Switzerland, I was able to benefit in a number of ways. First and foremost, I got to experience my “home country” as a student and interact with likeminded people on a comparable course. ZHAW’s School of Engineering’s reputation, wide choice of modules and friends that already study at this institution all contributed to my choice. I also chose Switzerland and ZHAW specifically with the hope that this exchange semester will open doors on the Swiss job market in the future.

The interactive and engaging teaching style practiced at ZHAW was foreign and eye opening to me as a university student from abroad. I was also positively surprised by the amount of “contact hours” students at ZHAW have compared to my university. Overall however, I believe that the amount of student hours required for a module and the grading of these modules is comparable to my home institution.

My exchange semester at ZHAW allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and experience something new. I leave Switzerland with many positive and memorable impressions. I believe that my most memorable experiences from this semester include the wide variety of outdoor activities I was able to enjoy. These include skiing, river rafting, hiking and biking.

My exchange at ZHAW offered me a good balance between interesting/educational modules and time to socialize and experience all the amazing things Switzerland has to offer. I recommend anyone with an interest in a specific country, culture or course of study to apply for an exchange semester. To truly benefit from an exchange semester, I think it is essential that students have an open and engaging attitude.

Wie zwei Maschinenbau-Studenten aus Sri Lanka am ZPP spannende Praxiserfahrung machen

Posted on 19. July 2018 by obst

Für Hans-Jörg Dennig ist es schon der 3. IAESTE Praktikant, welcher momentan sein einjähriges Praktikum am Zentrum für Produkt- und Prozessentwicklung (ZPP) absolviert. Er kennt IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) aus eigener Erfahrung von seinem Praktikum in Helsinki, Finnland während seiner Studienzeit. Inzwischen hat er die Seiten gewechselt und macht immer wieder neue Erfahrungen als Supervisor von IAESTE Studenten neben seiner Tätigkeit als Ingenieur und Dozent an der ZHAW im ZPP.

Dass er dabei schon zwei Maschinenbau-Studenten mit Bachelor-Abschluss aus Sri Lanka, betreute ist Zufall. Beide haben sich fachlich gut integrieren können, auch wenn das theoretische Lernen in ihrer Heimat im Vordergrund steht und es keine gut ausgerüsteten Labs gibt. Diese sind jedoch sehr fit in der Programmierung bzw. Berechnung und haben es auch sonst geschafft, ihr Wissen vor Ort in die Praxis umzusetzen. Beide schätzen die paradiesischen Zustände am ZPP betreffend Laborwerkstatt und Maschinen für alle Phasen der Produkt- und Prozessentwicklung. Ein weiterer Vorteil ist, dass sie auch lernten, diese hochtechnologischen Geräte zu bedienen oder ein Operator ihnen jeweils zur Seite stand. Herr Dennig möchte, dass die Studenten hier die Chance bekommen, möglichst viel Praxiserfahrung zu bekommen, wenn die ZHAW dabei noch etwas abschöpfen kann, ist das natürlich gut und wenn noch mehr zurück kommt sei dies super.

Kasun hat sein Praktikum an der ZPP im Sommer 2017 abgeschlossen und sich dann für einen Master an der ZHAW entschieden, welchen er gleich im Anschluss an das Praktikum startete. Gleichzeitig kann er nebenbei als Werkstudent beim ZPP zu 30% weiterarbeiten. Ein Glücksfall für beide Seiten. Kasun konnte somit nebenbei auch Bhanuka, welcher Anfangs Jahr startete, optimal in das gesellschaftliche Leben in der Schweiz einführen. Beide waren erstaunt über das freundschaftliche Zusammenarbeiten im Team, wie die verschiedenen Hierarchiestufen sich den gleichen Büroraum teilen und man sich mit dem Vornamen anspricht. In der Freizeit geht das Team sogar einmal wöchentlich zusammen joggen und die beiden betreiben den Nationalsport von Sri Lanka auch im Verein in Winterthur weiter: Cricket.

Kasun’s Spezialgebiet ist das „Selective Laser Melting (SLM)“, worüber er wohl auch seine Masterarbeit schreiben wird. Bhanuka startete im Zahnradprüflabor und arbeitet momentan am Redesign des BICAR, eine Mischung zwischen einem umweltfreundlichen E-Bike und komfortablen Elektroauto. Wenn dieser im nächsten Jahr dann wieder die Strassenzulassung erhalten sollte, ist Bhanuka wie auch Kasun aber wieder zurück in Sri Lanka.

Bhanuka programmiert die Lasermaschine.

Von Gaby Hilpertshauser, Incoming Exchange Coordinator, IAESTE Switzerland

About different approaches and demands

Posted on 9. January 2018 by obst

My name is Tomas Volf. I came from the Czech Republic to Switzerland for my Master thesis. Official field of study is Mechanical Engineering. I do a lot of sport. I like jazz music, mixing cocktails and holiday planning. My employer’s headquarters is settled in Switzerland, so I connected school and work together. I have been to Switzerland previously and I liked the mountains nearby. I have studied a similar field of study and the school had enough experienced cantors.

I had a big problem with finding a suitable parking spot. There are blue zones everywhere. There also was a problem with accommodations as WOKO offers the living contract for minimum half a year. The school has a lot of buildings around the city. Even though it is not a big city, a better marking of classes would be nice.

The insight of local professors is a bit different and it was really nice to see how can you approach to problems differently – what is and is not the priority when testing students. Also the integration among students is priceless. The ESN organization works fine and organizes a lot of events suitable for students. I also appreciated the sport opportunities provided by the school.

I liked to meet other Swiss or international students. The teachers had an entirely different demands than our teachers in home university. Here, they are more focused on practice use and application in industry. I think it would be nice to have an opportunity to try a low paid job in school. Helping doctorate students or something like that.

Staying in Switzerland was good experience, sometimes the Swiss people are a bit too honest and observing rules.

Praktikum und Auslandaufenthalt in einem: IAESTE macht’s möglich

Posted on 7. December 2017 by obst

Durch die Austauschorganisation IAESTE können Studierende ein Praktikum im Ausland absolvieren. Lisa ist Praktikantin am IEFE und erzählt von ihren Erfahrungen mit IAESTE und als Praktikantin. Read More →

«A wonderful first week in Winterthur»

Posted on 30. May 2017 by bhen

A group of students from the University of Minnesota is currently staying at the ZHAW School of Engineering. The Global Mechatronics Seminar they attend is a specialized, concise course in mechatronics − complex systems, composed of mechanical components, computers, and sensors. In addition to that, their stay in Winterthur also offers them a chance to get to know Switzerland, its people and geography, as well as some unique ZHAW traditions like the Frackwoche – also known as Tail Coat Week.

Read about their experience on their blog.

«Switzerland is the most beautiful country in the world»

Posted on 16. March 2017 by bhen

«My name is Bassam Haithm and I am from Yemen. I came here from South Germany, where I was studying Bioprocess Engineering. My interests are to travel a lot and to learn more about different cultures from all around the World. I have chosen the ZHAW School of Engineering because what I heard about it. Switzerland is the most beautiful country in the world and it was a chance for me to get good experiences through the interesting projects the School provides.

The system here is similar to Germany, but also quite a bit different: At the School of Engineering more projects are connected to companies/industrial partners. It was a really good experience to have. In Winterthur, the students are friendly and helpful. The semester at ZHAW, in my opinion, was a good way to get to know new people from different parts of the world and to have fun with them. Academically, I learnt how to plan and run a project and how to create an idea and implement it to reality. My exchange semester in Mechanical Engineering was totally good, but also stressful. The support of the International Office and the professors was perfect.

There are some topics, like events – especially culture ones – and trips to visit some famous places in Switzerland, I was really missing through the exchange semester. The only events that we had was through the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) and volunteering work from them. I hope that in the future the International Office will organize more events and trips for the exchange students. Finally, I would absolutely recommend to my colleagues to spend their exchange semester at the School of Engineering.»

City of Winterthur

«Experiences cannot be bought by money»

Posted on 24. November 2016 by bhen

Two undergraduate students from the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT) in Thailand joined the summer training at the ZHAW Zürich University of Applied Sciences. After their return they talked to SIIT News about their experiences. Read the full article here (p. 8).