It was a great time!

Jan Sobolewski is a mechatronics student at the HSZG and is currently spending two semesters at the Chinese German University of Applied Sciences (CDHAW) at Tongi University in Shanghai.

The HSZG is a member of the nationwide university consortium and has been heavily involved in the CDHAW project since it was founded in 2004. Since 2006, up to 11 CDHAW students have come to the HSZG every year to study for two semesters. Mr. Sobolewski is the first student from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to study for a double degree at the CDHAW.

In the following report, Mr. Sobolewski shares his experiences and gives helpful tips that will enable other students to have a successful start to a semester abroad.

Phase 1: The preparations

I had already heard several times that professors from our university were traveling to China to teach courses there. At the end of 2015, Professor Worlitz introduced us to the CDHAW (Chinese German University of Applied Sciences) exchange program with Tongji University in Shanghai. The program provides for an exchange of Chinese and German students, who are rewarded with a double degree after one semester of specialist studies and one Bachelor's semester. This means that students on Bachelor's degree programs receive a Bachelor's degree in Germany and at Tongji University in China at the same time.

Although I had never seriously considered a semester abroad before, it was a very tempting offer. With the prospect of a scholarship, which included a place in a hall of residence, basic health insurance, tuition fees and a monthly allowance, I decided to at least apply for it. The application process was relatively complex and lengthy. After applying to the International Office of the HSZG (early 2016) and the Chinese university (February/March 2016), I applied for the scholarship. As a year abroad without a scholarship was out of the question for me, it was very important to submit all documents on time. After receiving confirmation from Tongji University, I was able to apply for the Chinese visa. In July, I received the scholarship notification, which sealed the deal for my year abroad in China.

Phase 2: The semester, everyday study life and campus life

The first semester started at the beginning of September. After arriving at Shanghai Pudong Airport, I was met by a Chinese student who took me to the campus. Due to my late arrival and some uncertainties, the first few days were relatively stressful, as registration for the university and scholarship followed immediately. It is therefore worth arriving about a week earlier to be able to register at the university without stress. This also helps you to find your way around Shanghai and make your first contacts with other students.

I was accommodated at the Jiading Campus in the northwest of the city. The campus seemed like a small town to me. There are parks, sports fields, cafés and restaurants and a shopping arcade. Of course, there are also the university buildings and halls of residence. As I didn't know any comparable campus life from Germany, I was a little skeptical about life in Jiading at first.

After a short time, however, the campus became a home for all students. You go through the daily study routine together, take part in the numerous sports activities and meet up for meals in the canteen or a restaurant.

I was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the halls of residence. The rooms were renovated and furnished. There was a kitchen on each floor, but we rarely used it due to the low prices in restaurants and the canteen. The hall of residence is exclusively for international students and is one of the best on campus. Here you come into contact with students of different nationalities. However, the majority of students came from Germany, France and Italy.

I was enrolled on the "Mechatronic Engineering" course. You could choose the course content when you registered. As you have to achieve 30 credit points for the Bachelor's degree and one course could not be offered, I had relatively little leeway in my choice. The lectures were held in English and were attended by both Chinese and German students.

Compared to the German requirements, I would classify the subject requirements as somewhat lower. However, there was also some coursework to be completed, which kept you busy all the time. I particularly enjoyed the practical project work. German and Chinese students worked together on topics relating to robotics and CNC technology. 

In addition to the compulsory courses, voluntary courses were also offered. The organizers at Tongji University made a great effort to coordinate the free Chinese courses with us. The lecture series and the "Lunch Box Talk" gave us the opportunity to make contacts with companies and find a place for the Bachelor's semester.

Phase 3: The Bachelor's semester

Once all the exams had been written and the planned travel time was over, the practical part of the exchange program began - the Bachelor's semester. The companies were very flexible when it came to finding dates and so I started my Bachelor's thesis about a month after the exams at EMAG Machine Tools Taicang in the north of Shanghai. During this time, the company provided me with an apartment. My task was to implement production control systems for EMAG machines in order to be able to offer customers future-proof systems in the age of Industry 4.0. I got to know the company through the aforementioned lecture series, where we heard a presentation by the EMAG CEO at Tongji University. 

The companies go to great lengths to ensure that the students have a varied time.

I was able to take part in customer and supplier meetings and visit various trade fairs to build up extensive background knowledge. In addition, team-building events were also organized, where we played sports, ate or drank together with colleagues.

Shanghai - After work, we often went to the city center together. It takes a maximum of 90 minutes by metro from the campus. Shanghai is a very international metropolis where you can sometimes forget you're in Asia - until you find yourself in a crowd of Chinese people again. The dichotomy between the Chinese way of life and the Western-influenced city is very interesting. Despite the language barrier, dealing with the Chinese people was very easy as you always had the feeling of being welcome.

Shanghai itself is an attraction, especially at night. As soon as it gets dark, the buildings are artistically illuminated. There are various bars and clubs that entice you with different offers. Shanghai also has one or two highlights for shopping enthusiasts. At the so-called Fake Market, you can buy cheap clothes, shoes or even electronic items if you are prepared to compromise on quality. At the Tailor Market, you can have every conceivable item of clothing tailored at fair prices.

Travel - Of course, my visit to China was not limited to the university in Shanghai. Although studying is clearly the main focus of this program, you still have enough time to travel around China. The long weekends on Chinese public holidays, the time after exams and after the Bachelor's thesis are best suited for this. Exceptions can also be made in consultation with the professors. As a rule, however, attendance is compulsory.

Unfortunately, China is far too big to explore completely in this short time. In addition to the main destinations such as the Great Wall of China or the Terracotta Army in Xian, trips to rural regions can also be very exciting.

Conclusion

The year abroad in China was a great enrichment for me. In my case, the course content did not coincide with that at the HSZG, so I was able to gain insights into other areas and also a different everyday life as a student. However, there is also room for improvement in terms of organization. For example, the scholarship notification only arrived at the end of July, which left me relatively little time to book flights and get vaccinations. I am happy to share my experience with future participants to make their first steps easier. 

Even though I never really wanted to go abroad before, I am glad that I jumped over my shadow. I learned a lot of new things, saw exciting places and made international friends. It was a great time and I would recommend it to anyone.