Author's degree programme at FH Aachen: Product Development (M. Eng.), Faculty 8
Start and end of stay abroad: 25.03.2013 - 23.09.2013 (practical training from 01.04. - 06.09.)
In which semester did you do the practical training? 4th Master's semester
Preparations
When did you start your preparations? Beginning of November 2012 - application, after the written examinations in February - flight, flat, visa.
How did you contact the employer? Application by email.
How long did the application process take and what documents were required? Approx. 3 months, only the CV was required. A telephone interview was conducted.
Did you need a visa? A visa for the PR China is required. The employer issued the required invitation letter and I applied for the visa myself.
Useful tips or further information on preparation: The visa takes approx. 7 - 10 days, with agents it can take four days. I wanted to extend my stay by 5 days. However, the new visa regulations made this extremely difficult, so I decided to leave the country again (see Asterix und Obelix - passenger ticket A38).
Financial
Did you receive any funding to finance your stay abroad? No.
Did you receive remuneration from your employer? An expense allowance, yes.
Approximately how much did you spend travelling to the host country? 650 € (for return flight).
Approximately how high are the living and accommodation costs in the host country? Comparable to Germany (room rent approx. 300 €, food costs in the Jing'an Temple business district 1.5-5 €.
Did you have to take out additional health insurance? International health insurance is necessary, no additional vaccinations to those recommended in Germany are necessary.
On site
What formalities had to be completed after arrival? Foreigners must report to the nearest police station within 24 hours of arrival and register their residential address.
How did the search for accommodation go (did your employer help you find accommodation or are there any helpful agencies)? You should find accommodation yourself(www.schanghai.com and www.smartshanghai.com are very helpful, but there are also thousands of local agents). However, you should be careful because there are allegedly people who rip off foreigners (see the advice on Smartshanghai.com).
Where is the best place to stay? I lived a bit outside (about 1 hour drive to work) where it's a bit quieter, but it's definitely a matter of taste. Most foreigners prefer to live in the inner ring road.
What are the local shopping facilities like? Very good. There are many supermarkets (I recommend the German supermarket Metro) and smaller shops. Vegetables can be bought cheaply at the open market.
What is cheap or expensive in the host country? Cheap: Food (depends on where), entrance fees, telephone calls; but prices are generally comparable to Germany, at least in Shanghai.
How far did you live from the company and what was the daily commute to work like? 50 minutes. 35 minutes by metro, the rest on foot.
What can you say about the company location? The company is located in a business district. However, Shanghai and the surrounding area has a lot to offer in all areas (culture, leisure, nightlife, excursions).
Are there any special customs/customs among the locals and what is an absolute taboo? Giving and receiving a business card with two hands! Bringing gifts is not a must, but it is very common when you are a guest. Although the Chinese are often keen to pay for food, you should make sure that it remains balanced (it is quite common to "argue" about who pays) Don't let yourself be chatted up on the street for tea or something similar, I've heard it can be expensive (allegedly up to RMB 3000) Taiwan, Tibet, ... etc. have always been part of China!
About the employer
Briefly describe the company! The VDMA is the largest interest group of the capital goods industry in Europe and represents 3000 companies from the mechanical and plant engineering sector. The China office serves to support the member companies locally with the required service, to collect information for the member companies and the association and also to represent the VDMA or the member companies at trade fairs or events. The association is divided into sectors. These sectors are specialised in one area, but not all of them are represented in China. There are a number of events and trade fairs that the VDMA itself initiates or in which the VDMA participates.
Which Section did you work in? VDMA Shanghai Representative Office.
Were there any special features worth mentioning? Having your own computer with the necessary software (MS Office) is an advantage.
How many hours did you work on average? 8 hours.
Other comments on the internship: Although practical training at VDMA sounds uninteresting for mechanical engineers at first, I can definitely recommend it for mechanical engineering students who want to orientate themselves towards management. Here you not only gain an insight into the economic situation in China and the foreign business of German companies, but also learn about the issues that companies abroad are confronted with. As a mechanical engineer, you can put your technical knowledge to good use here and also learn a lot about company processes. There is a dress code in the office: Black, navy blue, dark brown or grey suit; single-coloured shirt (preferably white or "business blue"), overall professional appearance, tie no more than four colours, shoes black or dark brown.
Final considerations - Conclusion
How would you rate your stay abroad overall? I thought this stay abroad was great. I really enjoyed China and Shanghai in particular and I can only recommend every student to take the plunge and spend some time here. I also think that this practical training gave me a lot for my future career, as it gave me a very good insight into the business world here in China.
What will remain unforgotten? The great experiences I've had here.
What advice would you like to give to other students who would like to do their practical project or Bachelor's thesis abroad? Definitely learn some Chinese and something about the culture.
