Degree programme at FH Aachen, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics: Industrial Engineering
Start and end of stay abroad: 01.10.2015 - 31.03.2016
In which subject-specific semester did you complete your Master's thesis: 3
Name of the supervisor of the Master's thesis at the FH: Prof. Dr.-Ing.
(Kopie 1)
FH Aachen | Julia Leonie Wahle
City of Querétaro
Preparations
When did you start organising? 01/06/2015 (start of the application phase)
How did you contact the employer? Job exchange Indeed
How long did the application process take and what documents were required? 2 months (cover letter, CV, attachment, registration certificate)
Did you need a visa and if so, did you have to organise it yourself or did the employer apply for it for you? No, because for a "business trip" a business person can stay in the country for 180 days without a visa.
Useful tips or further information on preparation: A letter in English from the company to Mexican customs is useful. This should state how long the business person will be in the country, for what reason (e.g. support of the foreign location through workshops) and how the German and Mexican locations can be contacted.
Financial
Did you receive any funding to finance your stay abroad? No, as I have already taken advantage of Erasmus funding for another stay abroad.
Did you receive a salary from your employer? Yes.
Approximately how much did you spend travelling to the host country? Approx. 1600 € for flight and bus. Early planning results in lower travel costs and it is essential to negotiate that the company covers the costs.
What are the approximate living and accommodation costs in the host country? In a large city like Querétaro, the costs of living and accommodation are comparable to those in Germany.
Did you have to take out additional health insurance? International insurance through the ADAC, for example, is essential.
On site
What formalities had to be completed after arrival? None.
How did you find accommodation? The employer rented the flat in advance and the rental costs were deducted directly from the salary.
Where is the best place to live? Between the city centre and work. I lived in Jardines de la Hacienda. This was a safe, quiet and nice residential area and was right between the city centre and work. The flat was in a block of flats, which was equipped with some security features such as cameras and "protection fences". It is important that the employer is involved and pays attention to the safety of the neighbourhood.
What are the local shopping facilities like? There are fruterias, tiendas and modern supermarkets all over the city.
What is cheap or expensive in the host country? The cost of food and rent is comparable to that in Germany and is very high by Mexican standards. On the other hand, eating out and events such as going to the cinema are very cheap.
How far did you live from the company and what was the daily commute to work like? 8 km to work and 8 km to the city centre. The daily journey to work took about 50 minutes by bus from home to work, as there is a lot of traffic.
What can you say about the company location? The company is located in an industrial park. The site in Mexico is currently being expanded. The plant has a total of around 200 employees, 50 of whom are administrative staff. There are leisure facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, football pitches and parks with sports equipment. It is common to eat out in your free time. Activities such as card driving or playing LaserTec are extremely cheap in Mexico. Beautiful cities around Querétaro are Guanajuato, Mexico City, San Miguel, Bernal and Tequisquiapan. A trip to the beach, such as Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific, is highly recommended.
Are there any special customs/customs among the locals and what is an absolute taboo? Lunch and eating out are very much celebrated. Mexicans are very open and cheerful. Some are very religious.
About the employer
Briefly describe the company! Automotive supplier with 1,800 employees. In 2013, sales of approx. € 250 million were generated. There are a total of 10 locations worldwide. The parent company is based in Leverkusen.
Which Section did you work in? Global Lean
Were there any special features worth mentioning? Every month there was a cake party for the production workers to celebrate their birthdays.
Topic of your Master's thesis: Development of a model for standardised factory expansion in discontinuous production.
Was the topic of the Master's thesis specified by the company or were you able to choose it yourself? The topic was basically predetermined. The exact formulation was written together with the supervising professor at FH Aachen and the company's supervisor.
How many hours did you work on average? 42.5 hours per week
Final considerations - Conclusion
How would you rate your stay abroad overall? It was an incredibly good experience that everyone should take with them.
What were the high and low points of your stay? The highlight was definitely the beach holiday in Puerto Vallarta. As I was there in winter (it can freeze in Mexico too) and Mexicans don't have heating, I was sick a lot.
What will remain unforgotten? My farewell party with the company employees.
What advice would you like to give to other students who decide to do their Master's thesis abroad? If you are given the opportunity, you should definitely take it. Any initial anxiety will quickly fade.
Photos from the semester abroad
(Kopie 2)
FH Aachen | Julia Leonie Wahle
Karaoke, Antea shopping centre, wine tasting in Tequisquiapan
