WMU STEP Program Engineering Internships Abroad Jeff Murawa

Overview My personal experience My personal experience Pros and Cons of going abroad Pros and Cons of going abroad Options to offset the “cons” of going abroad Options to offset the “cons” of going abroad Resources Resources

My Experience Senior Mechanical Engineering/German major Senior Mechanical Engineering/German major Co-op with Robert Bosch Corporation Co-op with Robert Bosch Corporation St. Joseph, MI St. Joseph, MI Chassis Division Chassis Division Internship with ZF-Lenksysteme (Oct march 2006) Internship with ZF-Lenksysteme (Oct march 2006) Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany Power Steering Systems Power Steering Systems

Pros Academically – Academically – International Market International Market Global Business Knowledge Global Business Knowledge Measure of global engineering talent pool Measure of global engineering talent pool Personally - Personally - Get out of your comfort zone Get out of your comfort zone Learn another culture/language Learn another culture/language Networking Networking

Cons Prolonged College Career Prolonged College Career Cost Cost No Second Language No Second Language

Offsetting these cons Summer Classes Summer Classes Receive credits for your internship abroad Receive credits for your internship abroad Most programs abroad easily translate into gen. ed. credits Most programs abroad easily translate into gen. ed. credits Scholarships, Stipends, Paid Internships Scholarships, Stipends, Paid Internships WMU, Government, Employer WMU, Government, Employer START EARLY! START EARLY! Many English speaking programs Many English speaking programs

Resources Western Michigan University Western Michigan University wmich.edu/studyabroad wmich.edu/studyabroad Joyce Lew - director of Study Abroad and Student Exchanges Joyce Lew - director of Study Abroad and Student Exchanges President’s Grant (numerous other scholarships) President’s Grant (numerous other scholarships) Talk with the language department of your cultural interest Talk with the language department of your cultural interest Internet Internet idealist.org idealist.org interaction.org interaction.org gaccom.org gaccom.org daad.org daad.org

International Companies International Companies Bosch, Airbus,VW, DiamlerChrysler, etc… Bosch, Airbus,VW, DiamlerChrysler, etc… Personal Contacts Personal Contacts Business Owners, Professors, Other Students Business Owners, Professors, Other Students Resources cont’d

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