Business, Technology and Engineering the German Way

 

This program focuses on German engineering technology and engineering business culture and will be offered in a hybrid model.  Students will start the program virtually, meet the faculty, cover the first half of the course and then travel to Munich, Germany for two weeks to finish the courses, in country. 

Virtual portion: The course will begin virtually (virtual conference) from April 29- May 3, 2024.

Travel portion: Then you will be in country for 2 weeks in Munich, Germany from May 5-19, 2024!

 
Here's a video from the student perspective about German Way.
 

What You'll Accomplish: 

You will gain:

  • Insight into the German approach to engineering and management
  • Experience various engineering perspectives 
  • Cultural understanding of southern Germany

The Munich University of Applied Sciences is our program provider and host. This university’s practice-oriented approach and its contacts at local firms guarantee application-oriented training. The study program is complemented by field trips (e.g. to the factory of a famous Bavarian car brand) and enriched with cultural activities in Munich and Bavaria.
Munich is the capital and largest city of the German state of Bavaria. It is the third largest city in Germany, with about 1.4 million people within the city limits. Munich was officially granted city status in 1175, but did not become the capital until Bavaria was reunited in 1506. Today Munich is a financial, social, and industrial hub of Europe; it is frequently recognized for its innovation in such areas. It is a green city, having numerous parks dating back to the 16th century. One park in particular, the Englischer Garten (The English Garden), is larger than Central Park in New York and houses four of the most famous beer gardens in Munich.

 

Where You'll Live: 

For Summer 2024, students will stay in local Munich housing that is accessible by public transit to commute to and from the campus. Students will have breakfast included Monday-Friday, and stay in single rooms with an en-suite bathroom, a desk and TV, and a small kitchenette. 

 

What You'll Study: 

This program offers two- 3 credit courses for a total of 6 credits. 

You will not receive a letter grade for this program but will receive academic credit as long as you earn the equivalent of a C or higher in each course. 

The lectures are conducted in English by a professor in the department of Engineering and Management at the Munich University of Applied Sciences.

Coursework may count towards the UCIS European Studies certificate.  

The syllabi for ENGR 1450: Business, Technology and Engineering the German Way and ENGR 1282: German Engineering Business Practices can be accessed here:  Syllabi ENGR 1450 & ENGR 1282 

You can access a sample daily schedule for this program (including the virtual conference days) here.  

Engineering students can view how these courses will fulfill degree requirements here.

Business student: these courses count as College of Business Administration electives. Please speak with your academic advisor for more details.

We partner with the HM Munich (a university of applied sciences) to create this program. 

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts: 

Alicia JF Olalde, M.A.

Hello! Konnichiwa! I am the Director for Global Experiences and Engagement in the Swanson School of Engineering.  After working for the JET program in Japan for just over two years, I decided to pursue a career in international education. I returned to the US via a few months of travel -slowing making my way west with many stops in stunning locations and with amazing people. Whenever possible, I continue  explore new countries and cultures and have had the good fortune to work, study and travel all over the world. I have been fortunate to work both as an administrator and as a classroom educator in higher education; my areas of interest are international, adult and comparative education.  I enjoy assisting engineering students seize global opportunities! 

Schedule an appointment

SSOE students: schedule an appointment with me using Pathways via this link!

non-SSOE students-- send me an email and we'll set up a time to meet!

 

Lauren Smith-Lemesh M.Ed.

Om Swastiastu Pitt! My name is Lauren, and I am one of the Global Programs Managers in the Swanson School of Engineering. I studied abroad in Indonesia during undergraduate, and worked as a peer study abroad advisor once I returned. After my study abroad trip, I knew that I wanted to support students to have life-changing experiences abroad too. Let's talk about your interests and find a program that will help you achieve your goals! 

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!

  • Log in to Pathways or use the Navigate app.
  • Select Appointments > Schedule an Appointment
  • Select Pitt Global as the Care Unit.
  • Select 152 Benedum as the Location
  • Select ENGR Global  as the service
  • Select my name and find a time that works for you!

Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!

Your In-Country Contacts: 

Dr. Johannes Brombach

Johannes Brombach is a Professor for Work Science and Ergonomics (Human Factors Engineering) at the Department of Engineering and Management at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich, Germany. He worked before at the Institute for Applied Work Science (ifaa) and as a production manager in the German automotive industry. He was elected as a representative for ergonomics for the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) and as a board member of the German Association for Work Science (Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft, GfA). 
 
Johannes studied at the University of Siegen, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Economics ("Diplom-Wirtschaftsingenieur") and earned his PhD with an award from the chamber for Industry and Commerce in Siegen in 2005. 
 
In 2018 he visited the US on a Fulbright Research and Teaching Scholarship at Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, from August to December.
 

Dr. Joerg Elias

Joerg started his professional career as a core team member of the global automotive practice group of the top management consultancy firm A.T. Kearney. He then joined Saab Automobile AB in Sweden where he held managerial positions in the functions Advanced Engineering, Production, Purchasing and Marketing. He joined executive search firm Egon Zehnder International, where he was member of the global Automotive practice group and headed the Chemical practice group in the DACH-region and the global Aerospace practice group. Joerg joined the industry again where he was globally responsible for Production and Quality Management for the food container service company Cartonplast where he implemented a food safety management system according to ISO 22000. In 2015, he became professor at the University of Applied Sciences in Munich for the service industry in the automotive sector.

Joerg studied Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering at the TH Darmstadt, and the TU Munich and he holds a Master of Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He earned his PhD at the TU Braunschweig working for the German Aerospace Research Establishment.

He acquired broad international expertise with extended stays in the USA, Sweden and Austria, as well as in Brazil and Italy and is fluent in German, English and Swedish.
 
 

Doris Konrad

Doris
Graduated in History of Arts and Literature and since 4 years in the departmental administration of the Department of Engineering and Management.
Member of the Core Team of EGW since 2016 and mainly responsible for the organisation and planning of the Summer School.
Professional assistance for your stay in Munich during the Summer School.
 

Items Billed by Pitt

  In-State Out-of-State
Program Fee (see the "What's included" section) $6,650 $6,850
Study Abroad Fee $300 $300
Total Billed by Pitt $6,950 $7,150

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Airfare ~$1,400
Meals ~$500
Personal expenses  Varies
If you are not a U.S. citizen there may be a additional costs associated with applying for a visa and/or traveling to an embassy or consulate Varies

 

What's Included: 

The tuition and program fee includes:

  • Tuition for two, 3-credit courses (total of 6 credits)
  • On-site orientation (including a group arrival dinner)
  • Housing in apartment style guesthouse with a single room
  • Local Munich transportation pass
  • Welcome and farewell dinner
  • Breakfasts Monday-Friday
  • Group airport transfer and ground transportation in Munich (2-week Munich city center)
  • International Health and accident insurance through ISOS
  • Admission to all scheduled tours, company visits and required excursions 

Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad.  Visit our budgeting page for more information.

For global scholarship opportunities, check out:

  • The Pitt GEO scholarship page for links to national, provider and private scholarship samples
  • PittFund$Me  for Pitt sponsored funding including Pitt wide global scholarships, Nationality Rooms, VIH, etc.
  • PittFund$Me  for the SSOE Global Experience Scholarships!

**Note that Pitt Global Experience Office courses/programs such as this one, operate outside of normal tuition and fee schedules and cannot be combined nor included in full-term tuition pricing. 

When You'll Go: 

Virtual portion: The course will begin virtually from April 29- May 3, 2024.  
Travel portion of the program: May 5-19, 2024 in Munich, Germany!

What Else You Need to Know: 

Application Requirements: 

  • Graduate or Undergraduate students who have a solid background in physics and math
  • Engineering or Business student
  • Good academic and behavioral standing
  • Must be in your second year student or higher at the time of application
  • Minimum 2.75 GPA 

Listen to a student tell you why the program was meaningful!

 

 

Students that have attended this program previously want you to know....

"I've never met a better staff of people than I did on this trip. The professors were some of the most knowledgeable I've ever had, true experts in their fields. To be able to have them give us tours of the facilities that they'd worked with was even better. The two trip coordinators, Maria and Katharina, were simply amazing. They went above and beyond for us, and truly treated us to a full cultural experience of Munich, Bavaria, and southern Germany."

- Thomas Zacher (Check out his blog!)

 

"Before this trip my career goals were all of self interest.  I like to solve problems, do math, and chemistry.  Now I can truly say I want to be an engineer to help make the world a better place.  This gives chemical engineering a greater meaning and I am proud to be on the road to accomplishing great things. "

- Michell Leech (Check out her blog)

 

Read all of the SSOE Engineering Blogs about German Way here!