In July the group of twelve students of the Joint Ukrainian-German faculty of mechanical engineering visited Magdeburg university of Otto von Gerike (Germany). Four weeks, four various institutes, four various directions (the researches of materials' endurance, the experimental factory, mechanotronics, welding).
The training began exactly at 9:00 - the German teachers are extremely punctual. In order to show yourself from the sunny side, we were already at the audience in 10 minutes before the 9th.
Then there were three hours of lectures. Within a month we generally didn't see chalk - the boards were or interactive, or markers were used. Despite the lack of knowledge of technical terms, the slides were clear and if not absolutely, but using the method "on fingers" everything cleared up. By the way, about slides. The ability to identify the main idea and make a creative presentation here is very valuable, so when you come here, forget about topics.
Now about the most interesting of shown us at the university.
"Edith". The impressive battery car created by the students and postgraduate students of the university which development is sponsored by BMW. Being the colleague of BMW - isn't the dream of the Ukrainian student? To look at a car on the automagazine covers or to go in it the German town, hardly hearing the electric motor? Feelings from such trip are tremendous.
Kart for participation in competitions like "24 hours of Le Mans" - is the students' term project. Having the real project, students investigate the real car, working till the night in laboratory. NOT the term projects in 60 pages of formulas and schedules, but the engine, mounting, ecoexhaust. Also they want to create not simply the machine that goes, but to receive hardy and economic kart, improving mechanics in each inclination of tubular frame, in weight distribution on the plane.
3D scanner. We saw such device for the first time. Light reflected by a detail, is registered by two cameras. The appendix analyzes data and builds the three-dimensional image of a detail.
The practice is not just training. After classes we discovered for ourselves Magdeburg. Almost to each corner of the city the tram goes. Unlike Kiev, for cyclists and pedestrians all conditions for safe movement are created here; for autos it is necessary to stand long at the traffic lights. All round the city it is possible to see symbolics which reminds the famous person - Otto von Gerike and his well-known "the Magdeburg hemispheres". Every Thursday in the main town hall of the city passes the evening of an organ music. To compare the usual rock or club music with organ music it is impossible; listening the organ music, you would read the book, you endure exciting moments together with the author.
The acquaintance with Germany wasn't limited to one Magdebourg, the days off were for distant trips. At eight o'clock the red high-speed train arrives to the platform, press the touch button - and you are welcome to comfort and cold weather. Yes, cold weather as the conditioners are programmed on temperature 20oС, and it can’t be changed. We visited Berlin - the capital of Germany, Dresden - its architectural capital, Leipzig, Wolfsburg.
About Wolfsburg - the hometown of Volkswagen concern known by every person - I want to mention. If the engineering paradise exists, it is exactly here. Will you see somewhere the 1001 horsepower engine which can be "felt"? Here all history of automobile industry is presented since Bugatti 1912 and finishing Bugatti Veyron, Porsche Boxter and many others. When you will gather in Wolfsburg, don't forget to take the spare accumulator for the camera, there will be what to photograph.
Summing up, I want to tell that a month in Germany - is a good reward for three years of study at the joint faculty of mechanical engineering (with 12th o'clock German in a week). But it is only the beginning. Ahead of TestDaF (examination of German language) and 2 years of a magistracy. Therefore, dear students, don't waste time and register for the program of the Joint Ukrainian-German faculty, open for yourself the engineering world you can't image!