Accounts from students and graduates of the Cooperative State University (formerly University of Cooperative Education)

Maximilian Schimmel
Maximilian Schimmel has been studying Industrial Engineering at the DHBW Mannheim since 2008 and will graduate with a Bachelor of Engineering.

Maximilian Schimmel has kindly agreed to answer some questions

SP: Why did you decide to study at Cooperative State University and Schenck Process?
MS: The degree appealed to me, because you gain practical experience as well as learning the theory. Here, you get a number of different insights into a company. The company also puts pressure on students to study and get good marks, which I personally think is really good. You feel committed to the company and performing well, as you also get a monthly salary.
Why did I choose the Industrial Engineering degree programme? I was interested in both business management and industrial engineering and I'll be able to work in a wide range of fields once I graduate, as I have a mixture of both. I chose Schenck Process firstly because it is nearby and secondly because it's a modern company that operates throughout the world.

SP: What would you say to pupils interested in this kind of degree? What do you have to bring to the table?
MS: The degree means that you work in a number of departments and with a lot of different people. You therefore have to be a people person and be able to integrate easily into teams. You should also be interested in science and show that you are committed and disciplined.

SP: What do you think of your degree and practical training phases at Schenck Process so far?
MS: The theory elements, particularly the exam periods, are very stressful. All of the exams take place in one week, so you need to be organised and learn everything in advance – and there's a lot to learn. Before, I was working in the Purchasing Department, and now I'm in Accounting. In a nutshell, the degree is very diverse.

SP: What, for you, has been the highlight of working at Schenck Process to date?
MS: My highlight to date was being allowed to work very independently in Purchasing. I invited offers, sent enquiries on my own and spoke to suppliers. I also thought it was great that you can propose the departments you'd like to work in when creating your personal work schedule.

SP: Do you know already what you're interested in and what you'd like to do once you graduate?
MS: I'm more interested in the business management side of the degree, so I think I'll lean more towards that when choosing a career!

SP: What do you think of Schenck Process as an employer?
MS: It's a modern company that operates internationally. It has a good atmosphere, is innovative, and is a world market leader.

SP: What do you do in your spare time?
MS: In my spare time I regularly go to football training, I'm politically active and I like going skiing in winter.

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Maximilian Schimmel
Industrial Engineering degree programme

„The degree appealed to me, because you gain practical experience as well as learning the theory.“