The studies "Agricultural Engineering" arbitrates responsibilities of the areas Mechanical Engineering, Electronical Systems and Industrial business administration with an agricultural context, so it deals with the current technical challenges during the production and converting of agricultural raw materials.

My decision for the studies:

It was not easy for me to decide, which study program would be the best for me. On the one hand, I am really interested in technique, so first I was very interested in the studies Mechanical Engineering. On the other hand, I am convinced by agriculture. I had the chance to win great impressions during my work at an agricultural business and I have done a lot of internships in these areas, so I envolved enthusiasm for modern agricultural engineering.

You can expect the following:

The studies Agricultural Engineering at the university Weihenstephan-Triesdorf is a great combination of Mechanical Engineering and agriculture with high parts of practical apprenticeship-contents. The combination of theoretical lectures at the university, practical trainings at the agricultural school in Triesdorf and the practical phases in partner companies helps us to prepare ourselves for the career entry. The studies takes 3,5 years. After the internship (5. Semester) you can choose between the focuses "Development of Agricultural Engineering Systems" and "Marketing and Management in the agricultural business". I chose the Marketing focus, because I thought it would be really attractive for me. The internship is compulsive for every student.
Moreover, it is possible to pass the studies with recessed practice. This model is similar to the dual-studies-system. First of all, I registered myself at the university Weihenstephan-Triesdorf for the studies Agricultural Engineering. After that, you have to search for a suitable partner company. I was attracted by an advertisement of the company CLAAS. After a successful application process my coorporation with the company started after my second semester. After that, the theoretical lectures and the practical phases alternate with one another.

The life in Triesdorf:

The campus and the university in Triesdorf are very familiar and not compareable with big universities. For me it is very attractive: The region of Triesdorf is very livable, there is a high part of practise during the studies and a manageable part of costs. In addition to that, also the professors have a lot of knowledge of agriculture und are very practical-oriented.

My practical phases at CLAAS:

At CLAAS I worked for the Marketing and Sales Departments. I did my practical phases in the departments Product Management, Promotion, Used-machinery-centres, Customer Care and Academy. During the practical blocks, my knowledge of the university was very helpful. I needed a high rate of willingness to travel, because I was in whole Germany to get to know different departments and different excersises. In conclusion, there were a lot of great experiences, for example my help at the worldwide most famous and biggest agriculture-trade-fare AGRITECHNICA in Hanover.

Three qualities applicants for the dual-study programme should have:

You definitely should have practical experiences in agriculture to understand connections and to put the content of the apprenticeship in the practical context. Moreover, individual initiative helps you to work independently, to learn a lot and to organise things. My last recommended feature is to be open for new areas in the studies and also in the company to get to know more people and new regions.

A dual studies with recessed practise at CLAAS is…

… a very interesting challenge in a future-oriented company, which is great fun with the practical impressions in the agriculture and in its great projects.

Get to know more about the dual study programme.

My expectations concerning the dual studies:

I expected to work in various departments within CLAAS, getting to know many new people and being able to develop my personality. Today, I can say that everything is totally fulfilled: I learned many interesting new things while having fun. In addition, the HR department took care of us splendidly, and I made many really good new friends!

My highlights:

Among other things, I especially liked the experience of going abroad to Paris and a job fair in Rietberg that gave me the chance to meet and consult interested students. At the university we also had some exciting highlights besides our lectures: We had a knigge dinner, visited a textile company and tried a so-called age suit. I particularly enjoy the student’s life in Stuttgart because it never gets boring.

Things, I don’t like that much:

Packing my bags. The only thing that I really don’t like is packing my bags for the next move. That doesn’t just mean to clear out the room, but also to say goodbye for three months. However, there is a positive side too, because I can see my friends in Stuttgart and my family and friends at home in turns of three months. Therefore, the packing gets easier by looking forward to the reunion.

A typical day:

Although you don’t have a daily routine, the following overview will show you a typical day:
In Stuttgart:

• 8:00/9:00 am to 12:15 pm: first lecture
  
• 12:15 pm to 01:00 pm: lunch break
  
• 01:00 pm – about 04:30 pm: second lecture
  
• From 04:30 pm: time for self-studying, preparing the next lectures and, not to forget, the benefits of living in Stuttgart.
  

In Harsewinkel:

• About 8:15 am: starting the workday
  
• Depends of the department, mainly taking care of own tasks and projects, phoning, answering emails, joining meetings,
  
• 12:15 pm to 01:00 pm: Lunch break with other students and apprentices in a common room or with the colleagues in the canteen
  
• 01:00 pm to 04:00 pm: second work part
  
• About 4:00 pm: closing time
  

My leads to apply successfully at CLAAS:

Show your naturalness and be yourself! It is important in the application to leave a mark as well as in the following interview. Try to answer the questions as smart as possible – with good preparation you shouldn’t have any problems. Remember that there is no perfect answer, anyway. In my eyes, the most important thing is to believe in yourself and to show your interest in the company.

Which three characteristics are important for applicants?

Self-reliance: It’s necessary to take responsibility during the practical periods, for example within a project, and likewise in Stuttgart for your own flat share.
Motivation: Showing a positive attitude while having the goal in sight leads to a comfortable learning atmosphere.
Open-mindedness: Be open-minded in university and at work, so it gets easier to learn more interesting new things.

Being a dual student at CLAAS is…

…highly recommendable to everyone!

Get to know more about the dual study programme.

My expectations concerning the dual studies:

Previously I expected a very big challenge, which would not be easy to meet, so I honestly had a lot of respect. This excitement abated quickly because of the good support of our training department and of the students from higher semesters. My first wishes were only to pass the dual-studies and to collect new experiences. Meanwhile, I built a lot of different interests in Informatics and I was able to intensify my knowledge mostly in the practical phases.

This inspires me of the dual-study programme at CLAAS:

I felt inspired the most by the high rate of responsibility, which we got since day one. My tasks were always interesting and you get worked in fast in new projects. Moreover, I loved the theory phases in Stuttgart. I found new friends and we developed one big community.

My personal highlight:

I cannot say, which highlight was the best at the moment, because I have not finished my dual studies yet. So far I think, that my stay abroad in China will be definitely one great highlight. There I worked in Peking for two months and in Gaomi for three months. That was a very exciting experience!

My daily working routine:

My day starts at 8 am. I have my own To-do lists, which remember me of my tasks, so I always work on these tasks and sometimes I have to admit a new task. So far, I had a main task in a project, where I worked on for three months. This task can be a programming assignment, an organisation task or a management task. We often have meetings with colleagues, project members or with our advisors. I do not want to forget our lunch, where I meet colleagues in the canteen or the other students and apprentices in the commercial study-room.
In Stuttgart my day starts at 9 am and ends at 4:30 or 5:30 pm, where we have some lectures. After that we always have leisure time in our students' house or we go in the city, because Stuttgart offers a lot of possibilities. When we have to write our exams, which are always at the end of a semester, we have to prepare ourselves for the exams the whole day. This can be really stressful, but it is normal and part of the dual-studies. In compensation, I do sports and eat healthy food.

Three qualities applicants for the dual-study programme should have:

For the dual-study programme at CLAAS you should be open-minded, because you get to know a lot of new people during your time in Harsewinkel and Stuttgart. You also need to be dedicated to dispute with new topics and projects. For the dual-studies business informatics you do not need a lot of previous knowledge in special areas. In my opinion, it is only important, that you are interested in Informatics and new technologies.

My prospects after finishing the dual-study programme:

You have a lot of perspectives. It is possible to get in a job immediately or to do a master programme after your dual-studies.

My application tips:

Your application should be natural and honest. You should write open and you should concentrate on the basics like: Why you are applying at CLAAS and why are you interested in the dual-study programme and the including topics. This tip is also useful for your interview: Try to be polite and do not put on a mask.

Learning by doing – Why practical experience is important:

Sometimes I had topics in the theory phases, which I only understood through the practical phases at CLAAS. There are a lot of topics, which are different in theory and practice. It is helpful to know this very early. In general, the practice blocks were very helpul for me during my dual-studies.

Get to know more about the dual study programme.

My expectations towards the dual-study programme:
At the beginning, I was hoping to get a many-sided formation with practical experience. Now I can say that my expectations came true, because you can get many insights already in the first year at CLAAS.

Tasks I like the most:
The independent work on my own project is great fun and helps me to develop my working-skills. Working together with people from other countries is also very helpful and improves the knowledge.

Tasks which I do not like:
The move back to Harsewinkel after the terms in Stuttgart is a little bit stressful.

The highlight during my dual-study programme until now:
There were already many highlights during my dual-study. Among other things, the product training was a great experience and will be always in my mind. The connection to the CLAAS products was very close and we got to know every technical detail.

My daily routine at work and in Stuttgart:
During the practical phases, the day starts earlier because CLAAS is far from my home. The task at work depends on the department but is always interesting. If it is possible, you can work on your own project.
At the university in Stuttgart, there are more possibilities to do things whenever you want. The leisure time activities are different compared to those in Harsewinkel due to the big city center in Stuttgart.

Three qualities applicants for the dual-study programme should have:
Flexibility: You have to be flexible in living and thinking. There are always new situations coming up.
Openness: During the dual-study, you get to know many people. If you are open, it is easier to cooperate with them.
Motivation: Sometimes the study is hard and you have to work tough. Nevertheless, with motivation and interest it is possible.

My prospects after finishing the dual-study programme:
After my dual-studies, I consider working at CLAAS on the long run. Nevertheless, continuing with studies would also be an option for me.

My application tips:
A great knowledge about the company and its products is always helpful.

A dual-study programme at CLAAS is …
…a little bit of everything and especially interesting!

Get to know more about the dual study programme.

My expectations towards the dual-study programme:

Before I started my dual studies in cooperation with CLAAS, I expected to learn a lot about things I am interested in. I expected to get a lot of exciting and challenging assignments. For me it is important to gain practical experience to connect theory and practice. My expectations have been fulfilled at a high level, especially the connection between theory and practice.

Tasks I like the most:

I like the practical terms in which I assume responsibility for my own small projects. I am allowed to design some modules independently and work on solution concepts for particular functional requirements. I am happy about becoming acquainted with likeable colleagues during the exciting everyday work.

Tasks, which I do not like:

The phases of exams at the end of every semester are very stressful. Because of the tight time schedule you have to repeat the learning content of a whole semester in a short time.

The highlight during my dual-study programme until now:

The best about my dual studies until now was the harvest with the testing team of the Technical Development. We have been testing new concepts there, how CLAAS machines can act even more efficiently. Especially exciting was to see, how my own ideas act in the practice und how they contribute a part to reach the teams' target.

Three qualities applicants for the dual-study programme should have:

You should be a motivated and determined team player. The motivation and determination is necessary to keep focused on your target in exhausting periods. Combine harvesters cannot be designed, produced and sold by only one person. For a complex task like this, you need a good collaborating team in which everyone does his job reliable.

My prospects after finishing the dual-study programme:

After finishing the dual-study programme, I want to work in the Design Department of the Technical Development.

A dual-study programme at CLAAS is…

…exciting and challenging. I get a lot of input and many great tasks, through which my empirical knowledge grows and through which I learn how to develop good solutions within a team.

Get to know more about the dual study programme.

My expectations towards the dual-study programme:
I decided to do a dual-study programme, because of the mix of theory at university and the practical experience within the company. Especially the experience inside the company inspired me. Switching from theory to work life is what makes this kind of education programme interesting. The content spectrum of the Industrial Engineering education is wide, so it is possible to get to know quite a lot.

Tasks I like the most:
The utter satisfaction is generated by interesting projects inside the company and the wide spectrum of departments you are able to work in.

Tasks I do not like:
For me personally, the periods within the company are too short. I would like to stay there for a longer period of time. Unfortunately, longer phases are impossible to manage with reference to this compact education programme.

The highlight during my dual-study programme until now:
My previous highlight was a spontaneous trip with a service technician to England where I was able to see the way an international service technician works.

My daily routine at work and in Stuttgart:
Every day at work can be different compared to the one before. The breakfast and lunch breaks are often a fix part of the day, the other designation is very flexible and diversified. A typical day in Stuttgart consists of two lectures, the first one in the morning and the second one in the afternoon. During the lunch break, I am usually visiting the canteen to recharge my energy.

Three qualities applicants for the dual-study programme should have:
In my opinion, self-confidence and an independent way of working is very important due to the constant changing of departments and colleagues. But the most important characteristic is endurance, because you need energy to be successful.

My prospects after finishing the dual-study programme:
There are various opportunities after completing the dual-study programme. You are able to orientate yourself during your education by gaining many different experiences which clears the way for deciding which direction is the right one – hopefully in order to find your perfect future job.

My application tips:
Motivation, a lot of ambition and the interest in CLAAS and their products are a good foundation.

A dual-study programme at CLAAS is …
...an excellent opportunity to start your career in an interesting global company, especially for young adults with an affinity for agricultural topics.

Get to know more about the dual study programme.