Justus is completing an internship at the HSZG and reports on his time at the university.
At the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, you can complete an internship in addition to studying and training. Justus (15) from Zittau is in the ninth grade at Schkola in Ebersbach and is now doing his second internship at the university. He reports on his time at the HSZG and his impressions of the university.
How long have you been an intern at the university?
I was at the university from September to October. Now I'm here every Monday until February 2023.
Why is your internship so long?
I'm at an independent school that has a different school concept. It's a bit more independent. We have several internships. In eighth grade, we had two weeks of work experience. I was already at the university then. There will be another work placement in tenth grade.
Which departments were you in during your work placement in year eight?
I was mainly in the LaNDER³ hall. We worked with natural fibers, did various experiments with them, and it was also about recycling.
How do you like your current internship in Public Relations and at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering so far?
I'm really enjoying it so far. I haven't really experienced anything that I would say I haven't enjoyed or that I haven't learned anything new. The tasks have been very varied. In public relations, for example, I packed letters or listed and photographed trade fair articles. I also went to the Fraunhofer IWU and loved the big machines. I also worked in very different places in the mechanical engineering department. I was also at Wolfgang Meinck and measured seats with a 3D camera. He explained to me how milling machines work. Together with Matthias Herrmann, we tested ropes with the help of testing machines. And finally, I also made a stop in the LaNDER³ hall.
Are you interested in machines?
Yes, very much, that's my subject. I would also like to work with it later and can imagine studying rather than doing an apprenticeship.
What do you particularly like about the internship?
I like the fact that I'm here for a long time. I can do and see more. I start at 9 a.m., work until 4 p.m. and have an hour's lunch break.
What made you decide to do an internship at the university?
I wanted to take a look at the university and get an idea of whether I would like to study mechanical engineering here later. It is very varied and I can only recommend it to anyone who is interested in the fields here.
Did you prefer public relations or mechanical engineering?
I think I'm more the mechanical engineering type.
What do you think of the people you've had contact with so far?
I had the feeling with everyone that they were happy that I was there and that I was interested in it. Everyone was super nice and no one made a bad impression on me.
What else is important to know when considering an internship at the university?
If you do an internship in the field of mechanical engineering, you will be doing a lot. You shouldn't expect to just watch, you can also lend a hand.
Were there any tasks that you didn't like?
No, everything has been great so far. But I'm also a person who does tasks that I don't enjoy, simply to help others or because it's just my job. But that hasn't happened. Of course, there were also tasks that were less interesting, but that's not a bad thing.
Did you have a specific idea or expectation of your time at the university?
My expectation was simply to get to know the field in order to decide whether it would be something for me and whether I would like to study it later. I was not disappointed. It's better than I had hoped for.
In a nutshell: How would you describe the internship?
It's interesting, varied and never boring. The employees I worked with were very interested in me and also enjoyed working with me. It's simply fun.
Would you recommend the internship to others?
I definitely would. I can only speak for the areas I was in, but I can only recommend it to anyone interested in mechanical engineering or public relations.
The interview was conducted by Julia Lachmann.
As a pupil in year 9 or higher, you can apply for a compulsory school internship at the university in the following faculties and departments:
Furthermore, interested pupils can also complete additional internships during the vacations. You will be accommodated in the university's laboratories and workrooms for the entire duration of the internship, where you will be given exciting and practical tasks under expert guidance.
You can find all the important information about the application process here
