English-language Master Automation & Control: From the Mexican highlands to Kaiserslautern

There are many good reasons to study the English-language Master's degree in Automation & Control at RPTU Kaiserslautern: It is research-oriented, offers wide-ranging career prospects afterwards and is studied at a campus university on the edge of a forest, to name just a few. But how does a mechatronics engineer from the Mexican highland state of Querétaro find this degree program and decide to leave his job and family behind to study at RPTU Kaiserslautern?

"Here in Mexico, Germany has a reputation for being brilliant in all engineering sciences," says Iram Diaz, who worked at CENAM-México, the Centro Nacional de Metrologia, before deciding to gain further qualifications with a Master's degree. It was clear to him that he would prefer to study in Germany.

English Welcome

There was just one problem - from his point of view: "My German language skills are not particularly good," he says carefully. His main concern was that he would move to a foreign country and end up isolated - both in his private life and during his studies - because he didn't speak the language and wouldn't be able to interact with others. During his research for a suitable Master's degree, he stumbled across a student portrait written in English on the RPTU website. "After I also read that the lectures are held in English and that the entire degree program is very research-oriented, the decision was made for me." So a good two years ago, he packed his bags and moved from the Mexican highlands to - as he says - much greener Kaiserslautern.

Laboratory as a second home

He has never regretted his choice. "Here at RPTU, we students spend an incredible amount of time in the labs." This intensive practical proximity is special in and of itself. "But at RPTU, I feel, you go one step further. The lab doors are always open. Anyone who comes by is welcome to take a look over your shoulder and because there is always something to do in the individual projects, you can also lend a hand if it suits you."

What he enjoys most is the trust placed in the students. "We are given a task and are allowed to try our hand at it. There is always support if needed, but we are very much encouraged to find a solution ourselves."

Soft robotics research as a Hiwi job

This is exactly how he experiences his student job in the Computational Physics in Engineering (CPE) department at RPTU: in his research project, engineering graduate Leon Schindler is working on the further development of soft and flexible robots, so-called soft robots. These robots are suitable for use in sensitive areas or environments that are difficult to access. As the differences between the soft robots are enormous depending on the area of application, the designs are currently often test-driven. This means a lot of time in the laboratory. And this is exactly where Iram provides support as part of his Hiwi job: he conducts his own experiments on soft robots in snake form. "I really like the fact that we Hiwis have such freedom to find out a result and are allowed to work very independently," says Iram.

Discovering Europe

However, there is one small drawback to studying in Germany. "There aren't really any vacations. Because there are exams during the semester break." This makes it somewhat difficult for him to discover European countries and cultures in terms of time. "My solution is to extend my standard period of study a little so that I have enough time to discover Europe." So before he returns to one of the labs at RPTU in the fall, he and his brother will spend four weeks traveling across Europe.