Studying engineering? Here’s why Germany should be No. 1

There are plenty of reasons why Germany remains a top study destination for anyone thinking of studying engineering, despite the language barrier. From cutting-edge research and top-tier professors to being a global heartland for engineering and tech innovation, the choice is a no-brainer. But that’s just skimming the surface.  

In this episode, we speak with engineering graduate and co-founder of tech startup, AxD: Automation x Digital, Maithili Deshmukh, about the underrated perks of studying in Germany, as well as how you can navigate, survive — and of course, thrive — in its academic, professional, and cultural spaces. 

Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

 

 

The transcript below has been lightly edited for grammar, spelling, and clarity. 

Maryam: Hey, guys. Welcome back to the Extra Credit Podcast. And if it’s your first time tuning in, this is a series where we talk about the ins, outs, and all there is to know about studying abroad with fellow international students, graduates, and faculty members worldwide. 

I’m Maryam, your host, and if you’re thinking of pursuing a career in engineering, kickstarting your career abroad, being an international student in Germany, or all three, our guest for today has some important insights to share about that. 

From all the way in Pune, India, Maithili Deshmukh is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of AxD, Automation x Digital, a startup company that transforms, digitises, and provides automation services, as well as technical support to local and global manufacturing businesses. 

But her journey to the top did not start there. Just like many of you, Maithili’s huge dreams of making an impact on this industry began with a life-changing study experience in Germany, or what is aptly called the “Land of Ideas.” 

Maithili, welcome! We’re glad to have you here with us today. How are you? 

Maithili: Thank you for having me, Maryam. I’m good. Yeah, I’m glad you reached out to me. I’m excited to talk about my journey and share some insights with you. 

Maryam: Again, thank you for joining us. That’s lovely to hear. Okay, let’s go back to the beginning of your journey, before you flew off to Germany. So, before you set off to Europe, Maithili, you did your bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, back home at the Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Aurangabad. 

Maithili: Yeah. 

Maryam: So, what first sparked your interest in engineering? 

Maithili: Well, to be honest, you know, I’ve been born and brought up in Aurangabad, which is now called Chatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. Um, it’s a city in Maharashtra, India. And growing up, you know, even during school years, I always went to our, uh, factory. I mean, we have a family business of CNC machine tool manufacturing. Um, and I’m very close to my parents and my family, and growing up, I always went to their workplace, saw what goes on over there. Uh, you know, there was also automation projects going on and all the manufacturing facilities that I, um, experienced over there.  

That’s what sparked my interest in engineering. My father is a seasoned mechanical and computer science engineer. So, in my formative years, it’s always been a delight to watch him work and the way he thinks critically and comes up with solutions to the customer problems. So, yeah, and I always had that in mind that I want to join the family business. So, engineering was the way to go. And, you know, eventually, of course, entrepreneurship is not just technical education. It’s not just engineering. But, you know, someone gave me very wise advice that, okay, if you want to be a leader in the tech space, your education has to be very much related to that — meaning, do your bachelor’s, do your master’s in engineering, so that you know the baseline or, let’s say, the basics of your company. And the management part can be on the job. So, you can always learn about leadership and soft skills while you work, uh, but let your education be engineering. So, that’s what, um, made me decide, uh, to do mechanical engineering — because we are in the field of manufacturing. And then later on, of course, my master’s was in production systems engineering, which is a subset of mechanical.  

Maryam: Oh, nice. So, was studying abroad always in the plans for you? 

Maithili: Um, I wouldn’t say always because during my bachelor’s, you know, I was still in Aurangabad, which is the city I grew up in. And during my bachelor days, that’s when I started building this dream that I want to study at a top university in Germany just to, you know, get that top-level education to be among students who are very ambitious, whose passion is engineering. Because, you know, in India, there are many people who opt for engineering. It may or may not be their passion. 

Um, but yeah, I just wanted to be surrounded by people who are really interested in their field of study. Since I’ve always lived in Aurangabad, I also wanted to fly out of the nest and be, you know, exposed to the world outside of India. 

Maryam: It is true that, um, to stand out, if everyone is also studying engineering, getting a degree from a top university is also what’s going to help you stand out from the crowd, right? 

Fast forward to 2019, you pursued a master’s degree in production systems engineering at RWTH Aachen University. Now, at many German universities, right, international students are usually required to have some level of proficiency in the German language. And this can be a challenge for some students, right? Is there a reason why you chose to study engineering there as opposed to more popular, English-speaking countries like the UK, US, Australia, and Canada? 

Maithili: Yeah. So, you know, if I have to give you a very short and curt answer, it’s about finances. Um, you know, German education is, it costs like one-fourth of what it costs to study in USA or UK or the other countries that you mentioned, whereas the quality of education is equally good or even better in many cases. So, that’s one of the reasons I chose Germany as the destination. Additionally, right from the second year of my bachelor’s, I had been taking German language courses, because somewhere, I had an idea — okay, if I have to go to Germany, I had heard from many people that, you know, you have to know German to survive even if your course is taught in English. Because in everyday life, you’ll go to supermarkets, you’ll be going to the doctors — whatever, everything else apart from university, you would need German. So, I started early on with the language training. That also built my interest in Germany as a study destination. And then I think from third year of my bachelor’s, I started applying to universities and RWTH in English — it’s called “Er-we-te-ha” in German. 

So, RWTH Aachen, at the time, it was among the top 10 universities in mechanical engineering, since that was also my field of study. That’s it. That was my aim to get into that college. I applied to a few others, but I was very happy when I got admitted to Aachen. Um, you know, it’s a great research institute. You have state-of-the-art facilities there. There were a range of different courses to choose from, and the modules were very, uh, flexible in the sense [that] the curriculum was very transparent. You could see what you will study beforehand. It wasn’t like you’ll end up in Germany and then suddenly you realize, okay, this is not what I thought it was. 

So, there was a lot of information available online, which I think is also important as a student when you are applying. You have to do your thorough research about what you want to study, in which field you want to work eventually. And your master’s course curriculum is very critical. So, all this proved to be a perfect match for me — the university, Germany as a country, and my course as well. 

Maryam: So, when you arrived in Germany, what was the experience or day-to-day like as an international student adjusting in a foreign country, surrounded by a culture that you’re not familiar with? 

Maithili: Of course, it wasn’t easy in the beginning. Luckily, I ended up in Germany during the summertime. So, at least, the weather was on my side. But, you know, I made friends in our building right in the beginning. And I think that’s very important. As an expat student, you have to, uh, really mingle socially. Don’t be isolated. Uh, don’t be on your own. Build a community. So, that’s what I did. 

And, you know, we, our group of friends, we figured it out together. One thing I do want to say — it’s the bitter truth, but, you know, in school, teachers will hold your hand and teach you everything, you know, even the obvious things. It doesn’t work that way in universities, especially once you go for your master’s. There will be info sessions, there will be some material available online, but [at the] end of the day, you are on your own, whether it’s with your studies or whether it’s, um, culturally getting integrated into the society. 

A few things that I did was, I tried to practise German. Like I said, I made friends, Indians, as well as international friends. And, you know, luckily, I was staying in a student dormitory of the university, which meant we were 16 people on one floor, all from different countries. So, you know, my friends were from Cameroon, United States, Germany, Russia, Tunisia, you name it. Like, I’ve spoken to people from all over the world, and it was a very, uh, culturally diverse experience, but that helps you in many ways. 

So yeah, in Germany, just keep practising German. Even if your grammar is wrong or you forget words, if they see that you’re trying, they will cooperate with you. But if you’re like, okay, I’m not German and I will stick to English, you may be in trouble. So, that’s what I would say. Uh, practise the local language, you know, try German food, don’t be averse to new experiences. And yeah, it’s not that tough. 

Maryam: When you’re at a top university, right, you’re surrounded by brilliant and talented people from all around the world, as you said, you know, basically so many countries, right? So, I’m sure they’ve made your master’s experience a little more, I wouldn’t say easy, but more manageable. 

Maithili: Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. 

Maryam: Being surrounded by people who also are kind of like-minded or people who have many different, um, ideas in the same class. 

Maithili: Yeah, you know, academically, of course, it’s tough to transition from Indian education to a German one. I won’t deny that. You have to put in the hard work, not just [as an] Indian. I think any international student who comes to Germany, uh, you know, they have to balance the language and the academics, and so many other things. But it’s a positive challenge to take up. So, academics is one thing. You have to put in the hard work. It’s not easy. 

At the same time, there are many opportunities for extracurricular activities, you know, socialising, talking about geopolitics and different cultures with people around you. In a way that is not offensive. That’s something I learned, uh, especially living with so many international, uh, students is that, you know, everyone has their views, political, religious, worldviews, but there’s a nice civil way of expressing it and, you know, being good listeners to others as well because if you listen well, you’ll always end up with more knowledge, I think. So, being open is very important. Uh, not being closed, not being just within people from your region. That’s very important when you go out to study. 

Maryam: Beautifully said as well. Um, I just wanted to hone in on your master’s experience over there. So, as I know it, while mechanical engineering focuses more on designing and manufacturing devices and systems, production systems engineering is more geared towards making those manufacturing processes more seamless and efficient, right. So, was this more of a natural course of progression for your master’s or was this more of a switch in specialisation? 

Maithili: Yeah, uh, you know, like you said, master’s is more about specialising in something. And since back home, our business was about producing and manufacturing machines, I thought it was logical to learn more about production systems because, you know, our course had subjects like mechatronics, logistics and planning, supply chain management, welding techniques, additive manufacturing, advanced computer engineering. It was not as specific as a PhD, let’s say, but it helped you or empowered you to, uh, get into production as a subject. So, like you correctly said, mechanical engineering is the basic and then production is more specific. It’s a subset of mechanical. So yeah, that’s why I chose this course. 

Maryam: Were there any challenges you had to overcome? I assume this course kind of combines both practical and theoretical, but practice of theory in a sense, right? 

Maithili: Well, this course was mostly theory. Uh, there were little to no practical sessions because the university maintained that if you want to have practical experience, they advised us to do something called a “HiWi”, which is a part-time student research job, which you can do while you study. That’s what I did. So, I applied to the Department of Quality Management and Metrology at RWTH. It’s called WZL, Work Zoic Machine and Labor. That’s the department I applied to. And then, I was working under a PhD candidate, and that’s where I got the access to the labs at my university. So, the course itself didn’t have, uh, that much of practical curriculum, but there were facilities and you just have to push yourself, you know, do a little extra out of the, uh, classroom hours if you want to gain that experience as well. 

Maryam: And speaking of getting more practical work done or practical experience done, right, um, during your master’s degree, in 2020, you also had the opportunity to participate in an Erasmus programme for seven months and do your internship in Slovakia. So, with that being your first international work experience, how did this opportunity come about? And can you tell us what that journey was like? 

Maithili: Yeah, it was quite cool, but also it was…it didn’t go exactly as planned because, you know, it was 2020 and we were in the middle of the pandemic, uh, which meant that I had to do it remotely from Aachen. So, I did intern in a Slovak company. They are, uh, plastic injection mold manufacturers. They have a very impressive setup and the first time I came in contact with them was when I was working right after my bachelor’s in Shilpin Machine Tools. They are a customer of Shilpin, and that’s when I came in contact with this company, and I stayed in touch with them during my master’s. Uh, for my production systems engineering, you had the option of an internship. It’s not compulsory, but you can do an internship if you want. So, I reached out to them and they were eager to let me do this. Uh, but yeah, unfortunately, I didn’t do it physically in Slovakia due to COVID. So, it was from Aachen. During that time, there was a live automation project and I was doing the CAD simulation for this project. This can be done remotely, and, you know, eventually it became the New Normal where you work from home, and somehow, it worked out. So, that was the Erasmus internship that I did during my master’s. 

Maryam: It was a bit unfortunate that you were unable to fly to Slovakia yourself, but I’m sure the experience — regardless, the experience that you’ve garnered from that is very valuable itself. But speaking of getting to work, uh abroad, um, in 2023, right after you graduated from Aachen, right, you managed to successfully secure a job as an associate research engineer at Flanders Make, which is a research centre for manufacturing in Belgium. So, that must have been really exciting for you, right? Can you tell us what that experience was, like, your day-to-day? 

Maithili: Yeah, so, while I was completing my master thesis, I already started applying for jobs. You know, I was giving interviews and one of my friends, he told me about Flanders Make. Uh, it has three offices in Belgium, uh, one of them being in Leuven. And Leuven is, like, less than 100 kilometers from Aachen. So the distance was not a big deal for me when I did switch countries, but it was just a border that I crossed. Um, it was less than 100 kilometers, and the company itself — I was impressed with their offerings. Like you already mentioned, they are mainly a research workplace. They build solutions around manufacturing problems. 

And I was in the team called “Digital Architectures” in Flanders Make. And our team mainly built data models and knowledge graphs for capturing different use cases of manufacturing. Uh, so while the core idea of what I do was linked to manufacturing, it was very different from my education or my previous work experience. So, it was a very new experience for me. I had to learn many things from scratch. But my team members, uh, were always very helpful, very nice people. I knew I could always approach them if I was stuck somewhere. Uh, so overall, my two years at Flanders went very well. It was a great learning experience for me. I was able to build a research mindset during my time in Belgium, which is only going to help me in the future. So, yeah, I’m very grateful for that experience. 

Maryam: Would you say there is any sort of huge difference between the work environment back home in India and the work environment in Belgium? 

Maithili: Yes, it is quite different. You know, in Belgium, at the top of my mind, there’s an excellent work-life balance. So, you’re expected to put in your eight hours a day, 40 hours a week. And then you’re free to lead your life as you want. There are very clearly defined roles in the company for everyone and very clearly defined teams as well. So, as an employee, you’re always clear on what you’re supposed to do. And there are you know supervisors you can always approach if you’re stuck somewhere. So, I like that clarity of structure in European companies.  

And another thing I really like about European work culture is, everybody knows they are supposed to excel at their work. So, it’s a given that you’re supposed to do a good job. You know, I really like that outlook. Everybody strives to perfect their work. So, these are some of the things I want to incorporate in my startup here now, now that I’m in India. I think, yeah, this is something I really liked about the European work culture. 

Maryam: And that sounds fantastic. I think that’s the reason why a lot of international students, after they graduate, dream of, um, kickstarting their career in the country they study in or basically kickstarting their career abroad. Um, if you had any tips or advice to share with our listeners on how to best secure career opportunities in Europe especially, or abroad, right after graduation, what would they be? 

Maithili: I would say, start your search well in advance. So, don’t wait to graduate. Uh, that’s one thing I tell all my juniors as well. Like, it takes time to land a job, you know, so start months in advance. Uh, secondly, like I already mentioned, you know, integrate into the society, whether it’s language-wise. So, if you’re in Italy, learn Italian. If you’re in France, learn French. If you are in Belgium, learn Dutch or French, depends [on] which part you’re in. If you’re in Germany, you have to know German. So, yeah, integrate with the society. 

There’s, um, I tell you, there’s no point in complaining that the locals are stubborn about their language. I mean, it is what it is. So, if you want to live in Europe, you have to know the local language. Um, excel in your studies. So, if you’re doing your bachelor’s or master’s, whatever it is, grades do matter to a certain extent. So, you know, focus on your studies. There are many things to explore apart from college, but that’s the most important thing. We have to remember that. Make the most of the resources in the university. You know, like I mentioned, my course was fully theory, but they had very advanced facilities. 

And as a student, you just have to push yourself to apply to these part-time jobs or internships, you know, put yourself out there, make sure you make the most of your tuition fees. So, while some courses are free in Germany, many of them are not, you do pay tuition fees. So, just remember, you’ve invested a lot, whether it’s in terms of money or time. So, respect that, respect your own time. Make the most of your resources. 

And another thing, you know, in Germany, it’s very common practice to extend the studies for many years. I’ve seen students do that. I’ve seen people pursue bachelor’s for eight years or master’s for five years, uh, whereas the standard duration is, you know, two years for your master’s. So, try to stick to that timeline, because, like I said, you invest a lot in terms of money and time, and you should get returns on your investment as soon as possible. 

So, you have to keep that in mind as a student. Try to secure a job as soon as possible. Try to complete your thesis as soon as possible. You know, set your own timeline. That’s very important. 

Maryam: Those are fantastic tips, Maithili. Thank you for sharing them. Now, curiously, while you did spend two years living and enjoying a high-paying job in Europe, you eventually returned to India to help, you know, build your own, uh, tech startup, AxD, Automation x Digital. And instead of taking on the research position that you did back then, you’ve now leveled up as its Chief Strategy Officer. So, was this a huge decision to make? I know that many of your peers and loved ones have been asking you why you’d uproot a comfortable life and stable job abroad. 

Maithili: Uh, yeah. You know, Automation Times Digital or AxD, I’ve been dreaming of this for a while. It wasn’t a very instinctive, you know, instant decision, uh, because you can imagine as an expat, it is a big move, right? Not everybody is comfortable going back to their roots because as an expat, you go through so many things, you go through so many struggles, uh, you’ve given up so much back home to be where you are today. And like you said, I had a very comfortable life in Europe. My job was going well. Everything was, like, we were well settled in Leuven. We loved the city as well. 

But I did not forget my dream, which was to continue the family business. And I still felt very connected to my roots, uh, to India, to my family. I love my country. It was very clear to me that I wanted to go back. And after, you know, two years in Belgium, I felt it was the right time to make that move because by then, it was already five and a half years that I was in Europe, and I felt that any more time that I spend there is only going to make it more difficult for me to go back. Because I have many friends who, you know, they get very comfortable with the life that they’re living abroad. And it’s great, you know, it’s a personal choice. And it’s a great one because I have immense respect for immigrants who settle abroad, who make their own life. But I just had different plans, uh, for myself. And, you know, my younger brother, Mihir, he is also a part [of it]. He’s the CTO of AxD. 

And my parents are involved, and we have our chairman, uh, Mr. Raj Batra from USA. AxD is mainly incorporated in the USA. We have our operations in India. So, that’s how we function. But yeah, I felt like I’m still in my 20s. I still have a lot of energy and dreams. And yeah, I didn’t want to wait for too long to make this move. Because sometimes, what happens is, if you wait, you keep on waiting for the right time and it just never comes. And today, you know, India is doing very well. In my eyes, it’s a superpower. We are the largest democracy in the world and, you know, our GDP rises steadily. You know, the current government is also great. We are doing very well in the manufacturing sector. So, all these things, um, combined with my plan, it all helped me make this decision to go back. 

Maryam: And it totally makes sense that you want to give back to your local community as well. And especially now that you said that it’s been your lifelong dream, it all makes sense, right? But even so, would you say that, you know, your time abroad, your engineering degree from Aachen had somehow shaped or played a part in how you now approach your new role at AxD? And if so, how did it help you? 

Maithili: A hundred per cent. I mean, my European experience, whether it’s the studies in Germany or on my job in Belgium, it has given me immense confidence, because the other scenario for me is that I never went abroad. And, you know, after my bachelor’s, I joined the business and, uh, my only credibility was my bachelor’s or that I’m the daughter of the owners of the company. And I didn’t want that to define me. I wanted to have my own higher education, my own job experience. And these things really shape you as a human being, not just as an engineer or as an employee.  

They give you a different perspective. So, now, I have that perspective of being in a full-time job, right. I understand how employees think, how teams work, how seniors should behave with their employees, why salaries are important, why having good labour benefits are really important. This has given me a perspective that I may not have got if I stayed in India. My advice to, uh, you know, all youngsters, would be to always get out of your comfort zone. So, you define your own comfort zone. That could mean moving countries. That could mean, you know, changing fields, whatever it takes for you to get out of your own bubble. And that’s the best way, according to me, to get a complete comprehensive learning experience. So, masters is one way, you know, studying abroad or working abroad definitely shapes your personality, um, and I would encourage it. 

Maryam: Maithili, thank you so much for sharing your story and valuable insights on living life in Germany and being an international student in Europe. Alright guys, if you’re interested in listening to more cool stories from fellow international students and grads, don’t forget to check us out at www.studyinternational.com. 

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We can be found across these platforms under the username Study International. Until next time!