Two Birds with One Stone in Berlin

The opportunity to complete my thesis in half the time and travel to Europe—how could I say no? Eager to build international networks and potentially contribute to positive change within the world, I felt incredibly fortunate to have been selected for this Faculty-led Global Short Program. It seemed like the perfect culmination of my final year pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) and Bachelor of Science degree. The program kicked off in Australia, where students and academics from HTW Germany journeyed to Sydney for their exchange. Topics were chosen, groups were formed, and supervisors were assigned.

Our team’s objective was to develop an online platform for tracking and tracing batteries throughout their entire lifecycle, spanning from mining and manufacturing to usage and recycling. Europe is placing significant emphasis on achieving battery circularity to ensure sustainability and align with targets set by the Paris Climate Agreement. Our project directly addressed industry and societal needs, evidenced by its striking resemblance to what the European Union intended to fund and develop within the same year. The team diligently continued working on the project throughout the Autumn Semester.

Prior to reconvening for the project in July, I managed to squeeze in some additional travel, exploring parts of northern Spain and southwest Poland. I was mesmerized by the culture, architecture, food, and natural scenery.

Come July, it was the Australians’ turn to visit Germany. Accompanied by academics from UTS, which included my highly supportive and experienced engineering thesis supervisor. Our time wasn’t solely devoted to the project. We were also encouraged to immerse ourselves in Berlin’s diverse culture and rich history. Visits to a Siemens factory, BMW Motorrad factory, and boat tours were among the numerous activities. As a motorcycle enthusiast, touring the BMW factory and witnessing the highly automated manufacturing process was another highlight. During my downtime, I frequented several of Berlin’s bars and managed to indulge in a bouldering session, one of my favourite hobbies.

Undoubtedly, the most gratifying aspect of the program was the people involved and the friendships and professional networks there were cultivated throughout the project. Berlin’s multiculturalism and profound historical depth were fascinating to experience firsthand. My participation in this program significantly enhanced my international collaboration and communication skills while emphasizing the invaluable advantages of diversity and inclusion within a global context.

Michael Haughey
Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
Faculty Led – FEIT – Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin – Global Women in Engineering and IT Summer School, Germany
DAAD Scholarship recipient