Travel report by Oleksandr Cherniuk

"My two-day visit to Germany as part of the Erasmus Interadis program was exciting and incredibly informative. We were invited to study at the Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule, located in the heart of Bavaria in the tiny town of Weiden. The university was established relatively recently but already hosts exchange students from various countries around the world: China, Japan, Korea, India, Turkey… We looked forward to enhancing our language skills and cultural exchange with German and international students. In fact, this experience exceeded my expectations."

The trip began with a meeting with a university representative in the picturesque town of Weiden. After we finally met other students, we began our German adventures. Although the first day was intense due to adjusting to a new environment, thanks to the help of the organizers, we quickly found our place in this new world.

Over two weeks, we had the opportunity to participate in various activities, including studying German language level A1, which we had almost every day, and participating in workshops on leadership and intercultural competence. It is also worth mentioning the excursions organized by the university, which took place for us both in Weiden and in Amberg. Particularly impressive for me was visiting the Maker Lab at the Technical University of Amberg, where the 3D printing production was located. They showed us student projects based on entertainment games, which was fascinating.

And of course, some highlights included the excursions to cities in Germany: Weiden, Amberg, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Munich and meeting with locals, which allowed us to learn about the culture and traditions of Germany up close. I also had the opportunity to join the International Student Club, where we participated in various events, including workshops and an excursion in the city of Nuremberg.

Overall, this trip became an extremely valuable experience for me, which helped broaden my horizons and enrich my understanding of other cultures. I am grateful to the Interadis program and the organizers for this opportunity and unforgettable impressions from my stay in Germany. Danke!)"

 

Exchange Review by Cherniak O. from Newcastle University (+ photos)

"Hello everyone. First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the organizers of this exchange program, the universities, and everyone who made this opportunity possible. Studying at Newcastle University was an amazing experience, and I’m excited to share how it has helped me in my life and career.

During my time in Newcastle, I specialized in robotics and the Internet of Things (IoT) projects, particularly working with Raspberry Pi single-board computers. The skills I learned there turned out to be very useful. Today, I work in an industry that directly applies these skills – 3D printing for the needs of the Ukrainian Army.

I manage about 20 3D printers now, there are all connected through IoT technologies. These machines work remotely, so they don’t need me to be there all the time. This has made production faster and more efficient, and I wouldn’t have been able to do this without the knowledge I gained during my exchange program. 

But this experience was not only about technology. It also taught me how to solve problems, work with others, and adapt to new challenges. Newcastle University gave me confidence and inspiration to take on big projects.

Once again, I sincerely thank everyone who contributed to this exchange program. Your efforts have had a real impact, not just on my career but also on important real-world applications. I hope that many more students will get the same incredible opportunity that I did. Thank."