One year ago I was called by a Spanish number and very curious who this could be. I was contacted by a company after I had passed the interview with the team of the Internship Programme of German Business After a brief call I realized that this very same company had just offered me an internship in the space sector. I was exhilarated, trying to fully comprehend this exciting news.
I am Dren Ibrahimi, a Computer Science student from Kosovo, as well as an alumnus of the Internship Programme of German Business. I had the privilege of undertaking my software engineering internship at GMV GmbH in Darmstadt, the city of science. GMV offers innovative solutions in very diverse sectors, one of which is space.
I did my internship from July till the end of year 2023. One of the values of the alumni of the Internship Programme is the support they provide for each other. I had learned this prior to my departure when I had the opportunity to speak to alumni of previous generations about their experiences, learning how I could make the best of it. I recognised that these six months would entail extensive socializing and networking, traveling nearly every weekend and a boost in my career. In essence, I sensed that this period would mark a significant metamorphosis, both in terms of personal development and career progression.
Working at GMV was exciting and enlightening. The chance to contribute to projects of space agencies such as the European Space Agency is beyond anything I could have imagined. Every day I was facing new challenges—or making progress in old ones—and learning new things which helped me build a stronger foundation as a software engineer. Participating in such complex and large-scale projects is not an easy task and this is well known by the team who were very supportive and understanding. The first two months were the most challenging as I was working with new technologies that I hadn’t worked with before—to no surprise. As a participant in the Internship Programme of German Business, it’s quite common to be flexible and adapt to a new type of work in Germany.
Traveling is undoubtedly one of the most cherished aspects of the Internship Programme and many of the scholarship holders of my generation, including me, used this opportunity. I was visiting new places nearly every weekend. One of my first adventures was in Strasbourg, France, where—to my surprise—about 25 scholarship holders showed up for a daytrip. I also had the opportunity to sleep at my friends’ places in their cities, so buying a sleeping bag and paying for the Deutschland Ticket monthly is a really good piece of advice. Some of my other trips include Munich (Oktoberfest), Dusseldorf, Heidelberg, the midterm meeting in Nuremberg, Amsterdam, Cologne and Switzerland.
Living alone in a foreign country and adapting to their work culture surely is a daunting challenge. However, what sets this Internship Programme apart is the realisation that as scholarship holders, we’re part of a larger group facing similar challenges—or enjoying mutual benefits. This shared experience acted as a catalyst for forging stronger bonds among us, fostering the creation of memories that we will forever cherish.
In closing, I’m immensely grateful for the Internship Programme of German Business, as it has endowed me with an invaluable experience that has left an enduring impact on my life. Through this Progra,,e, I have built long-lasting friendships and have found a sense of belonging within a supportive community. I eagerly anticipate continuing to be a part of this family in the future.
Dren Ibrahimi, generation 2023