Excursion to Audi in Neckarsulm

On Tuesday, 09 June we had a very interesting excursion to Neckarsulm (60km from Heidelberg), where we visited the Audi Factory. There we had the great opportunity to inspect the entire manufacturing process of Audi cars, such as A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q3, Q5, Q7, TT etc. 

  

Before the start of the tour, we had some time to walk around the Audi Forum where we could see an exhibition of some new cars, but also vintage and racing cars and innovative models. Audi Forum is also a place, where customers can pick up their new cars, including a dinner and a factory tour. Therefore, Audi Forum has a restaurant and a coffee bar, where Audi staff takes care for customers and prospective customers. It was also allowed to get in some cars in order to experience how it feels to be a driver of a brand new Audi.

 

After browsing around, a tour guide explained us all important details of the manufacturing process as well as other interesting facts about the Audi Company. The massive factory side can't be explored only by foot (from north to south about 3 km, from west to east about 0.8 km), so a bus took as to different halls and departments. There, every major step was explained (more or less detailed, depending on how important the step is) and it was even possible to observe the workers doing their job on the assembly line (e.g. installing controls and instruments, steering wheels, doors, mirrors etc.). By the way, Audi doesn’t privilege men when they apply for these jobs. It is only about the applicant’s professional skills and qualification. So you can see more and more women in the factory.

 

It was pretty impressive, how precisely the workers and their machinery work and how every single step is planned in advance. It has to be highlighted that Audi does not only sell cars to Europe or North America. Especially the Asian market is getting more and more important. Therefore, different international regulations of the target market have to be considered in the manufacturing process. Furthermore we also learned how production technique has changed over the past years and decades and has made production not only faster and more effective, but also healthier for the workers. 

  

All in all it was an interesting and entertaining tour to Audi Factory and certainly there will be some more fans and customers of Audi cars in our group…The only drawback was that we were (understandably, due to company secret) not allowed to take pictures of the manufacturing process itself.

Welcome Day & Scavenger Hunt Heidelberg

After all international students arrived and were welcomed on SRH campus, they were given a first introduction of what they can expect the next weeks, including some first basic assistance in coping with German culture (e.g. communication with Germans, behaviour in classes etc.). Moreover, all student buddies and Summer School staff members introduced themselves to the international students.

The first event at this year’s SRH Summer School started on Monday afternoon when our international exchange students, accompanied by some of our helpers and buddies, hit the road to Heidelberg Scavenger Hunt. By the way, Scavenger hunt in German means “Schnitzeljagd”, which can be translated to “Hunt for a Schnitzel”.

Starting from SRH campus, the students were split into different groups, each of them guided by a German SRH student. The Scavenger Hunt was a great opportunity to explore Heidelberg for the first time on a sunny day. Questions about Heidelberg’s history, culture, buildings and fun facts had to be answered, photos had to be taken. In the end the winning team was awarded a prize.

After the Scavenger Hunt everybody was pretty hungry. Although the students didn’t have a Schnitzel after the “Schnitzeljagd”, they had the opportunity of having a typical German dinner at Palmbräugasse restaurant (situated in the Old Town of Heidelberg), composed of either “Haxe” (pork hock) or “Käsespätzle” (a cheesy German or Swabian pasta meal) and typical German bread. Especially the American students noticed that German bread really differs from American white bread. And, of course, tasting a German Weißbier/Weizenbier (wheat beer) and Pils completed this intercultural experience.

All in all Scavenger Hunt was not only a great opportunity to explore Heidelberg but also to meet new people and to get in touch with other students from different countries. It was certainly an awesome start of SRH Summer School and we guarantee there’s more to come…!

Wilkommen in Heidelberg – Welcome to Heidelberg!

Wilkommen in Heidelberg – Welcome to Heidelberg!

2 days to go...We are looking forward to welcome all our international exchange students in Heidelberg!

The sun is smiling down on the picturesque town of Heidelberg with its beautiful castle, the Old Bridge and its baroque Old Town - situated on the River Neckar. Summer has just arrived on time for your trip to Heidelberg. So everything is well prepared for you! Get in touch with German culture and people!

  

We have organised a varied and interesting exchange programme for you, including teaching sessions, different trips and excursions to German and European institutions and companies, cities, tours and social events. But of course, there's more to it than that…! We are all sure that you will have a great and enjoyable experience!

 

Welcome to Europe, welcome to Germany, welcome to Heidelberg, welcome at SRH campus! 
Come, see and enjoy!

Here on this blog you will find pictures and reports of our trips and events as well as useful information.

 

To learn more about SRH Summer School please check out:

http://www.hochschule-heidelberg.de/de/fakultaet-fuer-wirtschaft/internationales/heidelberg-summer-school/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtXFdiRW3PQ

France - Strasbourg - European Parliament

The city centre of Straßbourg is really beautiful and i loved it there. Especially the combination of German and French culture impressed me because I never thought that there is such a close connection between these countries in one city. For me as a american student it was even more interesting to visit a completely different city than we have in our country. Also our tour in the parliament was very interesting. We learned lots of things about the European law. I really recommend everyone to visit strasbourg as well as the European parliament.

Audi Factory Excursion

Touring the Audi Factory was a very cool and interesting experience. We got to see the entire process from start to finish of how Audi builds their cars. I was very impressed to see how much precision they put into building each part. After each stage they check to see if the parts are the right size too. They have to be within 0.003 mm for the part to be approved. I was very impressed and by the end of the tour I wanted to buy an Audi. 
-------------Posted by Nicolas Huppert

A Tour of Wild Werke: The Capris-Sonne Company

Our visit to Wild Werke, the factory of Capri-Sonne drinks, was a great tour. Not only was it informational but we also got free samples! I didn't know that Capri-Sonne was a German company. I also didn't know that they produce so many different liquids, like the energy drink called Monster. It was a really unique experience seeing the different steps that create a Capri-Sonne. After our tour we went all together to the Marstall to watch the World Cup game between Germany and the USA. It was a really cool experience to watch the game together with people from all over the world. All in all it was a great and fun day.

Heidelberg Summer School students trying out freshly-made Capris-Sonnes

Students wore full factory gear on their tour

Scavenger Hunt with Session 2!

The scavenger hunt around Heidelberg was a great way to get to know different students in the program. It was also a way to see different parts of Heidelberg and learn some facts about the city! I had a lot of fun and thought the authentic German meal after the hunt was yummy!!

1st place won tickets to the Heidelberg Zoo! Congratulations Team!

----------------------Post by Nicolas Huppert

World Cup - Public viewing in Heidelberg

We have been to the public viewing place at Marstall (which is the canteen of Heidelberg University). The internationals (Jeff, Courtney, Kanako, Allie, Troy, Chris, Ignacia, Freeland, Sharon, Florencia, Andrea) had a great time there and they were amazed that so many people came. They didn't know that world cup is such a big thing in Germany.

The atmosphere was fantastic and the game even better! Germany won 4:0 and as you can see on the pictures we have many new supporters who will cross their fingers for us!

This was an incredible chance for the summer school students to get to know the german passion for soccer! I think it was a real cultural night for them! And the best, they could participate! (Moritz, SRH)

A Visit to Audi

"I can honestly say it was a great opportunity and a great way to learn about a big name car brand. You don't realize how much time and energy is put into making the cars. The workforce as well as ingenuity and technology behind making each individual Audi is fascinating. As for the location, it was good--the bus ride only took about an hour and fifteen minutes, of which i mostly slept, but Ingolstadt is definitely an Audi-dominated city. I would definitely recommend this tour to anybody, rain or shine."

Written by Nicolas Huppert, Student Helper

Summer School students and staff from Session 1 enjoying Audi

Scavenger Hunt in Heidelberg!

First day and first activity: the international students explored their current home of Heidelberg through a scavenger hunt and a typical German dinner of "Wurstsalat und Bratkartoffeln." The Winning Team received a free boat tour along the River Neckar. 

Written by Nicolas Huppert