Akash Sankaran
Why did you choose the University of Chemnitz?:I was required to undergo a summer internship as part of my course curriculum and hence I decided to do something related to sports as well as engineering. When I did my background research, I came across this research project with objectives that were very closely aligned with my areas of interests. Coming from India, I heard that there was a strong Indian community in Chemnitz. Moreover, the fact that Chemnitz is pocket friendly compared to other cities in Germany made Chemnitz my natural choice.
Which aspects of your stay in Chemnitz do you think have been most beneficial to your career development?:This was the first time I was away from family, and overseas for a considerable amount of time. I had many first-time experiences and each of it taught me something new. I learnt to live on a budget. Punctuality and professionalism were imbibed in me automatically. It has given me the confidence that I can go anywhere and pursue anything as long as I am willing to learn, work hard and adapt.
Please describe your current role:I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
What is your favourite memory of Chemnitz?:I was blessed with a friendly professor. He and his family were very warm and thanks to them, I never felt homesick. I got a lot of new friends and visited Dresden, Prague and Spain during successive weekends.
What are your future plans and ambitions?:My short-term plan is to gain some work experience from one of my dream companies like Mercedes Benz, BMW or Porsche and then pursue an MBA. My long-term plan would be to takeover my Dad’s business back in India.
