In the 6th semester, the compulsory professional internship for our MCiT Bachelor students is coming up. In this interview, our MCiT Bachelor alumnus Luca Strobl tells us about his unique internship at the German car manufacturer Audi:
Luca, how did you get your internship at Audi?
I became aware of the internship position via the Audi job portal. After a straightforward application process, I was invited to a personal interview. Due to Covid-19, this interview with the two internship supervisors was held online.
In which department did you work and what were your tasks?
I completed my internship in Ingolstadt, in the "Technical Management" department, which is part of the "Technical Development" at Audi AG. My internship included regular/weekly activities as well as special tasks related to the model update of the A4, A5 and Q5 models. Model maintenance deals with changes to the product in the current series in order to keep a product attractive, technically up-to-date and legally compliant for customers over its lifetime. In general, my job was to support the project manager and the entire project.
How did the pandemic influence your internship?
At the beginning of the internship in February 2021, many colleagues worked from home due to pandemic issues. So did I, for some time of my internship. Working in the home office went smoothly. In fact, I really liked the combination of remote work and working on site, as it definitely encouraged my independence and personal responsibility. Due to the pandemic, all meetings were also held online. Fortunately, the numbers in Ingolstadt improved over the course of the internship, and by the end of it in July 2021, it was also possible to get to know my work colleagues in person.
What fascinates you most about Audi?
The cars, of course! But apart from the cars, what fascinates me most about Audi is the following: The slogan "Vorsprung durch Technik" is not only used for promotional activities, but also lived out in the company by every single employee. Being part of a team with the ambition to build ever better, more efficient and more sustainable cars was extremely motivating for me. This and the fact that I was integrated into the team right from the start helped me immensely to perform well during my internship at Audi.
What was your personal highlight?
My personal highlight was definitely the car ride with the new Audi e-tron GT. I am grateful that my department was so committed to their interns and they showed and learned as much as they could despite Covid-19: This included a factory tour as well as insights into the production, the design department as well as the Audi pre-series centre.
How did your study program Management, Communication & IT prepare you for your internship?
During the 6 months at Audi, I had numerous opportunities to put the theory into practice. The internship showed me that project management methods are used in industry every day. So-called soft skills like communication and moderation methods, which we were taught in the MCiT Bachelor's program, are also indispensable. In addition, I made many contacts and friendships that will be very fruitful in my professional and private future.
What are your future plans?
Since the beginning of October, I am doing my Master's degree in Management, Communication & IT at MCI in order to expand and deepen my knowledge. I think this is the right decision for me: MCI on the one hand offers a high-quality education and Innsbruck on the other hand is a very attractive city for winter sports fans like me. After completing my Master's study I can very well imagine starting my career at Audi!
Thank you very much for the exciting insights, Luca!
