MAE is worth it!

Although I was involved in the Formula Student project at CTU in Prague, so I had previous international experience, I wanted deeper international experience. And MAE gave me that. From the first semester I started to learn how to cooperate with other students who have different background, both educational and cultural. Using English on a daily basis also deepened my proficiency and self-confidence.  

As one of the most important benefits of MAE study program is the last semester fully devoted to Master thesis project, which should be held within automotive company or research institution. Never before I had to manage a five-month project, from the start, when requirements of all the stakeholders have to be harmonized and according project plan have to be made, through long-term focus on the goals of the project, up to the final delivery that satisfies all the stakeholders. An acquisition of such internship also gave me an experience of searching and exploiting the career opportunities. An important experience for successive search of first job after graduation.

A semester fully devoted to master thesis also allowed me to extend my international experience. I was successful in searching a thesis topic in the area of vehicle dynamics and control systems. I was doing a project called "Realtime estimation of tyre-road friction for vehicle state estimator" in Gothenburg, Sweden, for one of the leader of commercial vehicles, at Volvo Groups Trucks Technologies. Thanks to that I also met specialist researchers at Chalmers University of Technology.

Another very important aspect of the master thesis within an automotive company is something I was not aware of before I experienced it. In real-life projects the result is not known ahead, especially in research & development. Sometimes I felt frustrating that I don't know whether I am on the right way. But no one else is as well. It was an important experience for me and I am happy to get through it lead by skilled specialists at Volvo GTT and Chalmers TU.

Besides the educational and professional experience I also learned to be more self-reliant. Although there are always people that are willing to help you to get accommodation, etc., you have to make the initiative and put all the pieces together. Last but not least such a long-term stay abroad taught me to manage my finances. Thanks to limited resources I also had a motivation to learn cooking, and my Dutch and Swedish landlords taught me a little how to do it. :)

So I stand for my words that MAE is worth it. I am happy to see that the program is living and further developing, introducing new universities and field of expertise.

Ing. Jakub Prokeš, MSc.; Development engineer / Chassis; Porsche Engineering Services, Prague

11/03/2015