Patrick Lees completed a Bachelor’s in Biobased Products and Bioenergy at the University of Hohenheim. Today, he works as a technical project manager at the energy measurement service provider BRUNATA METRONA in Munich.
His Tips
Compare the curriculum with your interests.
Work on your soft skills during your studies.
Take your own path even if your best friend is studying something else.
In general, my daily work is focused on technical issues that are pretty much all like a project. I work both in a management and a staff function in optimizing our products, for example water and heat meters, but also in developing new devices and systems. To be able to do my work well, I am in constant communication with my colleagues here and at our other locations.
When did you decide on your career?
Before I studied, I did vocational training as a car mechatronics engineer. That was why I knew at a fairly early stage that I wanted to have a technical focus.
After my Bachelor’s, I started in the BRUNATA METRONA trainee program. In that program, you go through various departments in the company and gather impressions. That process confirmed that a technical environment is right for me.
Studies
Why the University of Hohenheim? And why Biobased Products and Bioenergy?
There was a lot of hype about the energy revolution then, and the degree program Biobased Products and Bioenergy was perfectly matched with the trends. Then there was the balanced mix of agricultural and economic basics on the one hand and content about the use of energy sources on the other. All of those factors convinced me that this was the right program.
“The degree program was good because of especially two things: How up to date and how balanced it was.”
And because I was born in Stuttgart, Hohenheim was where I looked first.
What were your studies like?
“I concentrated on the areas that are still fun for me today."
I kept pretty much to the curriculum and attended almost every lecture. As most of the other students, I studied together with my fellow students on campus. I found the advanced study period nice because we had a lot of choices when it came to our courses. With my modules, I set a technical-energy concentration. That included things like process engineering and the material use of biomass, but also about project management. Exactly the things that are still fun for me today.
With my modules, I set a technical-energy concentration. That included things like process engineering and the material use of biomass, but also about project management. Exactly the things that are still fun for me today.
What about experiences outside of the classroom?
I took English courses in the Language Center to refresh my vocabulary and improve my Business English. I was also able to help out in an external project with Nokia. The goal was to design navigational software for mobile end devices.
What surprises and challenges were there during your studies?
Every exam phase was a challenge you had to face at the end of the semester, including the Bachelor’s thesis and defense. In the end, though, you just have to keep up with things and not lose faith in yourself - then you’ll make it!
In retrospect - would you have done anything differently?
I think I would do everything exactly the same - from my vocational training to the degree program in Biobased Produces and Bioenergy to my career start as a trainee. The combination of technical vocational training and then academic studies was a great start to my career.
