Success Story of a Student in the International Information Systems Program

I originally come from Pakistan and wanted to study in Bavaria, Germany. The International Information Systems program at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences was particularly attractive to me because it is taught entirely in English and combines computer science with business-related subjects. This combination matched my goal of working as an IT professional.

The program prepared me well for my career because I gained not only technical skills but also an understanding of the business considerations behind technical decisions. In professional life, it is important not only to be able to develop a technical solution, but also to understand the value it provides to a company and its customers.

The programming courses gave me a solid technical foundation, which I continue to use in my work today.

Intercultural Management was also very valuable because, as an international student and later as an employee in a German company, I work with people from different cultural and professional backgrounds.

In addition, I had the opportunity to participate in several practical and international projects during my studies. For example, in a project with Sopra Steria, we customized an SAP system. I also participated in a short academic program in Tallinn, Estonia, as well as Schwaben Innovation Masterclass with students from four different universities. These experiences strengthened my technical, intercultural, and communication skills.

I completed my practical semester at Qbilon GmbH in Augsburg. At that time, I was already working for the company as a working student. During the practical semester, I worked in the area of end-to-end test automation.

This allowed me to deepen my existing knowledge while also taking on more responsibility. For me, the practical semester was not simply a compulsory part of the degree program, but an important step towards starting my career. I became more familiar with the product, the company’s internal processes, and my colleagues. This experience later led directly to my continued employment with the company.

I first learned about Qbilon GmbH through the so-called Pyramid book, which presents a large number of companies from the local region. I then applied directly to the company and initially joined as a working student.

Over time, I gained extensive experience with the product and the tools used by the company. Altogether, I had already worked with the company and its software for approximately three years before moving into a full-time position and it helped me.

Today, I work in software quality assurance and contribute to the continuous improvement of the software product. My role involves identifying potential quality risks, supporting reliable development processes, and working closely with different technical teams.

The position combines analytical thinking, technical understanding, and communication. The programming knowledge I gained during my studies helps me understand technical systems and contributes to automation and process improvement. At the same time, the business-oriented parts of the degree help me consider technical decisions from a broader organizational perspective.

This combination of technology and business is one of the strongest connections between my current work and the International Information Systems program.

My bachelor's thesis played an important role because it gave me the opportunity to demonstrate that I could independently analyze a practical problem and develop a structured solution for it. I examined how information about dependencies between software components could be used to improve collaboration between quality assurance and software development. The topic was directly connected to my practical work and allowed me to investigate a real challenge faced by the company from an academic perspective.

For me, the transition from university into professional life was not particularly difficult because I was already familiar with the product, the company, and the people through my work, my practical semester, and my bachelor's thesis. As a result, the transition into a full-time role felt very natural.

Of course, I sometimes miss the freedom and flexibility of student life. However, the professional and personal transition was made much easier by the fact that my colleagues are very open, friendly, and supportive.

The German language can be a challenge for international students. German is very important for long-term integration and for accessing a wider range of career opportunities. I therefore started learning German early, although I still want to continue improving my language skills.

My most important advice is not to wait for a professional opportunity to appear by itself. Students should actively try to create opportunities during their studies, for example through a working-student position, an internship, or a company project.

In my case, the path from working student to practical semester, bachelor's thesis, and finally full-time employment worked very well. This gave the company the opportunity to become familiar with my work over a longer period of time, while also allowing me to determine whether the company was the right place for me.

I would also advise international students to begin learning German as early as possible. Even when the daily working language is English, knowing German makes communication, integration, and the job search considerably easier.

Students should also not allow rejection emails to discourage them. Rejections are a normal part of the application process. The fear of being rejected should not prevent anyone from applying. It is important to learn from every application and interview and to continue trying.

In addition, I recommend building a professional network early, attending career fairs, establishing contact with companies, regularly improving your CV, and developing both technical and interpersonal skills.

I recommend beginning the search approximately six months before the planned practical semester. Students should not rely only on online job advertisements, but should use different methods. Personal contacts, career fairs, company events, and
direct applications can be especially helpful.

It is also worthwhile to apply not only to large and well-known companies. Start-ups and small and medium-sized companies can also provide excellent opportunities to gain practical experience.

The practical semester should not be seen only as a compulsory requirement or as a way to receive a grade or academic credits. It is an opportunity to discover which tasks and subjects genuinely interest you.

Students should remain curious, ask questions, and try to understand the reasons and processes behind their tasks. It is helpful to take on responsibility, regularly request feedback, and communicate with colleagues outside your immediate team.

I also recommend documenting your tasks and achievements. This can later help with applications, job interviews, and the selection of a possible thesis topic.

My own journey demonstrates how valuable long-term cooperation with a regional company can be. What began as a working-student position developed into my practical semester, my bachelor's thesis, and eventually my permanent employment.