International education has always been a transformative experience—broadening one’s global outlook, enriching cultural understanding, and shaping new perspectives on how societies think and operate. Ezra Levino Kusumaputra, a 7th-semester Industrial Engineering student from Indonesia, chose to pursue a study abroad program in Germany, a country widely known as Europe’s hub of industrial innovation and efficiency. Throughout this opportunity, Ezra not only expanded his academic knowledge but also immersed himself in the work ethics and social culture of German society—discipline, systematic thinking, and results-driven orientation.

In his report, Ezra explains that studying at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences in the city of Kleve provided him with valuable insights into how academic theory is strongly connected to real industrial practices. This experience reflects how the German higher education system is designed to nurture graduates who are critical thinkers and adaptive to the evolving needs of global industries.

1. Motivation for Joining the Study Abroad Program
Ezra’s primary motivation stemmed from his desire to directly explore industrial and educational development in a highly advanced country. Germany stood out as the perfect destination, known as “The Industrial Heart of Europe”—where efficiency and innovation are deeply embedded in daily life.

During his stay, Ezra observed how punctuality, independence, and attention to detail are not just taught but practiced consistently within the German community. These values play a crucial role in shaping a culture that prioritizes quality and reliability. He believes that this is one of the key aspects that sets Germany’s education and industrial sector apart from many other countries.

Academically, Ezra was driven by his goal to strengthen his global perspective. By understanding international standards directly from a German university, he hopes to bring home insights that can contribute to industrial development in Indonesia. The study abroad program served as a platform to bridge theoretical knowledge in industrial engineering with real-world applications, forming a crucial foundation for his future professional career.

2. Why Rhein-Waal University?
Ezra’s choice of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences was not a coincidence. He found the university highly supportive of international students, both academically and socially. Located in Kleve—just one hour from Düsseldorf and 30 minutes from Nijmegen, the Netherlands—the campus is situated in a vibrant, multicultural environment.

One of the university’s main strengths lies in its internationally oriented curriculum. All programs, including Industrial Engineering, are delivered in English, creating a welcoming learning atmosphere for students from various countries. The multicultural setting also allows for valuable intercultural interaction beyond classroom learning.

What impressed Ezra the most was the university’s emphasis on applied sciences. Many of the lecturers are industry-experienced professors, ensuring that students not only learn theories but also observe how they are implemented in real industrial environments. This approach helped Ezra better understand the direct connection between engineering principles and practical industrial solutions.

3. Academic Experience and Key Courses
Throughout the semester, Ezra enrolled in six main Industrial Engineering courses under the Faculty of Technology and Bionics. These courses provided in-depth insights into modern industrial systems—from manufacturing technologies and global economics to cross-cultural management.

4 Manufacturing Technology
This course introduced Ezra to advanced manufacturing technologies based on the DIN 8580 classification system—Germany’s standard that is widely adopted into international ISO standards. He gained a deeper understanding of how production processes are systematically designed to ensure efficiency and precision.

Hands-on learning played a major role in this course. Rhein-Waal is equipped with modern laboratories and digital simulation tools that enable students to directly apply theoretical concepts. Ezra highlighted that these practical experiences allowed him to witness firsthand how German industries achieve high levels of productivity and accuracy—far beyond what can be learned solely from classroom theory.

5. Technical Investment and Appraisal
Among all the courses, this one left the strongest impression. Ezra learned to evaluate project investment feasibility from both technical and economic perspectives, focusing on risk analysis, data-driven decision-making, and financial evaluation methods such as ROI and NPV in industrial projects.

This course pushed him to think beyond technical competency and incorporate economic reasoning. Through real industrial case studies in Germany, Ezra gained insights into how transparency and efficiency shape business decision-making. He realized that successful industrial engineering requires not only technical expertise but also strategic thinking and financial understanding.

This study abroad experience has strengthened Ezra’s ambition to become a globally competitive industrial engineer. By combining German industrial values with the growing opportunities in Indonesia, he aims to contribute significantly to future industrial development back home.