I opted for the Master at Kassel University in the area of Electrical Communication Engineering (ECE), a research-oriented Master program, that me and my husband enjoyed a lot despite of the hard work required for the varied contents. I am very happy that my decision to study at Kassel University has been a success!

The staff at Kassel University is highly knowledgeable in their respective fields and very approachable. The professors are so open, so welcoming and they give you that extra opportunity outside the classroom. In my experience, the lecturers were always available to help students achieve their best.

Regarding me, I am married and have a child. I have been very lucky, that my husband studied with me in the same program (and in the same time). Basem has taken up PhD-studies in the field of Nano-technology now, while I will dedicate the next coming years to working in Engineering and to our son, of course. There is lots of support for students and staff with family offered by the University of Kassel.

I highly recommend the ECE program to anyone who has interests to study for a Master’s degree in the area of Electrical Communication Engineering.

(Interview and Photo: Anke Aref, May 2011)

Anke Aref: Mohsin, you are our current ECE student 4 student and have participated in an excursion to the EU Parliament organized by the Master program Higher Education at the University of Kassel.

How do you rate the benefit of this excursion for your work as studi4studi ECE?

Mohsin Khan: The trip provided a lot of knowledge about European Education System, especially about mobility in European universities and European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) which will help me to guide prospective students from EU as well as those from non-EU countries about mobility in European universities in a better way.

During the trip I was introduced to European Students’ Organization (ESO), working of ESO and how they help students in solving their problems. Therefore, now I know a student body to contact with when I need help in issues related to students or protecting my rights as student.

How do you rate the potential relevance and practical benefit for your future work as scientist in the field of communications engineering?

As I plan to go back to my homeland and work in academia after completion of studies, this trip will help in observing differences between Higher Education System differences in EU and my homeland.  

This will enable me to guide students, interested in pursuing higher education in Europe, about European Higher Education System.

As we have also been informed about financial frameworks I have gained a better insight into the potentials of joined research and mobility projects.

And, in any case it has been a great experience to see how rewarding working in a multicultural environment can be!

Thank you, Mohsin, for letting us share your benefits and good luck for your future studies and work as ECE student4student.

I would also like to express my thanks to our ECE alumnus and former international tutor ECE, M.Sc. Usman Masud, who has repeatedly contributed his lively and informative reports on excursions.  Usman, you have become  our ECE press agent, something like an “ECE-Reuter” J - Thank you and best wishes for your future!

Read his complete report on the excursion to Brussels here.

(Anke Aref, August 2010)

The ECE program at University of Kassel offered an opportunity to renew and extend my electrical engineering competencies and enter the electronics industry as a researcher. Through the flexibility of the program it was possible to focus, in depth, on a specific direction in communications engineering.

Courses are very challenging, with emphasis on the newest technologies and challenges facing the next generation of electronics. This takes place in a multicultural environment, where students are expected to become fluent in German in the first year. Working in a team of top young scientists from around the world is always challenging and rewarding. Following my master's degree I took a position as a project manager at a top research institute in Berlin and immediately began my doctoral research.

The technical industry is choosing to innovate rather than cost-cut out of the current economic crisis. The engineers and scientists that are standing on the cutting edge of technology are making these innovations. In this competitive environment, an international masters degree can be the next step toward doctor, assistant professor, research / development group leader, or industry fellow.

(January 2010)

Germany is at the center of Europe and Kassel is at the heart of Germany. It’s a very calm and quiet place for studies with all the essence of European lifestyle. Uni Kassel has a great learning environment. It offers such a variety of subjects.  Keep yourself open to accept a global culture and make new friends. I am sure you will have a great time here.

To read the complete testimonial click here.

New challenges and plenty of knowledge in every classroom.

One of the reasons, which motivated me to enroll in the ECE program, is the freedom of choosing between modules, so you can attend all the lectures and then decide which of them are most suitable for you .

Staff at Kassel University is most cooperative:

I think anyone in this University feels happy, when you ask him to explain you something.

Kassel, surrounded by a huge amount of trees and plants, is really a nice, beautiful and quiet place. It supports good environment for us to study.

Here, we can also find a lot of foreign friends. We can learn from each other, study together, and especially learn how to work well in a multi-cultural environment.

Anke Aref: Ali, you have joined us from one of the oldest Universities in the world: Al Mustansiriya University (Bagdad, Iraq). What are your first impressions on the University of Kassel and on Kassel as a city?

Ali: As far as I am concerned to be here, new things have to be discovered. Therefore, Kassel, as a small city, is a good starting point.

Together with my wife we could build our first steps in the success ladder in life. Furthermore, Uni-Kassel provides international study-programmes for those who want to study in English. For this reason I predict a bright future for Uni-Kassel not only in Germany, but in the international environment too. This point is an interesting one. Besides that, students can find everything easily, like accommodation, services and jobs as well. In my opinion, Kassel is an excellent university for foreign students.

Anke Aref: You are not the first and only couple that we have had in our study program. You and your wife Dhamia promised to give us more infos on relevant issues that are important for married students. We believe, that you had a good start into the program and look forward to reading more soon.

(Anke Aref, July 2008)

This is what Helen Eshetu, B.Sc. in Computer Science from Addis Ababa University School of Information Science and Technology (SIST) says about the ECE program:

The University of Kassel is not so big and it is very convenient, the people are good, the professors try hard to help us and it also provides relationship between students from different countries and cultures.

As I am B.Sc. in Computer Science I want to focus on Mobile Internet. I think it gives me the best opportunity to fulfil my dream.

I was challenged at Orientation: I arrived late and it took place on the first day of my arrival to the campus and even in Kassel, but the persons who gave the orientation were very helpful and willing to help us in our daily life at the university.

I strongly encourage new students to attend the orientation and info meetings! It made my first few weeks at Uni-Kassel a time of reunion instead of an intimidating beginning.

During Welcoming day, I saw the familiar side of Uni-Kassel and  friendships without worrying about classes or grades!

And  this is a place where I would be cared as a student even as a family.

From my little experience so far, Kassel city is very comfortable for new foreign students. The living expenses are affordable and food is not a problem as I used to think.

The help and support offered is what makes this university special. And in the same time, ECE program offers a world-class knowledge and the small classes are of great benefit to us.

Hard work is really needed here.

The only thing I regret is I didn't learn more German courses before I came here, though you can speak English with anyone in the Uni but to talk and interact with people outside, German language is a must.

Anke Aref: Briggs, you joined our program just 2 months ago after doing your undergraduate studies at the Australian University of Wollongong in Dubai.

Our readers might wonder, how do you feel in Kassel, after doing your Bachelor in the booming miracle "ÜberMorgenland", as the German weekly magazin "Der Spiegel" recently coined Dubai?  

Briggs: The city of Kassel boasts all the facilities in big cities, except the noise which makes it a cool place to study. Located at the geographical center of Germany, and in the heart of Europe, Kassel can best be described as the nerve center and cross road of many of Germany's technological achievements; and so I am glad to be a part of it.

What about the quality of studies?

The ECE program is promising because of the experience and the vast knowledge of the Professors. I have no doubt that what I am being taught here in Kassel measures equal with what is offered in other universities around the developed world. Hence, I would recommend Uni Kassel and especially the ECE program to anyone who is contemplating advanced studies in the area of electrical and Communication Engineering. Just come prepared with a heart to learn!

Briggs, thank you for letting us join your first impressions, and we do wish you succesful Master studies!

(Anke Aref, May 2008)

Anke Aref: Usman, Kelash and Yacob passed  „Zertifikat Deutsch“ in a very short time. They arrived late to the ECE-Program. Read Usman’s statement of gratitude to the German teacher and to Dialog-Institute...

Usman Masud: I would like to thank our teacher whole heartedly, for guiding me during such a crucial period, and for such a nice, dedicated and devoted teaching that I was able to pass the examination in a very short period of time. I am REALLY honored and glad to have had a teacher like Sylvia. Kudos to her exceptional personal interest in this connection. 

I would also like to thank Frau Kilian for her nice cooperation, helping to make impossible into possible.

It has indeed been a matter of stark pleasure to learn from a teacher with personal calibre like hers. I wish I could have such a nice, industrious and cooperative teacher, with outstanding disposition, in future as well. Thanks a lot, once again!!!

(March 2008)

Anke Aref: Today I would like to introduce Asdesach Zena Markos, who graduated from our ECE program in September 2004: You are now focussing on amplifier design and architecture.

Asdesach Zena Markos: Yes, I currently work as research and academic assistant at the department of high frequency techniques (HFT), University of Kassel. My research activities focus on high efficiency power amplifier design for 3G and upcoming (LTE and 4G) wireless communication application.

What is the practical relevance of your research?

Zena: Modern mobile communication basestations require power amplifiers with very high average efficiency. This is due to the spectrum efficient digital modulation techniques used in such communication systems. Hence, intensive research is underway to achieve high efficiency in the power amplifiers.

You have been awarded for Best Paper at the 2007 European Microwave Integrated Conference (EuMIC) in Munich, Germany, October 2007 for design of a Doherty amplifier with high efficiency. Congratulations! What are the advantages of Doherty amplifiers as compared to other techniques?

Zena: Recently, the Doherty amplifier technique is considered as a solution due to its less complexity for implementation and significant average efficiency improvement. Such a high efficiency (see the picture and figure below) has been designed and demonstrated¹.

This work has been performed in co-operation with University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy, in an exchange program with in a frame work of Top Amplifier Research Groups in a European Team (TARGET). TARGET is a Network of Excellence in the 6^th  Framework Programme of the EC.

You are currently guiding the practical training in Microwave Integrated Circuits I (Lab MIC I)). What piece of advise would you give to our new ECE students?

Asdesach Zena Markos: Microwave integrated circuits such as power amplifiers are main parts of modern wireless communication basestations. Hence design, simulation and fabrication of MICs is an important field of study.

The aim of this practical training is to introduce the state of the art Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools to the new ECE students. CAD tools are used to simulate and analyse MICs prior to their practical implementation. The training is specially useful, to those who are interested in the design of passive and active MICs for instance, power dividers, power amplifiers and frequency multipliers.

There are varieties of CAD tools which can be used to perform both circuit and electromagnetic simulations among this the Advanced Design System (ADS®) is widely used. The practical training is offered in five sessions and deals with the introduction and use of ADS for MIC design. Therefore, this training is a vital starting point to MIC designer.

Thank you very much for your information and wishing you all the best for your future scientific research and career.

¹A. Z. Markos, et al., “A 6W Uneven Doherty Amplifier in GaN Technology,” Proc. of the 2^nd European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference (EuMIC), pp. 299-302, Munich ,Germany, October 2007.

Anke Aref: Monica, you graduated in summer 2006, when we wrote about you in our ECE news. Since then you have been around the world quite a bit.

Monica: Since I joint Schlumberger as trainee, I’ve had an orientation session in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). After that, I came here to Jakarta (Indonesia) to get some prospection of the job. From March to May, I had an intensive technical training in Abu Dhabi (UAE). With all these training and some practical jobs, I just got my promotion last month and keep on working as a FE in Jakarta. Maybe next year, in February or March, I’m going to take another training in Houston, US.

What exactly are your professional obligations as Field Engineer?

As an oilfield service company, Schlumberger divides its business into several departments. The department I’ m working for is called D&M (Drilling and Measurement). Essentially, what we are doing is helping the oil company to drill a hole and hit the target in a proper way. With running our specific tools downhole, we can tell the client what’s the longitude, latitude, inclination of the wellbore. Besides, the client may also be interested in the characters of the formation, like resistivity, Gamma ray and porosity etc. By analyzing those information, the geologist can locate the pay zone of hydrocarbons accurately. 

Is there any direct connection of your current work to your Master thesis topic: “Molecular Beam Epitaxy Growth and Characterization of AlGaAs/GaAs”?

Unfortunately, this job is not that related to my master thesis. However, some of the lectures I chose during my master study help me a lot in understanding the theory of the tools.  For instance, all the measurements the tool taking downhole have to be transmitted uphole in a proper modulated way.  How to chose an optimal carrier frequency and modulation method, how to cancel the noise without weakening useful information, those are what I’ve ever learnt from my study in Kassel.

You would have had the option to continue in the scientific/research field and do your PhD. Why did you choose to take up practical work in an international company?

For me, it has never been an easy decision to give up the chance of taking a PhD in Kassel.  I really enjoy the scientific atmosphere in INA.  Colleagues were nice and helpful.  Professor was supportive and creative.  However, after so many years continuous studying in campus, it’s time to test myself in practical work.  I’d love to know what can I do and that what I learnt in Uni is helpful in industry.  I believe theoretical knowledge combining with practical experience make me a better people.

Is there anything you miss about Kassel, now that you are a global citizen working in an international company in multilingual environment.

Talking about the life in Kassel, I would like to conclude it as a sweet but tough time. Some time, when I stay alone in the night, it seems all the memories are so fresh and impressive. I still remember our Ingenieur-Schule building, the long hall connecting Mensa and classroom, the parties held every Thursday, the wonderful Wilhelmshöher Castle. Meantime, the feeling of first arriving in a foreign country, the pressure of passing pre-semester, the conflict with a totally different culture and the pain of missing parents and hometown are also memorable. Now, after leaving Kassel, leaving Germany for over one year, I ’m really thankful for all the good times and challenges. From there, I opened my eyes to see this world, get to know there are so many possibilities, improve my adaptive ability, and most important, I make myself a stronger person.

I can’t predict where my next stop is, Asia, America or Europe again. However, Kassel is always where I start my trip and a milestone of my life.

Monica, thank you so much for letting us share your very impressive development and helpful personal remarks on the overall effects of studying abroad and ECE in particular. Best wishes for all your challenges to come and please take care, not only when you are working at offshore rigs! We are definitely looking forward to your next news.

(Anke Aref, October 2007)

Anke Aref: Today, I would like to introduce one of our “ECE couples” to our readers:Tania Rahman and Md. Sayfullah! You took up ECE studies at UNIKASSEL in 2002 - In what respect have ECE-studies prepared you for your professional work?

Tania & Sayfullah: In preparatory semester we learnt the basics of German language and many courses from different study models which helped us to focus on our area of interest. Courses and relevant lab works helped us to incorporate theory and physical meaning of the theory. Moreover project work, seminar and master thesis lead us to be a professional on engineering work.

What did you like best about Kassel?

We like most the close contact between students and Professors in Kassel University. As a city, Kassel, is well organized, calm and nice to live.

Was it important to learn German?

Definitively, it is important to learn German to communicate in University life and in our working environment.

After successful graduation from the ECE program your private and professional life has seen quite a few changes reflecting economic cycles and “company family affairs”…

Tania Rahman: Well, I started my career in Siemens and later I was in BenQ mobile. BenQ mobile, however, had to declare insolvency and all employees became jobless. It was a very bad experience for me but in professional life this kind of incidence can happen any time and it is life, we all should live with it. Without being too much disappointed, I searched for job and got one in Qimonda AG as a quality manager.

Md. Sayfullah: Originally I started my PhD work in TU Wien but my working place was in Infineon AG, Munich. One year later Infineon closed our corporate research group where I was working for my PhD. From April, 2006, Infineon divided into two companies Qimonda AG (memory business) and Infineon Technologies (automotive and telecom business). Qimonda AG offered me a permanent job position as concept engineer and gave me scope to complete my PhD.

What piece of advise would you give to newcomers.

Every international student is an ambassador of his/her country to Germany, so student should be careful in his/her activities to represent his country properly.

Student should give more care to understand the physical meaning of all the courses he/she studies in ECE program by lab work.

Thank you so much, Tania and Sayfullah, for revealing the possible personal consequences of economic cycles. We wish you, Sayfullah, all the best for your PhD, success to you, Tania, and we would like to express our sincere congratulations to both of you on your private family news: You have a little daughter now, so to say an “ECE baby”! It looks as if the ECE Family is growing (;-) Looking forward to letting us share your news always …

(Anke Aref, August 2007)

Anke Aref: Priya, you have graduated in spring 2007. What is your experience with the ECE program?

PRIYA: I feel the ECE program is well organised and structured. The preparatory semester was helpful to choose the study model, learn German language and get acclimatised to the surroundings before entering the masters. In particular I liked the different study models that helped me to focus on my area of interest. Overall, it was a good experience.

What was particularly challenging for you in the first period of your studies with respect to different learning and teaching techniques?

Yes. The 1st few months were quite challenging to manage the course works. The standard and teaching techniques were entirely different from my bachelors. The lectures offered were of high standard. The exercise classes were equally impressive and helped a lot to improve my problem solving capability.

I do not mean to intrude, but it might be a helpful piece of advice for new students entering the program: How did you overcome difficulties in the first adaptation process?

I don’t think I had ever felt like giving up and getting back home. However, there were situations where I really got frustrated during the first 1 or 2 months. But then, I had enough perseverance and motivation to focus on what I came for.

Was it easy to get this job and have you been prepared for the work in the ECE program?

Definitely Yes. Apart from the course subjects, project work and thesis were in particular beneficial and gave me confidence to attend job interviews. I wrote my Master thesis on “Adaptive Schemes for Multicarrier Transmission System with MB-OFDM Modulation”. The course has by all means prepared me for my job. I am looking forward to perform well.

Looking back at your time of study in Kassel: Is there anything that you regret not to have done then?

As far the academics was concerned, nothing really. Probably, I should have continued with my German language courses after level Zertifikat Deutsch.

A frank question requires a frank answer: What did you dislike most in Kassel and Kassel University and what do you miss now that you left for the Rhein-Main Frankfurt area?

This is a difficult one to answer. Well, in the beginning, I thought it was going to be hard for me to live in a small city after having lived in a real big city in India with crowded streets.

And now, I miss being out of Kassel and, of course, miss my friends that I made there.

I feel it is one of the good cities for students with good transport facilities and pretty reasonable cost of living. Also, I am not too far from Kassel now. Hope to visit quiet often :-).

Priya, thank you so much for your frank answers. We wish you all the success in your job career and private life and look forward to hearing your news always.

(Anke Aref, July 2007)

Anke Aref: You first came to UNIKASSEL in late summer of 2003. After successful graduation from ECE, you returned to your home-country Indonesia. Chatim, please introduce our readers to your current job details:

CHATIM: I currently work for my previous company in the Dept. Gateway Operation and Maintenance. This department deals with daily operation of Asia Cellular Satellite network, an adapted GSM network over satellite. Since this cellular network utilises a satellite instead of BTS antenna, the area covered by the only one geo-synchronous satellite is along its footprint, which lies from India to the west side, China and Japan to the north side, Indonesia to the south side, and Papua New Guinea and some small islands to the East.

This is apparently a vast area, you are covering with your network. Considering the recent natural desasters Asia had to endure, I wonder, whether your work implies Tsunami Prewarning Systems also?

Yes, my company is currently the only company in the country, which delivers service of such system to Indonesian Meteorology Authority. We put some nodes of tsunami prewarning system in Aceh, North Sumatera, West Sumatera, Bali, south coast of Java, and some other places.

Whenever the Authority would like to warn particular areas, they just send command message to siren on sites through our network.

Have ECE-studies prepared you well for your daily professional challenges?

Basically, taking advanced study in electrical communication engineering in such a way prepares all professionals to have deeper understanding of how to deal with communication aspects. The next will be how professionals enhance themselves during day-to-day activities of professional work.

What made you opt for UNIKASSEL at the time?

I believed Electrical Engineering Faculty of UNIKASSEL had a long way of enormous research experience in achieving what it had at the time. Therefore, it was no doubt for me to attend the program.

What do you consider was the most difficult adaptation process during your studies?

Well, people have to get accustomed to adapt things quickly as much as they can do. For most cases I was facing during that time, the language was a big gap. However, it was a huge challenge to know German language in order to encounter tremendous experience of life, which is unforgettable for the rest of my life.

What piece of advise would you like to give to newcomers?

The most important thing is please prepare yourself psychologically, so that you can cope with any surprising events during study period of time.

What did you miss most in Kassel?

The friendship, which was made up of cross cultural circumstances and a lot of memorable places.

What do you like best in Kassel?

Kassel is a well organized small town, where you can live in peace and comfort.

What changes have you seen in the ECE-program since you started?

I take a look on new ECE website and congratulation, it is improved a lot and I think it is more informative than what we had in the past, isn't it?

Chatim, thank you very much! We would like to wish you all the best and hope that you will not have reason to warn against Tsunamis.

(Anke Aref, June 2007)

Update 2009: We are happy to announce, that R.H. Chatim has returned to his Alma Mater for doctoral studies. Good luck and best wishes!

(February 2007, Anke Aref)