This spring, German Studies and Systems Engineering double major Jeffrey Werth is completing an immersive 7-month combined study and co-op experience in Munich, Germany! It began with a six-week intensive language course at the Goethe Institute in Munich and has now transitioned to a 5-month internship at BMW in Munich!

In the summer of 2023 after his sophomore year, Jeffrey interned in the Purchasing and Supplier Network Americas department at the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, impressed his team with his growing German skills, seized the opportunity to participate in longer co-op experience in Munich at corporate headquarters in Munich this spring, and is now paving the way for a unique experiential study and internship semester abroad for future Engineering, Computer Science, and Business majors at CofC!

“I had a great experience at my 6-week Goethe Institute language course. It was a total immersion program that allowed my German proficiency to reach a sufficient level to start my Co-Op at BMW. Since starting at BMW all of my colleagues have pushed me to improve my German, and I am now able to use it every day!

My time at BMW is not only dramatically expanding my German skills, but also the engineering aspect of my education. Working within BMW’s strategic purchasing department has given me firsthand experience with how BMW develops its global supply chain. This has deepened my understanding of how systems engineering is applied to establish strong supply chains through careful design and decision making!”