UAH senior David Harris touts benefits of CBYX program after year of study, work in Germany

David Harris spent the past year studying and working in Germany as the second student from The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to receive a Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) award. Now returning to finish his degree at UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System, he praises the professional and personal benefits of the program.

“I believe simply working in Germany gives me a leg up on my job search after I graduate,” says Harris, who is majoring in foreign language and international trade in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

He points out that “a low percentage of Americans have work experience abroad.” Not only does that experience help you stand out, he says, “but it also shows that you are highly adaptable and can work with different groups of people.”

David Harris studied and experienced German culture during the 2023-2024 CBYX exchange program.

Courtesy David Harris

After Harris arrived in Germany in summer 2023, his first focus was language.

“I attended the Carl Duisberg Centren full time for two months in Cologne as my language school. Here I met many people from all around the world, some of whom I’m still in contact with.”

Next, he studied various language and cultural courses for five months at the University of Greifswald in northeast Germany. Then he got down to business.

“I received an internship in corporate controlling and reporting in Hamburg, Germany, with Aurubis, Europe’s largest copper producer. I worked full time there for four months, which gave me real-world finance experience for my job search here.”

Harris sees the whole CBYX experience as a significant boost to his resume.

“Learning conversational German has professionally opened a lot of doors for me. Looking at graduate programs in German-speaking countries is now a possibility for me, and I now have a large international network of people who have really helped me grow professionally over the year.”

Harris also appreciates the ways the program helped him expand his personal horizons.

“I found myself becoming much more empathetic, especially to internationals. I have a newfound respect for immigrants trying to build a life in a foreign country. Learning a new language, building a new community, and adapting to a new culture and its customs all at once is an impressive feat in itself.”

Now that he’s back home at UAH, Harris says he will encourage his fellow students to apply for a foreign exchange program.

“The amazing thing about CBYX is that it’s open to everyone, regardless of major or industry. Also, the fact that it’s completely funded by the government is a huge plus. If you can find and articulate a compelling reason or connection to be in Germany – whether it’s to improve your German language skills or to work in an industry that is particularly strong or interesting in Germany – I highly recommend looking into it.”

Harris credits the assistance of Jennifer Staton, senior fellowship and graduate school advisor in the UAH Honors College.

“She helped me across each step of the application process. She is an amazing resource for anyone who is seriously interested in applying. The application season for CBYX starts in the fall, so there is still time to consider and apply this year!”

CBYX is funded by the U.S. Department of State and the German Bundestag and sponsored by Cultural Vistas, which has designed and implemented exchange programs since 1963. Each year, CBYX sends 75 American and 75 German young professionals to each other’s country to study, intern and live with hosts in a cultural immersion program open to candidates in all career fields and from a broad range of backgrounds.