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When Issam Abdallah began his studies in Mechanical and Maintenance Engineering at the German Jordanian University (GJU), his future career path was still open. What ultimately gave it direction was the German Year, and the practical experience that came with it.
Issam completed his exchange year in Germany at Hochschule Magdeburg Stendal. For the applied-science-part of his exchange, he did a mandatory internship at Robert Bosch GmbH near Stuttgart. There, he worked in development engineering on laser transmission welding of plastic components used in automotive electronics. For the first time, he was directly involved in designing experiments, evaluating laser based bonding processes, and understanding how research and development is structured inside a global industrial company.
At the time, Issam was unsure where his studies would lead him. The internship changed that. It introduced him to laser technology as a practical, high impact engineering field, and helped him make a decisive choice.
He went on to complete a Master’s degree in Lasers and Photonics at Ruhr University Bochum. As part of his studies, Issam wrote his Master’s thesis at TRUMPF, focusing on the tailoring and measurement of high power laser distributions for advanced material processing.
Following his graduation, Issam joined Class 5 Photonics in Hamburg, a company specialising in high performance laser systems. Starting as a Laser Engineer, he worked on the production and optimisation of high power laser systems, improved manufacturing processes, and supported customers worldwide through technical training and problem solving.
Over the next few years, his technical expertise once again opened new doors. Since 2025, Issam has been working as a Project Leader in Research & Development, leading the development of high power laser systems.
Looking back, Issam is particularly proud of completing his Master’s degree and of steadily moving up the professional ladder in a highly specialized field. “It’s been a nice journey and without starting at the GJU I think I would not be able to be where I am right now.", he says, nine years after first arriving in Germany.
For current GJU students, his advice is clear: take every opportunity to gain practical experience early on. Real world exposure, he believes, is what turns theory into direction. At the same time, Issam emphasises the responsibility of companies to guide young talent and provide constructive feedback, a combination that helps both students and organisations grow.
Issam Abdallah’s story shows how the Germany Year can act as a catalyst: transforming uncertainty into focus, and academic study into a clear professional path in one of today’s most advanced engineering fields.
