18.08.2022

Have a safe journey - Selamat jalan!

Tobias Merth; © Photo: Johannes Schermuly UEM

"On 19 August, it finally starts. I am very excited," says Tobias Merth. "Actually, I was supposed to complete a two-month stay in the Asia regional office of the UEM during my training as an office management assistant (IHK). As a special feature this stay in Pematangsiantar, Indonesia, was part of it." However, this had to be postponed because of Corona. "In the meantime, our trainee has successfully completed his training and we have taken him on in the Finance & Controlling team. Now we can finally catch up on the exchange. Since the accounting departments at our three locations have long worked together as a team, this exchange is an important component of intercultural learning for Mr Merth," explains Timo Pauler, the UEM Executive Secretary Finance & Administration.

With his degree in his pocket, Tobias Merth is currently preparing intensively for his time in Indonesia. "I am supporting my colleagues on site with the upgrade of our accounting system. At the moment, the account names and especially the account numbers have to match with those in the German system so that no problems arise later during the takeover."

The native of Solingen will take a crash course in "Indonesian for beginners" on site. "I already know a bit, and my two Indonesian colleagues from the accounting department will also support me on site," he says and is visibly looking forward to the six-week exchange with them in Pematangsiantar, almost 10,000 kilometres away. "So far, we have only zoomed, talked on the phone or written emails. In person, we only saw each other briefly during planning week in May." Tobias Merth will not only get to know everyday office life there. "My colleagues here in Wuppertal told me that karaoke is very popular there. Let's see if I can keep up with the Indonesians," he smiles.

With Tobias Merth, the UEM has for the first time trained an office management assistant in an international environment. The focus of the two-and-a-half-year training was on human resources management, public relations/event management and commercial management and control.

For the UEM, qualified training in the field of administration is the cornerstone for the continued successful existence of the international communion in the world of work. The UEM thus secures the next generation of well-trained specialists and is considering continuing the "training company" project next year.