Audra Stein, BS computer science '26, recently had the opportunity to travel to Walldorf, Germany, as part of her co-op experience. Originally from Reading, Pennsylvania, Audra serves as a Drexel CCI Peer Mentor, is a former Pennoni STAR Scholar (2022) and manages the archives of The Triangle, Drexel’s student newspaper, as part of the IT team. She is also pursuing minors in Science, Technology & Society (STS) and History. Read about her experience below.
For my third co-op at Drexel University, I worked with the Human Rights team within Corporate Sustainability at SAP’s Global Headquarters in Walldorf, Germany. My main project involved analyzing data for SAP’s Controversial Weapons Policy, helping identify companies that conflict with SAP’s values and its commitment to the UN Global Compact Principles. This work supports SAP’s efforts to promote ethical business practices across the enterprise software industry.
Nearly all travel and accommodations were sponsored by SAP through the STAR (Student Training and Rotation) multi-year internship program. The STAR program brings students into the company for multiple years, providing them with the opportunity to work on different teams through rotations. These rotations are larger and more intensive than a typical co-op, spanning a year in length on average. The program includes Drexel co-op students as well as students from other Philadelphia-area schools.
I’ve completed all three of my Drexel co-ops with SAP, rotating between teams at the start of each cycle and working part-time during academic terms. This structure has given me a full year on each team, allowing me to gain experience in consulting, data analytics and now corporate sustainability, for which I could not be more grateful.
Germany was such a charming place to call home! The environment was quiet and picturesque, but what really stood out was the SAP Global Headquarters — a campus buzzing with innovation, collaboration and international energy. Working there in person allowed me to connect with colleagues and fellow interns from all over the world. At the beginning of my stay, I expressed a desire to commute to work the European way (by bike). When I asked my team where to rent one, my team lead offered to lend me an extra. This allowed me to exercise and enjoy the beautiful German countryside while participating in SAP’s Bike to Work Sustainability Campaign.
"Posing with the bike I used to commute to work"; Amsterdam Canal at sunset
Outside of work, I explored nearby cities like Heidelberg and Mannheim, which were just a short train ride away. I also took advantage of Germany’s central location (and its many public holidays) to travel on weekends, backpacking through Munich and Berlin and venturing beyond Germany to Brussels, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence and my favorite, Paris. Since it was my first time abroad, I wanted to make the most of it! At the end of my stay, I took a bit of time for more sightseeing, traveling to the UK and Ireland before returning to the States.
Left: Florence City, Italy; Right: Institut de France along the Seine River, Paris
This experience has been incredibly meaningful, not just professionally, but as a personal milestone. Drexel has empowered me to take a multidisciplinary approach to my education, and I’ve been able to apply those principles throughout my co-ops at SAP. This latest rotation has been a pivotal step in my journey, allowing me to shift my focus towards corporate social sustainability and make a measurable impact using the skills I’ve gained from Drexel CCI.
Left: Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, France; Right: Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany