Eligibility
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 3.0 cumulative GPA or better at the time of application
- Sophomore standing or above at the start of the program
- Applicants are recommended to have taken Econ 2 or 4 prior to enrolling in this program
Program Description
On the Pforzheim University Business Summer School program, students will learn about Germany's place in the European and Global communities in terms of business, culture and politics. This will involve visits to global businesses large and small, such as Mercedes, Daimler-Chrysler, Porsche, Bosch and Hugo Boss. Global jewelry companies headquartered here will also be included in the schedule. In addition, students will hike in the Black Forest, visit the Supreme Court in Karlsruhe and travel to cities such as Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich for on-site history, politics and cultural lessons.
Students will earn 9 credits for successful completion of the full program. The summer program offered by the Pforzheim Business School combines a unique combination of academics, business orientation, language, and culture. Students will take the following three courses:
- Perspectives and Developments in the EU: Students discuss the history of European integration following World War II, learn about the challenges and responsibilities of the European Union’s institutions, and discover the link between political developments and subsequent economic outcomes in the Single European Market and the Eurozone. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the European Union and discuss the EU‘s options for the future. Included in the overall program are visits to institutions such as the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the European Central Bank in Frankfurt and the German stock exchange.
- European Business, Politics and Culture: Students explore a number of topics relevant in today’s business environment. Classroom and off-site lectures are led by some of the Business School’s top professors and a number of industry experts from major firms and institutions. Company visits illustrate how these themes affect real companies and institutions, providing students with the chance to pose questions directly to business owners, R&D managers, recruiters, etc. Preparatory sessions are moderated by graduate students (with deep direct management experience), who assign a number of cases studies to student teams as a method of stimulating critical thinking and further discussion of these and related topics.
- German Language: A beginner’s course is available for students without previous knowledge in the German language. Students with a more advanced knowledge of the German language, will take classes in the regular program of Pforzheim University’s Institute of Foreign Languages.
Students from all majors are welcome to apply.
Dates
Summer: mid May- late June
Refer to the program website for the specific dates, if available.
Location
Pforzheim is situated between the cities of Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, in the SouthWest of Germany in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is also known as the northern gateway to the Black Forest. Southwestern Germany is one of the important economic regions in Europe. Global companies such as Mercedes, Bosch, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Michelin, Porsche, etc. are located in this area.
Pforzheim itself is famous for its jewelry. As the center for the German jewelry, watch and silver goods industry, Pforzheim is also renowned as the "City of Gold". The three rivers Enz, Nagold and Wuerm form the townscape. The nicely arranged boardwalks and parks are perfect for a nice walk, for jogging activities, inline skating or merely for taking some time out. The sunny "City of Gold" with approximately 117,000 inhabitants also has its cultural highlights: a town theater, the "Kulturhaus Osterfeld", the unique jewelry museum and the Schmuckwelten Pforzheim representing an international centre for jewelry and watches.
Numerous student cafes, clubs and last not least the popular student parties at Pforzheim University make student life attractive.
Pforzheim is embedded in a fantastic natural landscape offering versatile leisure activities. Not only spa and resort towns such as Baden-Baden are located here but also the northern Black Forest is a perfect hiking region – a popular place of excursions. Interesting destinations for week-end trips are adjoining France (the Alsace region), Switzerland and Lake Constance.
Education Abroad in Countries with a Penn State Restricted Travel Designation
In order to comply with Penn State’s International Travel Policy, students interested in studying abroad in countries that Penn State has designated as “restricted” for travel, a petition for a waiver must be submitted. Once a petition is complete, and if the student is approved for study on the program in question, the student may be asked to meet with the Director of Education Abroad and the petition will be reviewed by the Penn State International Restricted Travel Committee (IRTC). The necessary petition will be included in the online application process for this program. To see if your program is taking place in a restricted travel country, please visit the Global Programs website.
