Mercator School of Management of Duisburg-Essen University

A QUICK LOOK

INTRODUCTION

This is an excellent opportunity for business majors interested in our global business community to acquire some international experience. The Business and Economic Summer Term (BEST) is an academic program in an international setting, which is organized by the Faculty of Business Administration - Mercator School of Management (MSM) - of Duisburg-Essen University on Duisburg Campus in cooperation with the Rhine-Westphalia Institute for Economic Research (RWI) in Essen, Germany.

The five-week course program, customized for our partner institutions around the world, also includes field trips and company visits to the industrial and cultural vicinity of Duisburg and an excursion to Berlin. Located in the north-west of Germany on the banks of the river Rhine, Duisburg is not only a challenging place to study, but also an excellent starting point for touring Germany, or for traveling to Amsterdam, Brussels, London, Paris or Prague on weekends or before and after the BEST program.

Please check the following link for program end enrolment:

http://www.msm.uni-due.de/index.php?id=3456&L=1%2F

DUISBURG

Duisburg is situated in North Rhine-Westphalia, the German state with the highest population density (8 million). Duisburg is home to more than 500,000 inhabitants. Within a radius of 500 kilometers you can reach a population of 140 million, which is almost one third of the total population of the European Union. Surrounded by traditional and modern industry, trade companies, and harbor facilities, Duisburg is a vibrant contrast of “the old” and “the new”. Its city center is a harmonious combination of commercial, industrial, residential, shopping, and leisure facilities.

Located at the confluence of the rivers Rhine and Ruhr, Duisburg is often associated with heavy industry and the largest inland port in the world. However, only few people know that Duisburg is one of the oldest university towns in Germany. Duisburg’s first university was officially opened in 1655 with the traditional four faculties of Theology, Philosophy, Law and Medicine. After 6 years of existence, it was dissolved in 1818 in favor of the newly founded university in Bonn.  

Scholars visiting Duisburg are always surprised by the green surroundings and the attractive university setting. Duisburg is justly proud of its history and traditions as a major industrial city. The numerous firms in the area reinforce the vocational orientation of best studies through their close cooperation with the academic staff.

For more information, please go to http://www.duisburg.de/en/

 DUISBURG CAMPUS

Gerhard Mercator University was opened in 1972. It was named after the great geographer and renaissance scholar Gerhard Mercator, who lived and worked in Duisburg from 1552 to 1594 and was the most significant cartographer of the early modern age.

On January 1st, 2003, Gerhard Mercator University was merged with the nearby University of Essen. Today, more than 30,000 students are enrolled in the new Duisburg-Essen University with its two city campuses. On Duisburg Campus (DUC) nearly 15,000 students are studying in 5 faculties (Social Sciences, Business Administration, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Engineering). 50 professors and 440 other full-time academic staff are engaged in research and teaching.

DUC provides all advantages of a relatively small university with many opportunities for close contact between students and faculty. Because of its standing in the international academic community, DUC has become a center for conferences and a meeting place for scientists and scholars from all over the world. Despite its attractive location adjacent to a wooded area of the town, the university campus is close to the city center of Duisburg and easily accessible by bicycle or public transportation.

Duisburg is well known as host of numerous international sporting events like the Military World Championships or the World Games as well as for its teams playing on the highest national levels, e. g. soccer, hockey or water-polo.

BEST students may also enjoy the sports facilities of Duisburg Campus, e.g. tennis courts and gymnasium, or use the swimming, rowing and jogging facilities of the sports center close to their dormitory “Sportschule Wedau” (www.fvn.de/sportschule.html). DUC also provides free Internet access to BEST students. Since DUC is a fully equipped “E-Campus”, free wireless Internet is available for all BEST participants who bring their own laptop.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

BEST is an academic program offering high-quality courses in business administration and managerial economics. Its primary focus, however, is on European business and economic policy issues. It provides a unique opportunity for English-speaking upper division undergraduate and graduate students to extend their knowledge of business and economics in Europe. In addition, participants will attend German language courses at beginners' level to develop their language skills. Students can earn up to nine credits for courses successfully completed. The credits are awarded according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the standards of U. S. universities.

Specifically, the BEST program aims to:

• increase students’ understanding of international business operations and economic policies in European countries;

• enable students to compare various economic systems and international business practices from a European perspective;

• provide students with the opportunity to study business and economic policy issues of present-day Europe; and finally,

• improve the German language proficiency of participating students.

BEST is also offers a unique chance to gain firsthand experience in today's Germany. First, German students care for the international guests and will accompany them on company visits and sightseeing excursions. Second, the economics and language courses provide general information on Germany and Europe, including topics such as politics, recent history, and local customs. Third, long term internships with German companies can be arranged in the region. Finally, visits to local companies and field trips to the historic cities along the river Rhine and its vicinity, as well as the excursion to Berlin are also part of the extra-curricular activities.

 Please check the following link for the program courses and credits:

http://www.msm.uni-due.de/index.php?id=3485&L=1%2F

The trip will also include an exciting excursion to Berlin, the old and new capital of Germany, as an integral part of the BEST program on the weekend of June 12- June 15, 2008. The excursion starts on Thursday after the courses and ends on Sunday evening. The train ride on an ICE rapid train from Duisburg to Berlin and the ground transportation in Berlin as well as accommodation and breakfast in a tourist hotel and all entrance fees are covered by the flat rate BEST charges within the program costs.

ACADEMIC SESSION

Summer: Summer May 21 - June 20, 2008

ACCOMMODATION & MEALS

BEST provides housing at a private dorm, the “Sportschule Wedau”, for all students. It is part of a sports center and can easily be reached from DUC by a short bus ride. The accommodations in a single or double room include breakfast and cost EURO 800 per person for the duration of BEST orientation and courses. The rooms are available from June 03 (arrival) to July 07 (departure), except the weekend of the excursion to Berlin.

PROGRAM COST

Please check the following link for estimated program costs:

http://www.msm.uni-due.de/index.php?id=3519

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS

Participants in this program may use their UNI financial aid to help pay for the program. Study Abroad Scholarships and a variety of external funding options are available to those who qualify. Check the Scholarship information on the Study Abroad website: http://fp.uni.edu/studyabroad/funding/scholarships.htm. Do not hesitate to contact the UNI Study Abroad Office: yana.cornish@uni.edu if you have any questions.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

A complete set of application materials will include one original and one copy of the following:

• UNI Application Packet (PDF Link)
• Program specific application available at http://www.msm.uni-due.de/fileadmin/Dateien/BEST/BEST_applications_2007.pdf

DEADLINES

March 15

CONTACT INFORMATION

Inquires regarding this program should be directed to:
Yana Cornish, Study Abroad Coordinator
Office of International Programs
59 Baker Hall, UNI
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0520
Tel: 319/ 273-7078
Fax: 319/ 273-2921

TALES FROM ABROAD

Be the first UNI student to submit a brief account of your adventures abroad at Mercator School