Mercator School of Management of Duisburg-Essen University
A QUICK LOOK
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COUNTRY: Germany
CITY: Duisburg
HOST Institution: Mercator School of
Management of Duisburg-Essen University
TYPE OF PROGRAM: UNI Exchange
SESSIONS: Summer (May 21 - June 20, 2008)
ELIGIBILITY: Undergraduates of at junior standing, or Graduate
students; 2.8 minimum GPA
ACADEMIC AREAS: International Business
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION: English
CREDITS: Undergraduate, Graduate |
Printable version
Program Links
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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:
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
of Management
of Duisburg-Essen University
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