The program started on June 21 when 39 students from five universities from the California, Colorado, China, and Korea all gathered in Heidelberg, Germany at the
SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg for a 3-week “Doing Business in Europe” exchange program. Eleven students from CSU (Business majors and minors) were part of the class.
Classes started bright and early on Monday June 22. After learning where to go for class and meals and meeting each other and getting the schedule all organized, everyone participated in a scavenger hunt in center city Munich. This gave the students a chance to learn their way around, learn some history, and get to know each other and the German students who helped. (Yes, this material was on the first test!)
Classes met every morning and afternoon for 4 hours each session and covered lectures in such topics as Survival German, EU Law, EU Accounting, Working in Multicultural Teams, Survey of German History, The Challenges of Doing Business in a Different Culture, and European Geography. The group also had several excursions to area businesses including Eichbaum Brewery in Mannheim, SAP in Waldorf, the EU Parliament in Strasbourg, Mercedes in Rastatt, BASF headquarters in Ludwigshafen, and Adam Meuller winery in Leimen. Unfortunately, the trip to the Mercedes factory where they make the A class car was in vain. As the group started the tour, a tremendous clap of thunder and lightning knocked out all the computers that run the plant and the tour was cancelled. The class can say they were there when the plant shut down unexpectedly for the first time in 10 years!
The 3 weeks were not all work and no play. The university held a Summer Fest complete with games, music, sausages and beer for all the students, faculty, and staff. It was also a sponsor for a huge run/walk (13000 people) at the Hockenheim Formula I racetrack and the class was invited to participate. Most of the group went to Munich one weekend with visits to the BMW museum, Dachau, and lots of churches. Two students came back with a few additions to their wardrobes.
The International students bonded with each other and with the German students who helped with the program and they all think they’ve learned a lot. Some planned to meet elsewhere in Europe after the program was over. It is safe to say that the CSU students now know how many countries make up the EU and why Switzerland and Norway are not joining, what Germans eat for breakfast every day (bread and meat and cheese), why Wal-Mart failed in Germany, how to use a tram and bus system, that umbrellas are a necessity in Germany, and what direction worldwide accounting standards are taking. They all learned that German washers and dryers take MUCH longer than U.S. ones do to finish a load of laundry and they cannot be stuffed full of clothes!
As Jon Morris, a Real Estate concentration said “The SRH Heidelberg Summer School Program is one of the best experiences of my life. We have had the opportunity to experience a variety of different cultures and lifestyles; … We had the opportunity to visit and learn about the EU's duties and processes from within the actual "Chambers" itself. Afterwards we were able to walk around Strasbourg, see the sights, and try authentic French cuisine. Overall this trip is extremely educational, informative, and most of all fun! I would recommend this program to any student trying to broaden their horizons, step out of their comfort zone and enjoy the experience of a lifetime!"
In August three German students will join the College for the semester and hope to learn as many useful skills and information as they helped the CSU students learn.