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  • Sustainability in Southwestern Germany

    4 week summer program in Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, and Neckarsulm

  • Academic Field(s)

    Sustainability and Eco-consciousness

  • Destinations

    Germany: Heidelberg, Karlsruhe and Neckarsulm

  • Sustainability Management (3 credits)

    Taught by local professor

    Syllabus coming soon

  • This could be your course (3 credits)

    Taught by you

    Syllabus coming soon

  • Duration

    30 days

  • Accommodation

    Appartment hotel

  • Nature Positive Study Abroad

    CEPA offsets the carbon emissions for:

    • International Flight
    • On-site program

    Learn more >

This sustainability-focused program is designed to offer a new perspective on study-abroad experiences. Its primary goal is to provide students with insights into how cities can implement environmentally friendly practices and how  companies are adapting their strategies to promote responsible and sustainable actions.

This program includes classes 4 times a week during the morning given at the Schiller International University facilities.

  • DAY 1

    • Overnight flight to Frankfurt, Germany (group flight can be booked separately)

  • DAY 2: HEIDELBERG

    • Arrival at Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
    • Check-in at the apartment hotel and orientation session led by your CEPA On-site Coordinator.
    • Welcome dinner at a local eco-friendly German restaurant.

  • DAY 5-6: HEIDELBERG

    • Meeting with representatives from the Office of Environmental Protection of the City of Heidelberg to discuss how the city is striving to become more sustainable and eco-friendly.
    • Visit to the Heidelberg Zoo, including a meeting with one of the zoo’s representatives, who will explain the zoo’s conservation initiatives, such as habitat restoration and eco-friendly practices in animal care, waste management, and energy use

  • DAYS 7 - 18: HEIDELBERG AND KARLSRUHE

    • Walking tour of Bahnstadt, a modern, sustainable urban district built on a former freight rail yard. As the world’s largest passive house development, it sets global standards and offers a unique contrast to conventional modern districts.
    • Guided tour of EnBW’s Steam Power Plant, an energy provider’s facility in Karlsruhe. Participants can explore how the power plant operates, observe it up close, and learn about energy generation from water, wind, solar power, coal, and residual waste.
    • Visit to Heidelberg’s Office of Waste Management and Municipal Cleansing to learn about the city’s innovative waste management strategies. The visit highlights how Heidelberg integrates sustainability into its operations and promotes recycling and waste reduction among residents.
    • Visit to Heidelberg Solar to gain insights into the company’s projects, its vision, and the functionality of photovoltaic panels, including their benefits for Heidelberg and the surrounding areas.
    • Boat tour on the Neckar River aboard the solar-powered vessel “Neckarsonne.” The tour offers delightful views of the city from an environmentally friendly boat while providing information about the vessel and Heidelberg’s highlights.
    • Hiking along the Philosopher’s Path and beyond with your coordinator. This hike through the hills on the north bank of the Neckar River showcases Heidelberg’s natural landscapes and traces of its millennial history, including sites like the Stephan and Saint Michael Monastery.
    • Visit to the Heidelberg Center of the Environment (HCE) at the University of Heidelberg to learn about the center’s research projects focused on sustainability, climate change, and environmental studies

  • DAY 19-30: HEIDELBERG AND NECKARSULM

    • Guided tour of the Audi production site in Neckarsulm, providing an overview of the operations of this German automobile maker, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. The visit offers insights into the production flow and highlights the company’s efforts in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.
    • Guided tour of the Botanical Garden of Heidelberg, where a diverse collection of plants can be explored, including tropical and desert species in greenhouses, native European flora, and a variety of medicinal herbs.
    • Visit to SES (Sustainable Energy Solutions) to learn about the company’s projects, its vision, and how their customer-oriented approach aligns with the high quality of their photovoltaic systems.
    • Admission to the Body Worlds Museum, which features an educational exhibit showcasing real human bodies preserved through the plastination process.
    • Farewell dinner at a traditional German restaurant.
    • Departure from Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
  • What’s included in this sample itinerary:

    Academic and professional excursions with special presentations • cultural excursions and field trips with local, bilingual guides • entrance fees and reservations • classroom and professor at Schiller International Universtiy • accommodation in an aparthotel double-use apartments for students; single-use apartments for the faculty) • daily breakfast • welcome and farewell dinner •  transportation passes for whole germany (Deutschland Ticket) • on-site coordinator during excursions • orientation sessions • time to study, instruct, and explore

Interested in a program that minimizes its environmental impacts and educates about it?

Then get in touch with us to get more information