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  • Sustainable Management in Southern Germany

    4 week summer program in Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Freiburg im Breisgau, and Neckarsulm

  • Duration

    28 days

  • Accommodation

    Appartment eco-minded hotel

  • Nature Positive Study Abroad

    CEPA offsets the carbon emissions for:

    • International Flight
    • On-site program

    Learn more >

Learning Objectives

  • Introduction to Sustainability
    • Understand foundational sustainability concepts and their relevance to global challenges.
  • Sustainable Urban Planning
    • Analyze sustainable urban development initiatives and their impact on communities.
    • Apply systems thinking to assess the effectiveness of urban sustainability practices.
    • Explore innovations in renewable energy and their role in sustainable development. (Workshop on Solar Energy at Heidelberg Solar)

Academic Fields

  • Academic Field(s)

    Business, Management

  • Destinations

    Germany: Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Freiburg im Breisgau, and Neckarsulm

Course(s)

  • Sustainability Management (3 credits)

    Taught by local professor

    Syllabus coming soon

  • Teach your course (3 credits)

    We are inviting visiting faculty members to join us on this summer program. You will have the opportunity to teach your own course.

This program aims to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of sustainability principles, systems thinking, and the global application of sustainable practices in urban development, corporate strategies, and environmental conservation. Students will develop an understanding of the principles of sustainability and their application across environmental, economic, and social domains through practical exposure, hands-on learning and observation.

Professional visits to corporate organizations and government offices enable students to engage with practitioners to analyze sustainability challenges and opportunities in diverse cultural and geographical contexts. Dedicated workshops help students apply systems thinking to propose innovative solutions to real-world sustainability problems.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to critically evaluate sustainability practices, collaborate on innovative solutions, and advocate for sustainable development in various professional and cultural settings.

This program includes classtime in the mornings, Monday – Thursday, at the Schiller International University campus in Heidelberg.

  • 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 3: HEIDELBERG

    • Guided walking tour of Heidelberg to get a feel for this beautiful German city. Stroll through the picturesque Old Town, full of narrow streets and historic charm. Enjoy the lively atmosphere of its bustling squares and riverside views.
    • Guided tour through the Heidelberg Castle. Standing on the top of a hill overlooking the whole city of Heidelberg, this 13th century castle lasted until 1693 when the French army bombed it. Nevertheless, this castle stands as a symbol for the Electorate times, of the Germany pre-unionification, and of the mixture between Gothic and Renaissance architecture.

  • DAY 4: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • 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.

  • DAY 5: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • Afternoon meeting with representatives from the Office of Environmental Protection of the city of Heidelberg.
      You will learn more on how Heidelberg is working on being more sustainable and eco-friendly.

  • DAY 6: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • Afternoon visit the Heidelberg Zoo and meet with one of their representatives who will teach you about their conservation initiatives, including habitat restoration and the implementation of eco-friendly practices in animal care, waste management, and energy use.

  • DAY 7: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • Walking tour through the Bahnstadt District. Bahnstadt is a modern, sustainable urban district built on the site of an old freight rail yard. It is the largest passive house development in the world. You will be able to learn how it is setting global standards and how it differentiates from a normal modern district.

  • DAY 8: KARLSRUHE

    • Day excursion by train from Heidelberg to Karlsruhe to take a guided tour through EnBW’s Steam Power Plant, an energy provider’s factory based in Karlsruhe. During your tour, you will have the opportunity to learn how a power plant works, see it from close, learn about energy generation from water, wind, sun, coal, and residual waste.
    • Enjoy the rest of your afternoon at your leisure

  • DAY 9-10: HEIDELBERG

    • Enjoy a free weekend to explore Heidelberg and its surroundings.

  • DAY 11: HEIDELBERG

  • DAY 12: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • In the afternoon, visit the company Heidelberg Solar to learn more about the company’s projects and its vision, and how the Photovoltaic panels work, and its benefits for the inhabitants of Heidelberg and its surroundings.

  • DAY 13: MANNHEIM

    • Class time in the morning
    • Take the train in the afternoon to the nearby city of Mannheim to visit the “In The Green” indoor farm. For Robert Stimac and his colleague, Verena Mayer, sustainability is not a market strategy, but a life philosophy. As urban indoor farmers in Mannheim, throughout the year they grow microgreens, healthy and aromatic small vegetables and herbs. Their customers include gourmet cooks and restaurants such as “Emma Wolf” and “Luni”, but also caterers and cafeterias. If you would like to take these mini vitamin bombs home, you can contact the farmer directly or visit their online shop. What’s more, the “Nah & Gut” Edeka supermarket in Mannheim has these greens on sale.

  • DAY 14: FREIBURG IM BREISGAU

    • Take an all day excursion to Germany’s greenest city located in the Black Forest – Freiburg im Breisgau. You will participate in guided tours and workshops at the Innovation Academy

  • DAY 15: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • Go on an afternoon hike along the Philosopher’s Path with your coordinator. Willst hiking through the peaks on the northern bank of the Neckar River, you will be able to see the natural side of Heidelberg and witness traces of the millennial history of this city like of the Stephan and Saint Michael Monastery.

  • DAY 16 - 17: FREE WEEKEND

    • Public transportation in Heidelberg during the weekend
    • Enjoy a free weekend to explore Heidelberg and its surrounding region. You could, for example, take the train to Frankfurt, the dynamic financial capital of Germany and explore the city’s center to experience the blend of modern skyscrapers with historical landmarks.

  • DAY 18: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • Afternoon visit to the Heidelberg Center of the Environment (HCE) at the University of Heidelberg. You will learn more about the center’s projects focused on sustainability, climate change, and environmental research.

  • DAY 19: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • Enjoy the rest of your afternoon at your leisure

  • DAY 20: 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.
    • In the afternoon, you will visit the Salt Mines in Bad Friedrichshall. At Südwestdeutschen Salzwerke AG in Heilbronn, economy and ecology go hand in hand. Production, which is as environmentally friendly and low-consumption as possible, and a sustainable energy policy take account of the needs of future generations. This principle applies to all areas of the business: salt extraction, production and distribution, but also what is on offer for tourists. The Bad Friedrichshall visitor salt mine takes adventurers big and small down in the conveyor cage into the underground world of “white gold” and, surrounded by places where salt used to be mined, you can find out more about history and mining, perform experiments or set off an explosion yourself.

  • DAY 21-24: HEIDELBERG

    • Enjoy a free long weekend to explore Heidelberg and its surroundings. You could, for example, take the train to Strasbourg. Sitting right on the border between France and Germany, this city offers a mix of both cultures and of architectural beauty. The historic district, known as La Petite France, showcases timber-framed houses, little shops, beautiful squares and the renown Strasbourg Cathedral.

  • DAY 25: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • Guided tour of the Botanical Garden of Heidelberg. You will get to know a diverse collection of plants, including tropical and desert species in greenhouses, native European plants, and medicinal herbs.

  • DAY 26: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • Visit to SES (Sustainable Energy Solutions) to learn more about the company’s projects and its vision, and how their customer-oriented approach correlates with their high-quality Photovoltaic systems

  • DAY 27: HEIDELBERG

    • Class time in the morning
    • Use your last day in Heidelberg for final discussions and reflection
    • Farewell dinner at a restaurant in Heidelberg to wrap up the program

  • DAY 28: HEIDELBERG

    • Transportation at your own expense from the hotel to the airport
    • Departure from Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) to the USA (airfare not included)
  • 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