International Summer School Schmalkalden

1. IMAGE (BA490) - two weeks May 27 - June 8

2. 3 week ISSS (6 hours credit) June 3 - June 22

4. Intensive German Language and Culture Program - 2 weeks - June 24 - July 6
This Program can be taken alone or in conjunction with ISSS and/or IMAGE program

Introduction (dates shown in this section are 2012 program dates, presented as an example)

The International Summer School Schmalkalden focuses on the challenges confronting the world economy under the conditions of cross-cultural management.

The second millennium ended by bringing a truly global dimension to economic activity: the prerogative of the market extended its reach even to those countries which had resisted it for decades; the well-advanced internationalisation of economic relationships has resulted in significant interdependence between regions and countries and an increasing integration of previously peripheral societies into the world economy. Matching these empirical trends, theories of 'globalisation' have grown in influence in academic and public policy circles since the end of the Cold War. According to this emerging orthodoxy, long-standing conditions of time, space and territoriality have been transformed, or even made obsolete, by world-wide trends.

The third millennium has begun in the realisation that world-wide economic activity does not necessarily entail a growing similarity between systems of economic governance or between business practices, despite the ever increasing importance of multinational companies and the free flow of capital around the globe. Instead, inherited tradition and cultural difference are said to play a more important role than ever before as global trade and investment bring once nationally-orientated economies and firms into intimate contact and hence intense competition with one another. These developments make the role of contrasting and sometimes conflicting cultural value systems highly relevant in two regards: first, differing approaches to the means and purposes of economic activity deriving from non-Western philosophies and cultures have consequences for the way in which, for example, Asian, Latin-American or African countries understand their role in the international economy and the trade policies they adopt as a consequence. Second, individual firms interested in expanding their activities to countries where ‘western’ technocratic rationalism is confronted by religious-based value systems (e.g. Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity or Islam), have to be able to adjust their market-entry, negotiating and trading strategies to ‘fit in’ with local conventions and sensibilities.

The challenges of the new economic reality do not, however, stop there. The enormous increase in international financial transactions, especially on the currency markets, over the past decades has been one of the clearest indications of the interconnected nature of today’s world economy. Financial crises, for example, are no longer limited to one country, or even one continent, but have global implications. At the same time international capital flows and international trade act as a motor of further globalisation, linking the fates of the richest and poorest economies. The developed democratic states face competing and possibly contradictory demands: the creation of appropriate conditions for economic growth in global markets (flexibility) versus the maintenance of social cohesion (regulation). The ever-more integrated world economy is also made responsible for global ecological damage, financial and economic instability, starvation and mass migratory pressures, and the gap in wealth and health that separates the rich West from the poor rest.

Some of the most trenchant and fundamental recent critiques of global markets have notably come from practitioners and former proponents of free market capitalism. The speculator George Soros has commented that he finds ”it easier to imagine the collapse of the global marketplace than the continuation of the present regime”, while one-time neo-liberal advisor to Margaret Thatcher, Prof. John Gray, now believes that ”by allowing ... freedom to world markets we ensure that the age of globalisation will be remembered as another turn in the history of servitude”.

The exaggerated sense of a world economy out of control is encouraging the view that capitalism's problems stem from excess, from growing too fast, and that it needs to be reined back. With governments announcing action plans involving some extension of international regulation, control and containment, today's instinct for restraint in business and finance is likely to be reinforced. A possible real danger in the major economies is that the hype about a global crisis will strengthen the impulse of business and political leaders to downplay the international economy’s potential for growth. The mentality which both inflates the difficulties and then reacts by saying 'hold back' could be a bigger threat to economic and social progress than an economic crisis and the fall-out from financial disarray.

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Guest professors from different countries and continents are invited to give us their views on these issues. The wide variety of countries, cultures and religions represented by our international students provides a timely and unique opportunity to investigate the impact of contrasting cultural-religious value systems on international business. Our goal is that students participating in the ISSS will be offered, and be able to develop through the exchange of perspectives and experiences, detailed knowledge and understanding of the complex and interwoven challenges facing economies and firms in the new millennium. In addition, the growing importance of religious values and their economic implications will be examined in multicultural classes and develop the students’ cross-cultural abilities to prevent Huntington’s “clash of civilizations”.

While staying in Schmalkalden, the visiting students will have the opportunity to participate at no extra cost in the following tours and events:

Schmalkalden is one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in Thuringia, situated between steep, romantic hills and woods. The town was first officially mentioned in 874 and has had an eventful history since then. In 1531 the protestant nobility formed the 'League of Schmalkalden' against the emperor Charles V. Subsequently Martin Luther published the ‘Schmalkalden Articles’, one of the founding documents of the Protestant religion, here in 1537.

Schmalkalden is on the 'German Timber-Framed Houses Trail'. The listed buildings in the historic town centre, with their air of medieval romance, are particularly attractive, as are the late-gothic town church of St. George and the Wilhelmsburg Castle. This is the only Hessian castle in Thuringia and was built between 1585 and 1590. It exhibits wonderful wall paintings and stucco work. In the castle church there is a small, still playable organ which counts among the most impressive listed musical instruments north of the Alps.

A welcoming get-together and introduction to the Summer School followed by a buffet reception in the historic surroundings of the 500 year old Wilhelmsburg Castle.

Organised by the Schmalkalden Students’ Club this party takes place in the Students’ Union Building on campus.

Despite its modest size (population: 62 000), Weimar is associated with some of the most important developments in German cultural and political history. In the 18^th Century the town became a centre of German classicism with the presence of the writers Goethe, Schiller, Herder and Wieland. Previously, Luther and Bach had lived and worked here. In the 19^th Century, prominent musicians including Franz Liszt and numerous artists were attracted to the town. The famous Bauhaus school of art and design was founded here in 1919, and in the same year the German National Assembly met in Weimar to provide Germany with its first republican and democratic constitution. Weimar also has a negative association with the Nazi period: in 1937 the infamous concentration camp Buchenwald, where 65 000 people were murdered, was established on the outskirts of the town. The former camp now houses an extensive museum.

Besides the famous National Theatre founded in the 18^th Century and the Bauhaus museum, one can visit the Schiller and Goethe houses in which the respective poets lived and worked. There is also a palace housing national and international art collections ranging from the middle ages to the present day. The town centre is characterised by the presence of numerous historic buildings exhibiting contrasting architectural styles. On account of its rich cultural heritage, Weimar was the 1999 European City of Culture, and celebrated with a range of special events and exhibitions.

The Wartburg, a UNESCO world heritage site, is one of Germany’s most interesting and famous castles, founded according to legend in 1067. The castle served not only defensive purposes but was also a seat of government for the surrounding area. In the early 13^th Century, the Wartburg is said to have staged a competition between the famous ‘Minnesänger’ (singers of romantic ballads). Their ‘singers’ war’ is the subject of Wagner’s ‘Tannhäuser’ opera.

Martin Luther, who had been found guilty of heresy and made an outlaw, sought sanctuary in the Wartburg and was resident in the castle from 1521-22 under the protection of Prince Friedrich the Wise. It is here that he translated the New Testament into German and thus made a decisive contribution to the development of modern standard German. The Wartburg’s historical and political importance also derives from its hosting of a meeting of the ‘Burschenschaften’ in 1817 which is considered an important step towards the founding of the German Reich in 1871. The castle contains numerous artistic, cultural and historical exhibitions. One can also visit the room where Luther lived and worked, and which is virtually unchanged since that time.

Eisenach was once the residence of the Dukes of Thuringia. The town lies on the north-west fringe of the Thuringian Forest at the foot of the Wartburg Castle. The town is associated with such famous people as Walther von der Vogelweide, Martin Luther, JS Bach, and Fritz Reuter. From 1150 onwards, the town developed into the political and intellectual centre of Thuringia. Worth seeing are the old town market place with numerous remarkable buildings, the baroque castle, the Bach house, the Burschenschaft monument and the car museum.

The annual “Schmalympics” have been taken place in Schmalkalden since 2004. Track and Field, Swimming, Triathlon, Soccer, Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Badminton, Bowling, Spinning and “Beerathlon” are the core elements of the programme. International teams, including an ISSS Team, will compete in the afternoon and relax in the evening during concerts on campus.

As the capital of Prussia, Bismarck’s Reich, the Weimar Republic, Hitler’s Third Reich, the German Democratic Republic and now the new united Germany, Berlin looks back on a fascinating history of unparalleled complexity. For the four decades after World War II, Berlin was at the centre of the Cold War clash of ideologies between West and East and was most famous for the Wall dividing the city – the starkest expression of the iron curtain cutting Europe in two. Berlin was reunified de facto in November 1989, when the East German government, unable to resist the massive anti-government demonstrations and civil unrest, opened the border. Official reunification came the following year, and in June 1991, the German parliament voted to make Berlin once again the German seat of government. In the ten years since, the city has undergone a major transformation as the neglected eastern part is slowly brought up to western standards, the divisions caused by the wall are eradicated, and the massive construction programme necessary for Berlin’s new role takes effect. With a population of 3.4 million, Germany’s capital city is also its largest and has a cultural and social life to match.

The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's only remaining city gate, is the true symbol of the city. Because it was situated in the no-man's land just behind the wall, it also became symbolic of the division of the city. After the fall of the Wall, the Gate was reopened on December 22, 1989.

The Reichstag is the seat of the German Bundestag or federal parliament and, with its new dome, one of Berlin's biggest crowd-drawers. Its colourful past reflects the turbulence of German history since the 19^th century.

Unter den Linden: Berlin's magnificent boulevard, the centrepiece of the Old Berlin, leads from Pariser Platz at the Brandenburg Gate to the Schlossbrücke. Unter den Linden was originally a bridle path: from 1573, it led from Berlin Palace to Lietzow, later Charlottenburg, and then on to Spandau. From 1701, the Linden became more and more built up, mirroring the rising splendour of the monarchy and the new architectural style.

Museum Island: The consort of museums found on Museum Island is a unique cultural inheritance which unites five important museum buildings into a heterogeneous but harmonic ensemble on the River Spree. The Island has recently been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gendarmenmarkt is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe – a must for every tourist. Here the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral), the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral) and the Konzerthaus create a beautiful architectural ensemble.

Nikolaiviertel: With its winding medieval lanes and countless bars and restaurants, the Nikolaiviertel is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Berlin.

The Fernsehturm (television tower), the highest building in the city, is one of Berlin's main attractions. Its total height is 368 meters, the viewing platform is at a height of 203 metres.

Alexanderplatz is the most famous square in Berlin. Its present appearance dates from the construction of the East German city centre from 1966–71.

Potsdamer Platz is symbolic of the New Berlin. With its mix of restaurants, shopping opportunities, theatre and 3-D cinemas, both Berliners and tourists are drawn in to pass the time. The former Postdamer Platz, once the busiest junction in Europe, is only a small part of the site now bearing its name.

Checkpoint Charlie: Numerous legends and spy stories are told about Checkpoint Charlie. The former border crossing point between East and West Berlin was the place where Soviet and American tanks stood face to face after the construction of the Wall in 1961. Today, the checkpoint is commemorated by a border sign and a soldier's post.

The Kurfürstendamm, ‘capitalism’s shop window’ while Berlin was divided, is still the city's showpiece boulevard, popular among Berliners and visitors alike. From the Gedächtniskirche, it stretches for 3.5 km right out to Halensee, where the exclusive villa districts of West Berlin begin. In the lively upper part of the Kurfürstendamm and its extension, Tauentzienstraße, there are countless department stores and fashion chain stores.

A “Midnight-Sun” Lecture will be offered during one of the shortest nights of the year: “The German Social Market Economy”. For a dozen of hours we will discuss this famous economic order that had been elaborated and for the first time implemented in Germany. On the one hand you have to take an exam at dawn, on the other hand you can also enjoy a hot pizza during the night. If weather conditions allow this lecture will be held in the Thuringian forest. We will not be spoiled by any Power-Point presentations or any artificial light, instead we be able to “breathe” pure nature, to observe sunset, the moon, the Venus, plenty of stars, the milky way and later sunrise accompanied by a concert of birds – an unforgettable night, we hope. Do not forget to take warm clothes with you. Torches are also of some benefit.

The Graduation Ceremony of the faculty’s graduates takes place in the chapel of Wilhelmsburg Castle. Do not miss your last chance to eat an original Thuringian sausage at the reception in the courtyard!

Organised by the Schmalkalden Students’ Club this party takes place in the Students’ Union Building on campus. A chance to bid farewell to Schmalkalden and the friends you have made while studying at the Summer School.

Mon. May 27	Arrive Franfurt (FRA) /Schmalkalden
Tue. May 28	Week 1 IMAGE
Wed. May 29
Thu. May 30	BERLIN TRIP
Fri. May 31
Sat. June 1			Arrive Berlin
Sun. June 2
Mon. June 3				Arrive FRA / Schmalkalden
Tue. June 4	Week 2 IMAGE		Week 1 ISSS
Wed. June 5
Thu. June 6
Fri. June 7	End of IMAGE Program
Sat. June 8	Optional MUNICH Program	Depart (FRA)	BERLIN TRIP
Sun. June 9
Mon. June 10	Depart Munich (MUC)		Week 2 ISSS
Tue. June 11
Wed. June 12
Thu. June 13
Fri. June 14			Graduation Ceremony
Sat. June 15			Cultural Program
Sun. June 16
Mon. June 17			Week 3 ISSS
Tue. June 18
Wed. June 19
Thu. June 20
Fri. June 21
Sat. June 22			Depart Schmalkalden (either Friday p.m. or Sat. a.m.)

Lecturers and Modules

Cost

Accommodation

Conditions of Admission