Preparing for International Careers in Germany
- Learn strategies and techniques to create a job-search plan that matches your individual career goals
- Meet and connect with international organizations, foreign universities, and global businesses to learn first-hand about international careers and to develop the skills to pursue them
- Explore the historical and cultural sites of interest in southern Germany, including Wiesbaden and Mainz.
The Preparing for International Careers in Germany course is designed for students interested in working internationally. An international career can be defined as either working abroad or living stateside and working with international partners. Through participation in a consulting project, students will gain international experience and skills while building connections with international partners. This course will also provide students with an excellent overview of the resources, opportunities, and steps involved in researching an international career path. Any student from any academic program or career focus is encouraged to apply. This is an opportunity to develop employable skills in an international setting working alongside students from other international universities. In addition, students will explore the historic Rhineland valley region, known for castles, medieval-era towns and wine-production, through several sight-seeing tours of the Rhine river, Mainz, the Guttenberg Museum and Wiesbaden.
Germany is a global center for commerce, industry, diplomacy, and world aid, and is the world's fourth largest economy.
Situated near the cities of Frankfurt and Mainz, Wiesbaden is a community of approximately 270,000 inhabitants and is the capital of the Federal State of Hesse. It has both the charm of a 19th-century town as well as modern cosmopolitan architecture and an active cultural scene.
The city's economy has an international orientation. Numerous Wiesbaden companies are represented around the world through their products, and many German and European head offices of well-known international companies are located in the city, making it an excellent location for the study of global business and international careers.
All participants will enroll in LA&S 480: Preparing for International Careers – Germany for 3 credits. The course will be offered in two phases: an online portion that meets six times prior to the trip to Germany, and a week-long summer program and consulting project experience in Wiesbaden Germany (July 20-27, 2019). The online portion will meet in June and July and will cover topics on international careers, resources and application materials. Basic German phrases will also be taught for those who need it.
The topic of the summer program and international consulting project is Marketing Campaigns and Communications, with a focus on International Careers. Students will work as part of an international team on a problem-based learning experience with student participants from Germany and China – teams will consult for a German media company on a communications campaign. Additionally, students will take part in workshops on international communication, brand management and working across cultures at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden, Germany. Alongside German and Chinese students, participants will take part in lectures, company visits, and cultural activities designed to explore the similarities and differences in cultural values, communication and work culture between Germany, China and the U.S.A. This will be an excellent opportunity to forge lifelong friendships while developing employable skills such as intercultural communication, international collaboration, strategic design and decision-making.
All students will be housed in single or double occupancy rooms in a hotel in Wiesbaden. Breakfast and lunch are provided daily. Group dinners are provided most evenings during the experience.
Open to undergraduate students from the University of Kansas. A minimum 2.5 GPA is required, but exceptions will be considered upon submission of a petition. Any student from any academic program or career focus is encouraged to apply. Contact the Program Director for more detailed and specific information.
For more information, contact:
Wendy Shoemaker, Sr. Associate Director
University Career Center
206 Summerfield Hall
785-864-9550
email: wshoe@ku.edu
