More than anything else digitalization affects the way we do business. New business models are on the rise, while other are in danger. The new generation needs its own toolbox to face the challenges ahead.
To be a next generation entrepreneur, you need to understand the blueprint for digital business models, speak the language of social media and be a global player. In our program you will acquire knowledge about sustainable business models and deal with all aspects of digitalization. You will also gain key knowledge about cultural identities and be able to contextualize perspectives, viewpoints and expectations in a communicative context in a wide range of settings.
Summer semester (March - July): November 1
Winter semester (September - February): May 1
We believe that knowledge has to be filled with life. Accordingly we want to educate game-changers who are able to
Fundamentals of Entrepreneurial Management (5 ECTS)
Good ideas need entrepreneurs: This module aims to raise fundamental elements of managerial competences needed in the field of entrepreneurship. Lessons will cover topics such as financing of ventures and funding alternatives, corporate financial modeling as well as areas such as marketing and cost accounting. We strive to improve the chances of entrepreneurial success for our students and their ideas for a sustainable future.
Digitalization (5 ECTS)
Thinking ahead of times: This module deals with in-depth aspects of digitization in national, international and intercultural contexts, how to address content to heterogeneous target groups, digital business and customer communication and the economic perspectives of companies in a global digital context. You will be able to analyze, classify and optimize various digital media in terms of language, content and economic use to design a differentiated digital business communication model in an intercultural context.
Sustainable Development Goals (5 ECTS)
A better and more sustainable future: The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. You will understand and reflect on the historicity and systematics as well as on the local application of these goals. In teams you will develop action portfolios as a local interpretation and implementation of a chosen SDG. Based on that concept a real or fictional application of the action portfolio in the local context of the Birkenfeld region will be conducted.
German Language and International Business Culture (5 ECTS)
Successful business is both global and local: As an introduction into German business culture and society, this course teaches about the 2000-year tradition of natural protection, why „quite good“ means „excellent“ and why management needs permission to let you work overtime. We will further look at intercultural perspectives and gain insights into neighboring cultures. This lays the groundwork for your visits to businesses and sites in the region where Germany, France and Luxemburg meet and where global and local business practices are forged. You will also attend a German language course according your current language level.
International Marketing and Digital Business (5 ECTS)
Engage with the cultures of the target markets: With digitalization, the demands on marketing and its use of different media have changed fundamentally. Due to the increasing international and economic interdependencies, it is also important to open up markets with different cultures addressing the needs of the consumers living there. What impact do cultural differences have on the strategy and communication policy of a company? We examine how traditional international marketing activities relate to the global market, but sadly often ignore the diversity of people and the differences between cultures and languages.
Consumer Culture and Strategic Marketing (5 ECTS)
Do good and talk about it: We will question the continuing validity of the traditional equation: human progress = economic growth, and discuss the impact on corporate social responsibility generally of consumers’ developing sense of responsibility towards our environment. Step by step we will illustrate how companies have to employ strategic marketing management in order to understand markets and optimize the relations between companies and customers.
Accounting and Finance I (5 ECTS)
Increasing the value of a firm: You will gain first insights to the importance in financial decision making as well as respective models concerning the firms’ capital structure. Different types of funding and financing instruments will be elaborated, enabling you to determine the specific financing needs of a company, with the aim to secure the financial balance and to minimize the cost of financing. Further topics include the concept of net present value, basic methods for optimal decision making, also under the presence of economic uncertainty as well as strategic concerns.
Fundamentals of Sustainable Business and Circular Economy (10 ECTS)
You can do well by doing good: A growing number of organizations are integrating sustainability into their business strategy. This module serves as a natural starting point by identifying and analyzing the structure of these modern enterprises. You will be able to demonstrate the influence of external environmental conditions on the entrepreneurial process as well as identify potential ethical conflicts and social responsibility issues involving different stakeholders of the firm. The circular economy boosts the EU‘s competitiveness by protecting businesses against scarcity of resources and volatile prices, helping to create new business opportunities and innovative, more efficient ways of producing and consuming. Be part of weeklong activities and site visits to showcase, demonstrate and share knowledge on the latest advancements.
Management of Non-Governmental Organizations (5 ECTS)
From service organizations to human-rights advocacy: You will reflect on the status-quo of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and learn about chosen tools to manage them. Via case studies, you will interpret the given and potential development of particular NGOs. In order to expand the professional, methodical and social competences in the area of NGOs, you will elaborate reports on particular (global or local) NGOs in regard to pre-defined historical, managerial and trend-based aspects and criteria.
German Language and International Business Culture (5 ECTS)
Successful business is both global and local: As an introduction into German business culture and society, this course teaches about the 2000-year tradition of natural protection, why „quite good“ means „excellent“ and why management needs permission to let you work overtime. We will further look at intercultural perspectives and gain insights into neighboring cultures. This lays the groundwork for your visits to businesses and sites in the region where Germany, France and Luxemburg meet and where global and local business practices are forged. You will also attend a German language course according your current language level.
Ethics and Society (5 ECTS)
Harmonization of antagonistic targets: This module explains the need for modern ethical correct business modeling and sus-tainable management in companies in all major functional and managerial fields. Practical real business exercises as well as virtual examples set you into a manager role as decision maker or project leader. You identify the parallels between classical and business ethics and realize the positive outcome. Learning more about classical ethically desired and accepted behavior you understand how to change today’s established often-misleading production ways and rigid treatment of employees to a business that reduces systematically negative impacts.
Intercultural Communication (5 ECTS)
Verbal and nonverbal interaction: Guten Tag! Buongiorno! Nínhǎo! No matter where you are in the world, communication is important. This module presents and discusses key terms and theories of intercultural communication such as culture, communication, identities, stereotype, external perception, transnationality, politeness and hybridity. Up-to-date research findings from applied and job-related fields (business and economy, policy, international relations) serve to reflect and enhance your understanding of the complex context of both intra- and intercultural communication.
Scientific Methods and Concepts (5 ECTS)
Write like a scientist: Gain profound insights into the field of scientific work. Learn how to structure essays, research papers and a thesis and how to present your ideas to an audience. Get experience in literature research and in reading and understanding scientific papers published in top-tier journals. Your ability in analytical thinking and working will surely be increased.
International Law and International Economic Policy (5 ECTS)
Monitoring the behavior between states:This module introduces you to basic rules of international civil law, which is an enormously complex topic, as most countries in the world have their “own” international civil law. Achieve a certain sensitivity which enables you to evaluate the legal risks going along with certain business actions and business problems. You will also get insights to certain basic principles of the European unification and international economic cooperation. Core economic issues behind the integration process on a European and on an international level will also be highlighted.
Accounting and Finance II (5 ECTS)
Central tasks in the management of companies: This module aims to provide you with an introduction to national and international financial reporting standards, and to develop a broad understanding of accounting proceedings, techniques, concepts and conventions as well as the links between the three financial statements. You will also learn some of the alternative technical methods and practices of accounting and get an understanding of the role of management accounting in decision-making and how to manage an organization.
Social Media and Crises Communication (5 ECTS)
Make the right decision: A social media communication crisis is rarely limited to a single social network, but spreads like wildfire across platforms. Often the digital outrage results in a major shitstorm and is also taken up by leading media. One of the main objectives of social media crisis management is to prevent a shitstorm from turning into a tangible communication crisis. Adequate social media crisis management curbs the digital wildfire and prevents greater damage to reputation.
Coming soon...
Participants in the program will live and study on our modern campus with over 2,500 other students of environmental business, law, sustainable science, information and media technology. All student apartments are reasonably priced. They come fully equipped and provide high-speed internet access as well as being connected to our university intranet.
The university does not charge a tuition fee for the Study Semester. Students will have to pay a 500 Euros administration fee per semester that also covers excursion costs and a general admissions fee of approx. 200 Euros per semester that also allows free rail travel in the region.
Students will enjoy the benefits of our “buddy concept”, with German students providing individual help in getting orientated and integrated in campus life.
The next two Study Semester "International Business and Digital Transformation" will take place from March to July 2021 (summer semester)andfrom September 2021 to February 2022 (winter semester). Applications should be submitted by
Please note that the application forms have to be signed personally by applicants and by the responsible university referees. They have to be sent back via e-mail to studysemester@umwelt-campus.de and via regular mail to the following address:
Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld
Ms. Julia Mertens
PO Box 1380
55761 Birkenfeld
Germany
In addition to the application form, the following documents must be included with each application:
All forms have to be filled out on computer (not handwritten). Please send all applications forms together with the other documents as one single PDF document. Handwritten forms or an incomplete application will not be accepted.
Our Study Semester program addresses enrolled (Bachelor) students from partner universities all around the world. However, in exceptional cases foreign students may carry out a semester or a whole academic year at our university, even though they are not applying as part of a student exchange but voluntarily. This can be the case if applicants have already completed a Bachelor or Master study or have not yet started studying at all.
When applying as a free mover students will not be treated as guest students, but as regular students. Hence, they have to meet the academic admission requirements for studying at German universities. A higher education entrance qualification has to be proven.
Which application documents do I have to hand in?
In addition to the application form, the following documents must be included with each application:
Each document has to be sent as a PDF file named accordingly.
The revision of documents by our Students Office in order to check your higher education entrance qualification costs 50 Euros and has to be transferred no later than May 1 for the winter semester and November 1 for the summer semester (date of receipt). Please note that foreign remittances can take up to 1 or 2 weeks.
Please transfer the amount to the following account:
Recipient: Landeshochschulkasse Mainz
Name of bank: Deutsche Bundesbank Filiale Mainz
Account number: 550 01511
Bank Sort Code: 550 000 00
IBAN: DE25 5500 0000 0055001511
BIC: MARKDEF 1550
Reason for payment: 6671-1566-BIR 11113/02 "Surname, First name, Date of birth"
Please do not forget to mention the reason for payment, otherwise we cannot locate the payment and your application will not be processed.
studysemesterIBDT@umwelt-campus.de
