The Baden-Württemburg seminar is an opportunity for an in-person, cross-cultural learning experience with the opportunity to engage with educators at a range of institutions, including a secondary (high) school, a university of Applied Sciences, a Research University, a University of Music & Arts, a pedagogical university, a cooperative state university that combines practical workplace training with academic studies, and a private university.
Where You'll Be
Germany comprises 16 federal states, with the state of Baden-Württemburg (BW) located in the southwest corner. The state is a hive of higher education institutions serving as the home to about 70 of the 420 institutions in Germany, including three of the oldest universities: Heidelberg (1386), Freiburg (1457), and Tübingen (1477). You will have an opportunity to visit and learn about some of the oldest universities in the Länd of Baden-Württemburg as well as some of the newest.
The annual BW seminar will take place October 15-21, 2023, a beautiful time of year to visit and take in all that this corner of Germany has to offer. The seminar is sponsored and hosted by the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts with the participation of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and NAFSA: Association of International Educators. The University of Ulm will serve as the local host and guide for the 2023 Seminar. Ulm is a city situated on the Danube, which creates the border with Bavaria. The city was founded around 850, while the neighboring town of Neu-Ulm in Bavaria was part of Ulm until 1810. Ulm is anchored by the Ulmer Münster, a Gothic church with the tallest steeple in the world at nearly 530 ft.
The Cost
The cost of the meals, lodging, and in-country travel for the seminar is covered by the Ministry. The only cost for the participants is the transportation to and from Ulm. Your hosts will ensure that you are well-fed and transported to and from all visits during the week of the seminar.
Who Should Apply
Who should apply for the Baden-Württemburg seminar? A few questions and you will have your answer. Are you interested in learning about: German-American academic equivalencies; student exchange between Germany & the U.S.; and becoming more informed about Germany’s culture and educational system, forging ties between institutions, and - in a bigger sense - between nations? Would your supervisor support you in this effort? A delegation of 12-15 higher education administrators will be invited to attend each year’s seminar. Participants may include registrars and records staff, study abroad officers, international student advisers, admissions officers, and individuals with responsibility for post-secondary-level exchanges and transfer of international credit and credential evaluation. Do you see yourself in this description? If you answered, yes, to these questions, then we encourage you to apply.
Do keep in mind that no more than one individual will be selected from an institution. Eligibility is contingent on AACRAO or NAFSA membership. Applicants must have a letter of support from their supervisor and be prepared for the travel costs to and from Germany. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and Arts does have partnerships with several states, and applicants from these states are encouraged to apply. These include Oregon, California, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. No more than one application per institution will be considered.
The application period is now open and all details can be found here.
Past participants have many wonderful comments about their experiences at the seminar, from the education institutions visited, the warmth and hospitality of the hosts, the delicious cuisine, and the insights into the education system of Germany, its students, and its administrators. We encourage you to read the diary entries from some of the 2022 participants. We hope they will whet your appetite to apply for the seminar to see for yourself what a wonderful professional development opportunity the week provides and to discover ways your institution can develop ties with Baden-Württemburg.