by Jon Jump, Associate Dean of the College and Registrar, Wabash College and Brenda Schumann, Senior Associate Registrar, The University of Texas at Austin
The Baden-Württemberg Seminar for Administrators in International Education was held in Freiburg, Germany, October 21-27, 2017. This seminar, sponsored by the Ministry of Science, Research, and Arts Baden-Württemberg, Germany, with participation by AACRAO, and NAFSA: Association of International Educators, allowed the opportunity for fifteen registrar, admission, international education, continuing education, and study abroad professionals to learn first-hand about the German educational system.
Throughout the seminar, participants engaged in discussions and lectures to learn more about study abroad opportunities for U.S. students to study in Germany, German culture, the European Campus, and the experiences of German students who have studied abroad in the United States. In addition, seminar participants were provided with tours of multiple educational institutions in the state of Baden- Württemberg, the cities of Freiburg, Germany, and Basel, Switzerland.
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The Baden-Württemberg Seminar for Administrators in International Education is highly recommended for any higher education professional working with international students or off-campus study programs. As we tell our students, there is no educational substitute for experiencing another country and culture first-hand, and encountering its customs and traditions directly. The B-W seminar will enhance your ability to serve as a resource at your institution -- both for students and faculty interested in studying or teaching in this prosperous region of Germany, and for any German students studying at your own college. You will learn about the history and structure of secondary and post-secondary education in Germany, which provides you with perspective as an adviser, teacher or administrator working with students and promoting your institution’s study abroad programs.
In addition to the stimulating presentations, the seminar is structured around informative site visits and provides time to explore the local culture and engage socially. Aside from the knowledge you will gain about education in Germany and the variety of post-secondary options available, you will meet many new contacts from Germany and the U.S., creating an extraordinary networking opportunity. Every day of the B-W seminar is packed with new information to boost understanding of the German educational system, build friendships and connections, and encounter the beauty and entertaining sites that this amazing region has to offer. The 2017 delegation was so grateful for the experience and wholeheartedly recommends application from any AACRAO members who are committed to improving their capacity to serve their students and colleagues as resources for international programs.