16th HWR Berlin Summer School Draws to a Close

The participants, comprised mainly of students from the HWR Berlin’s international partner universities, spent three to four weeks exploring a range of subjects from economics and law to politics and German language, whilst discovering Berlin’s vibrant culture and history.

The short-term Summer School courses offer participants an insight into the HWR Berlin’s academic life and are often a stepping stone to further studies at the HWR Berlin or elsewhere in Germany. The same goes for James Henderson from the USA. He even has a quasi family connection to the HWR Berlin. His mother is from Berlin and studied here. Now James is also considering doing his Master's in Germany. "We are treated here like adults and are more free in the possibilities of design than in the universities of the USA. I like that very much," he said.

James Henderson, Photo: Julia Oelkers

Alongside classes taught by HWR Berlin lecturers, students also took part in weekly company or institutional visits, highlights this year included BMW, national state broadcaster Deutsche Welle and the European Parliament Liaison Office. The Entrepreneurship and Innovation course also completed a hands-on project with Berlin co-working start up Beta House.

The HWR Berlin Summer School is an important additional source of international exchange opportunities for both HWR Berlin students and students at partner universities and other institutions. Short courses such as the HWR Berlin Summer and Winter Schools enable students, who for various reasons are unable to take part in a standard exchange semester, the opportunity to study abroad and develop intercultural competencies.