We organised an Educational Trip to Germany from 12.06. - 18.06.2023 for students of German from classes 10 to 12 in the academic year 2023/24. The aim of this trip was that interested young people from India get to know Germany as a place to study and work. During the trip to Frankfurt, Aachen, Cologne, Bonn and Amsterdam, the participants had the opportunity to visit renowned universities, fostered exchange with students of the same age, learned from the experiences of international students and got to know the country of Germany.
What was the purpose of the trip?
Germany is becoming increasingly popular as a place to study. Especially in India. There are now over 34,000 Indians studying in Germany. What is the reason for this? One of the biggest reasons for the increasing number of international students is the low cost. For most courses in Germany, no or only a small tuition fee has to be paid. Another reason is the professionalism and modernity of German universities. An academic degree from Germany is highly recognized around the world.
In order to make these advantages of studying clear to young people, the Goethe-Institut organized an Educational Trip. The participants got an authentic insight into student life in Germany and had the opportunity to talk to Indian students about their everyday life. What does it cost to live in Germany? What does a student do in his or her free time? How are the universities equipped? What is working life in Germany like? These questions and many more were answered during the stay in Germany. In addition to school and university visits and exchanges with young people, the participants of course also got to know the country and its culture through sightseeing.
After the trip, the Indian students now have an authentic and honest picture of Germany so that they can decide whether Germany can be a possible country for their future.
Which cities were part of the trip?
For the week-long Educational Trip, a unique programme has been put together in some of the most important locations for study and work in Germany. The focus in 2023 was on western Germany and especially North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), as this part of Germany is the most populous federal state. Every fifth person in Germany lives in NRW. In addition, NRW is known as the economic heart of Germany, as this is where industrialisation began through coal mining. Due to the dense population, there are now many large cities such as Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, Bochum, Bonn and Aachen. All of these cities are also very popular as study locations.
The following cities were on our agenda during the study trip:
First Stop Frankfurt
Frankfurt is often referred to as the Gateway to Germany for international travelers, as the main airport can be found here. Not only is Frankfurt very centrally located in the middle of Germany, but it is also the financial capital of Germany and home to the European Central Bank and the German Stock Exchange.
Frankfurt was not only the place for arrival and departure during the Educational Trip, but students also visited the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and enjoyed a guided tour of the famous banking district.
Aachen is located in the western part of Germany and is just on the border to Belgium and the Netherlands. The city is one of the most popular student cities in the republic. Not only because many renowned universities can be found here, but also because the small city has many entertainment options to offer. That is why the place is teeming with young people.
One of the most famous universities in all of Germany is RWTH Aachen, the largest technical university in the country. A number of qualitative study programs and excellent facilities have brought the university to international recognition. During the Eduational Trip, we students visited the RWTH, got to know about their special Fast Track Bachelor Programme and exchanged experiences with students from India living in Germany.
Amsterdam is not only the capital of the Netherlands, but also the business and financial center of the country. The city is especially popular for tourists from all over the world, as the city has many historical attractions, famous art collections and a unique flair.
During the Educational Trip we spent a day in Amsterdam to admire the beauty of the city. Besides a canal tour with the boat, students also enjoyed authentic a stroll around the city and some shopping.
The largest city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia is Cologne. With a history of 2000 years, the city is the cultural center of West Germany. Not only are there many historical monuments to be found, such as the famous Cologne Cathedral, or colorful festivals like Carnival. Cologne also stands out as a media city and is very popular among young people due to its lively creative and cultural industries.
In addition to sightseeing, we visited the University of Cologne.
Bonn is not far from Cologne and is considered one of the art capitals of Germany because it is home to some of the country's most important exhibition venues. Also, Bonn is the birthplace of the famous music composer Ludwig van Beethoven.
During the stop in Bonn, participants got an insight into the artistic flair of the city and had the opportunity to visit the "House of History".
Lotus Valley International School, Noida Kuhuk Katiyar
Kuhuk Katiyar has summarized her experience in a video.
FAQ
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions:
All participants will be insured for the entire trip and stay in Germany.
Breakfast is included with the overnight stay at the hotel. Lunch and dinner are eaten outside the hotel in restaurants and snack bars. The aim is to give an authentic insight into the culinary world of Germany. If participants explore the city independently, they can also purchase additional food and drinks at their own expense.
Participants are accommodated in 3-4 star hotels and spend the night in 3-bed rooms. The specific hotels will be confirmed during the orientation session.
All participants must be vaccinated twice against Covid. Participation without full vaccination is not possible. Currently, travel restrictions to Germany and India are very low. However, this can change at any time.
A passport valid for at least another 6 months is required for entry into Germany. Students who do not meet this criteria cannot register.
Only students who are currently learning German can take part in the Educational Trip.
Only students who are in grade 10, 11 or 12 in the academic year 2023/24 can participate. All other students cannot register.
Vegetarian food will be available at all times. The cities that will be visited all have a diverse cuisine.
The participants will be accompanied by three Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan experts and a tour guide from Germany. The experts will be available to answer all queries during the trip.
From arrival to departure in Frankfurt, the group will travel by tour bus throughout.
Contact
For questions and comments, please contact our colleagues:
Puneet Kaur
Head of Educational Services
Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan New Delhi puneet.kaur@goethe.de
Mohita Miglani
Project Manager
German in 1000 Schools
Educational Services
Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan New Delhi mohita.miglani@goethe.de
Shilpa Sharma
Project Manager
Educational Services
Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan New Delhi shilpa.sharma@goethe.de
Matthias Dünnwald
Project Manager
Educational Services
Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan New Delhi matthias.duennwald@goethe.de
