aivancity · Germany Study Tour

Where Engineering MeetsIndustry
: Germany Learning Trip · MSc Data Engineering Collaboration

A week of academic and industrial immersion at the heart of the German ecosystem: combining credit-bearing courses, visits to major sites, and the rigor of the Mittelstand.

Rhineland-Palatinate · Baden-Württemberg · Hesse Industry 4.0 Change Management Finance & Stock Market EdTech Innovation
6
Days
4+
Cities
1
Academic Partner
2
Graded Modules

Explore

 
The Learning Trip

Understanding the German
Industryfrom the Inside

An academic cooperation program that combines credit-bearing courses, large-scale industrial visits, and cultural immersion, in partnership with a German university.

Every year, aivancity organizes this Learning Trip in partnership with the Graduate School Rhein-Neckar (GSRN) and the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft Ludwigshafen (HWG), as part of the dual-degree program in MSc Data Engineering & Cloud Computing.

Unlike a typical study abroad program, this program includes credit-bearing modules that are graded: Change Management, Risk Management, and Supply Chain Management (SCRM/FMEA), taught directly by faculty from the German academic partner.

In addition, the program includes large-scale industrial tours, an immersion in the German financial ecosystem, and an exploration of European EdTech innovation. All of this is presented in a format that combines academic rigor with cultural immersion.

What each edition includes
2
Graded Academic Modules
4+
Cities and Sites Visited
1
Major industrial site
1
European Trade Show
Why Germany

What the DACH Ecosystem
Teaches Us About the Industry and Rigor

Germany is not just an economic partner of France. It is an industrial and academic model with its own norms, which can only be understood by experiencing them firsthand.

01
Industrial scale changes perceptions
Visiting an industrial site that spans several square kilometers transforms one's theoretical understanding of the supply chain and large-scale operations.
02
Change Management is a discipline, not a concept
Taught and evaluated as a standalone module, organizational change management plays a central role in German managerial culture.
03
Risk management shapes industrial thinking
Methods such as FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) are deeply ingrained in German engineering and supply chain management culture.
04
EdTech is a full-fledged investment area
The DACH ecosystem invests in educational innovation and vocational training with the same intensity as it does in heavy industry.
05
The university-industry relationship is structural
Universities, graduate schools, and large companies maintain a continuous network of collaboration, not just during one-off events.
06
Intercultural teamwork is a skill that is evaluated
Working with German students and teachers on graded case studies develops international collaboration skills that can be directly applied in the workplace.
 

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2026 Edition
, Mannheim · Heidelberg · Ludwigshafen · Karlsruhe · Frankfurt

6 days, 4 cities, featuring credit-bearing courses, industrial tours, and an exploration of the German financial ecosystem. The program, institutions, and contacts for the Class of 2026.

The cities, sites visited, and speakers vary each year depending on current partnerships
Program · 2026 Edition

6 days between classes—
, industry, and culture, day by day

From Heidelberg Castle to the BASF industrial site, via the LEARNTEC trade show and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange: a journey that alternates between academic rigor and cultural immersion.

 
Day 1Monday, May 4 · Heidelberg
Welcome & Cultural Immersion: Heidelberg Castle
Welcome by Eva Nefen (GSRN)
Senior Director, International MBA Office. Overview of this week's program.
Heidelberg Castle
A historic funicular ride and a tour of the castle overlooking Germany's oldest university town.
Kulturbrauerei Heidelberg
Tour of the brewery and a traditional lunch.
 
Day 2Tuesday, May 5 · Ludwigshafen
Change Management & Plant Tour: BASF
Course · Change Management
Session with Ralf Blasek, General Manager of the Rhein-Neckar Graduate School, at HWG Ludwigshafen.
BASF Visitor Center
Guided bus tour of the industrial site (10 km²) and a visit to the BASF exhibition.
 
Day 3Wednesday, May 6 · Karlsruhe
EdTech Innovation: LEARNTEC Trade Show
LEARNTEC: Digital Learning Meets AI
Europe's leading digital education trade show. Masterclasses, networking, and the chance to discover EdTech companies.
A Detour to the Porsche Museum
An impromptu tour by the students on the sidelines of the fair.
 
Day 4Thursday, May 7 · Ludwigshafen
Graded Workshop: Risk Management (FMEA/SCRM)
Prof. Dr. Andreas Gissel
Program Director, MBA in International Business Management, HWG. SCRM concepts, teamwork, graded presentations.
 
Day 5Friday, May 8 · Frankfurt
Finance & Cultural Closing: Scholarship & Observatory
Deutsche Börse, Frankfurt Stock Exchange
"Taking Control of Your Own Wealth" lecture and tour of the exhibition.
Frankfurt Observatory
Astronomy observation evening with the Physikalischer Verein, followed by a closing dinner.
Gallery · 2026 Edition

Immersion in Pictures

A photo recap of the Class of 2026, from Heidelberg Castle to the BASF site, from the LEARNTEC trade show to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Heidelberg Castle, red sandstone facade, aivancity Learning Trip, Germany 2026
Heidelberg Castle, guided tour
Tour of the Kulturbrauerei in Heidelberg and tasting, aivancity 2026 Learning Trip
Kulturbrauerei Heidelberg, a traditional brewery
Guided Tour of the BASF Industrial Site at the Visitor Center, aivancity 2026 Learning Trip
BASF, Guided Tour of the Industrial Site
Exhibition Hall at the LEARNTEC Trade Show in Karlsruhe, Learning Trip aivancity 2026
LEARNTEC Karlsruhe, Exhibition Hall
A Stop at the Porsche Museum, aivancity Germany Learning Trip 2026
A Detour to the Porsche Museum
Deutsche Börse's Listing Basket, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, aivancity Learning Trip 2026
Deutsche Börse, the stock exchange
Investment Conference at Deutsche Börse in Frankfurt, aivancity 2026 Learning Trip
Deutsche Börse, Investment Conference
SCRM/FMEA Workshop at HWG Ludwigshafen, aivancity 2026 Learning Trip
SCRM/FMEA-Certified Workshop, HWG Ludwigshafen
Institutions · 2026 Edition

The places that left a lasting impressionon
in this edition

Six organizations representing the 2026 edition: academic, industrial, financial, and cultural. The program varies each year depending on current partnerships.

Aivancity students in front of the HWG Ludwigshafen, Learning Trip 2026
Days 2 & 4 · Academic Partner
HWG Ludwigshafen & GSRN
Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft and the Rhein-Neckar Graduate School. The academic partner for the dual MSc Data Engineering program, hosting both credit-bearing modules this week.
"Bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world industrial applications." Eva Nefen, GSRN
Aivancity Student Group at the BASF Visitor Center, Learning Trip 2026
Day 2 · The Global Chemical Industry
BASF
One of the largest and most sophisticated industrial sites in the world. The guided tour provides a tangible sense of what German industrial excellence means.
"Seeing one of the world's most sophisticated logistics networks in person provided invaluable insights."
Aivancity Students at the LEARNTEC Karlsruhe Trade Show, Learning Trip 2026
Day 3 · European EdTech Expo
LEARNTEC Karlsruhe
Europe's leading trade show for digital learning and AI applied to training. Masterclasses, networking, and opportunities for students to connect with companies.
"Digital Learning Meets AI at Europe's No. 1." LEARNTEC
Aivancity students in front of the Bull and Bear statues at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Learning Trip 2026
Day 5 · Finance & Markets
Deutsche Börse, Frankfurt Stock Exchange
The beating heart of German finance. A lecture on building personal wealth and a tour of the exhibition on financial markets.
"Understanding the financial pulse of global trade was a unique highlight of the week."
The aivancity group on the Old Bridge in Heidelberg with the castle in the background, Learning Trip 2026
Day 1 · Heritage & Culture
Heidelberg: Castle & Kulturbrauerei
Germany's oldest university town. A historic castle accessible by funicular, followed by a traditional brewery for the opening lunch of the trip.
"We took a deep breath in beautiful Heidelberg, soaking in the history of Germany's oldest university town."
Deutsche Börse Conference Room in Frankfurt, Closing Day, aivancity 2026 Learning Trip
Day 5 · Closing Ceremony in Frankfurt
Frankfurt: Stock Exchange & End of the Trip
Final day in Germany's financial capital: a conference at the Deutsche Börse on wealth building, followed by an evening of stargazing at the Physikalischer Verein observatory before the farewell dinner.
"A memorable last evening together, gazing at the sky before our final dinner."
Contacts · 2026 Edition

Speakers
, in this edition

Three key contacts on the German academic partner side—relationships to maintain for future editions.

Academic Contacts
EN
Eva Nefen
Senior Director, International MBA Office, GSRN. Program reception and general coordination.
RB
Ralf Blasek
General Manager, Rhein-Neckar Graduate School. Instructor for the Change Management module.
AG
Prof. Dr. Andreas Gissel
Program Director, MBA in International Business Management, HWG Ludwigshafen. Instructor for the SCRM/FMEA module.
Highlights of this edition
🏭
Industrial Scale, Experienced FirsthandThe 10-km² BASF site left a lasting impression—a lesson in scale that no classroom alone can convey.
📊
Two modules that were actually evaluatedThe Change Management and SCRM/FMEA modules were taken, worked on in teams, and graded—a rare academic requirement for short-term exchange programs.
🤖
LEARNTEC: A Look at European EdTechStudents were able to discover companies and attend masterclasses on AI applied to education.
🎓
A Long-Term Academic PartnershipThis edition confirms the strength of the collaboration with GSRN and HWG Ludwigshafen within the framework of the dual MSc Data Engineering program.