Call for Applications: ENGAGE.EU Expedition @University of Mannheim
Topic:
Quarters of Diversity
Date:
November 13 – November 19, 2022
Location:
University of Mannheim, Germany
Application deadline: 23 October, 2022
About the ENGAGE.EU Expedition
The ENGAGE.EU Expedition is a one-week intensive program and learning experience for students to contribute to societal transformation. By engaging in this international co-design program, you will contribute to real-life societal transformations. Starting with the idea that you want to create impact during your study and invest in your own development of personal identity and employability, this program offers you formal and informal learning in context, together with the (local) ecosystem of the ENGAGE.EU partners. The collaborative program focuses on creating value for society and uses the framework for inno-preneurship as guiding principle. You will work with other students in teams together with experts and mentors on challenges presented by societal partners of the University of Mannheim ENGAGE.EU Lab. Through design-thinking principles you are guided towards mission-oriented solutions and simultaneously work on new skills.
About the Challenge
The quarter Neckarstadt-West is one of the six inner city districts of Mannheim. It is urban in character and has the largest stock of listed old buildings in the city. Approximately 22,000 people from over 100 nations live in the Neckarstadt-West. The neighbourhood has one of the highest proportions of people with a migration background in Mannheim. Due to the still quite affordable rents, many students, and artists live here, too. This leads to an ongoing gentrification of the neighbourhood.
The challenges will be accompanied by initiatives and municipal partners who are confronted with various challenges in their daily work and commitment. The areas of language acquisition, extracurricular education and culture will be highlighted.
Expected Impact
For students: Students, as part of a team, will connect with local stakeholders to develop an understanding of the issue. They will get an insight into how stakeholders have addressed the challenge so far. Students can integrate their knowledge into the process of working on the challenge and develop a strategy to tackle the issue addressed. In the challenge students move beyond the four walls of the classroom and will involve community-members in their work. Students develop, in addition to specialist knowledge, numerous other skills such as research, cooperation, dealing with uncertainty, solution-oriented thinking, organization and communication.
For stakeholders: Stakeholders can have interdisciplinary and international student teams work on their challenges. Stakeholders can expand their professional networks, e.g., through contact with other challenge owners, the University of Mannheim and the European University Alliance. Visibility and publicity are generated for their work environment, projects and topics. Innovative solutions to challenges are developed.
Target Group
The challenge is open for bachelor’s students in their last year and master’s students. Check admission process for details. You should be eager to combine theory with practice and to improve both. You are ready to step out of your comfort zone and learn new skills.
Format of Challenge
Groupwork in interdisciplinary and international teams. Students should be able to travel to Mannheim, Germany, from November 13 to 19, 2022. There are mobility scholarships available for selected students. A social program for participants is being organized.
Additional Activities
You will have the opportunity to partake in a social/cultural program in Mannheim. There will be time to socialize in the evening and explore the city’s (night)life. The ENGAGE.EU Expedition will start by exploring Mannheim’s edgy district Neckarstadt-West which has over 22.000 inhabitants from over 100 nations.
Accommodation
The University of Mannheim does not have residence halls of its own but will organize a hostel for all participants. Please note, you will be sharing your room with other students. If you would like to make use of this opportunity, please indicate below. You are not obliged to make use of this hostel, but possible other arrangements need to be made by yourself. Please note that the expedition lasts until Friday late evening.
Application requierments
Your Profile
The ENGAGE.EU Expedition@Mannheim edition is targeted towards bachelor’s students (in their third year) and master’s students of any citizenship who are enrolled in an ENGAGE.EU alliance university (University of Mannheim, LUISS University, NHH Norwegian School of Economics, Tilburg University, University of National and World Economy, Université Toulouse 1 Capitole, Vienna University of Economics and Business). Students from diverse backgrounds (such as business, economics, law, social sciences, humanities) are encouraged to apply, if you have a significant interest in the proposed challenge, you want to contribute to societal transformation, gain new skills, and enter an inspiring and pioneering week.
Application
To apply for the ENGAGE.EU Expedition candidates should provide:
- A short letter (max. 300 words) explaining your motivation for applying to the ENGAGE.EU Expedition
- Curriculum vitae (education, work experience, language skills, study/work abroad, other relevant skills and experiences)
- Academic records (transcript of exams)
Selection
Submitted applications are evaluated by the academics and staff working in the ENGAGE.EU Labs. Candidates will be evaluated based on their motivation letter and CV. In order to ensure equal participation among students from the different partner universities, the selection committee will aim at choosing three to maximum five students from each partner university. Final decisions also consider a range of criteria for cohort composition, including but not limited to disciplinary balance, institutional diversity, and demographic diversity.
Additional Details
In order to complete your application, you will have to fill in the application form below and upload your CV, academic records and motivation letter (in Word or PDF format), together with:
- Copy of international passport or European identity card – to be uploaded in PDF;
- Passport photo in JPG format.
Applications must be submitted by 23 October 2022, at midnight CET. All documents must be in English, except for those regarding the academic records (which can be in any language of the partner universities).
Results will be communicated by 30 October 2022.
Information on how to apply for scholarships will be shared with the selected students.
For questions, please send an email to expedition@uni-mannheim.de