The Germany Exchange Program

3 Upper Division Elective Credits Earned in 3 Weeks

May 3 (departure on May 2) to May 24, 2010

May 2010 offers a wonderful opportunity for students to participate in an exchange program that the University of Florida has with a university in Germany, the Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe in Detmold. Detmold, a city of about 70,000 residents, is located in northwestern Germany. This is beautiful rolling country between Hanover and Deusseldorf.

ABOUT THE EXCHANGE:

The program was developed so that participating University of Florida students (as well as graduate or undergraduate students from other universities) and the Construction Engineering students of Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe in Germany could benefit from the mutual exchange of information on international construction. Since the German students participate in the program by enrolling in regular courses offered in the Rinker School, the focus of this information is on the participation of the UF students in the exchange program in Germany. The UF students attend lectures and visit various locations to observe different construction methods and techniques in Germany. Students will also learn about the history of Germany, its government, the culture and social norms of the Germans, preservation techniques, restoration efforts, and construction practices in Germany. In addition, the UF students see many points of interest that are of historical, cultural, or architectural importance.

All instruction is in English. Lectures are offered on many different topics of interest, but much of the learning and enjoyment of this exchange lies in experiencing the places that are visited.

UF students are hosted by German students, further adding to the enjoyment of the exchange program.

Students will experience the culture, view magnificent architecture, and take enlightening walking tours in cities, such as the following:

Hamburg (the second largest port in Europe)

Berlin (the seat of government, again)

Dessau (birthplace of the Bauhaus)

Dresden (a rebuilding Renaissance city)

Potsdam (site of the Potsdam treaty)

Prague (the last stop of the 3 weeks ends in the Czech Republic, at the most beautiful city in Europe)

Students will visit several castles, take a tour on the Elbe River, tour several construction sites, tour the Ruhr Valley, see examples of the Bauhaus style, experience the differences and the common bond between the United States and Germany, visit Checkpoint Charlie, tour the Reichstag building, visit the site of the signing of the Potsdam Treaty that ended WWII in Europe, tour a craft training school where craft skills are developed and refined, a building that is covered with photo-voltaic cells for power generation, and many other interesting sites.

Costs of the Exchange

Fees:

The approximate costs for this program are shown below.

Program Fees in Germany = $2,200 (includes all lodging and transportation within Germany)

Fees at UF include only the cost of tuition for a 3-hour class

Airfare = $500 -$800 (estimated – fares are more expensive when bought late). Students are responsible for purchasing their own airline tickets.

Incidental Expenses: Allow $500 (estimated, this is for some food only. Remember, almost all travel, lodging and about half of the meals are covered in the program fees)

Insurance: $0 if the current policy provides coverage (otherwise allow about $50)

Note: The first 10 Rinker students to sign up will receive a scholarship of $500

Students are encouraged to express their interest early. Contact Dr. Jimmie Hinze for more information, 340 Rinker Hall, 273-1167, hinze@ufl.edu

See the Slide Show

See Details of the Program

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