e3 Berlin

City: Berlin Country: Germany

Overview

The University of Alberta's e3 is a unique study and work abroad program that allows students the flexibility to choose from three experiences in one location. e3 Berlin is flexible, fusing academics with real-life work experience, providing a comprehensive experience unparalleled by other abroad programs.

e3 Berlin combines:

German language study
Internship placement (work or research)
Academic coursework

_{"I would absolutely recommend the e3 program. It changes your perspective on the world and the impact of the trip is not confined to the 1, 2, or 3 months your spend abroad, but will continue to change you while you're back at home"} _{e3 Berlin participant}

When Can I Go?

Terms Offered: Spring, Summer

Dates & Duration:

Module I (German language): GERM 111 June 3-26, 2024
Module II (Internship): May - August, 2024*
Module III (Academic Courses): Drama 307/505 May 6-24, 2024 and Political Science 459/596 July 1-19, 2024

_{*Internship dates vary based on host organization}

Deadline to Apply:

e3 Internships: November 20, 2023
Course work only: March 1, 2024 (or until program is full)

Eligibility Requirements

e3 is open to ALL post-secondary students from all disciplines. Non University of Alberta student are welcome to apply!

See more detailed Eligibility Requirements here.

Program Information

Language of Instruction: English, German

Note: Module II (Internship) cannot be taken on its own. Module II must be combined with either Module I (German Language Studies) and/or Module III (Academic Courses).

Module I: German Language Studies (GERM 111) Beginner's German I

June 3-26, 2024

The *3 credit German language course is designed for students who have never studied German before. This course is not be taken by students with credit in GERM 100, or with native or near native proficiency, or with German 30 or its equivalents in Canada and other countries.

Module II: Internship

Students who select this module will participate in a 6- to 8-week internship from May to August. Internships immerse students in leading companies and organizations in Germany. Professional-track internships allow students to apply academic concepts to a real-life setting, and provide organizations and companies with fresh perspectives from talented students with global competencies.

Past internships have included positions with research institutions, think tanks, non-profits, start-ups, local businesses in various industries, government offices, as well as in museums, galleries, and design studios in Berlin and other German cities.

A local coordinator based in Berlin will meet with students and assist them in securing internship placements.

_{"I interned with an international school and got to lead large groups of children in sports, act as a mediator for conflict, provide clear instructions for activities, and facilitate discussions. I learned to communicate across different languages, time management skills, and conflict resolution."} _{e3 Berlin 2017 participant}

Module III: Academic Courses

Courses for both graduate and undergraduate students are being offered in 2024.

DRAMA 307/505 (*3) Theatre Practice in Berlin - Cultural Implications

May 6-24, 2024 - Dr. Melanie Dreyer-Lude & Dr. Piet Defraeye - In English

Berlin is in many ways a crucial hub for contemporary performance in Europe. We will explore contemporary German theatre practice in this immersive course. Students will discover the cultural roots of performed stories and how they reflect modern society. Emphasizing cultural sensitivity, we'll address the etiquettes of courteous and conscientious travel. The course structure includes various theatre experiences, including opera, theatre, and dance, readings, museum visits, and traditional cultural sites. Unconventional venues like supermarkets, train stations, cemeteries, concentration camps, and the post office will reveal diverse facets of German culture. A highlight is a visit to Berlin's main drama conservatory, fostering dialogue and insights with fellow students, and exclusive opportunities like backstage theatre visits and discussions with Berlin's professional artists and theatre scholars. This transformative experience, enriches cultural immersion, linguistic proficiency, and critical engagement with contemporary German theatre's societal impact. Students will emerge as culturally aware, linguistically skilled, and globally engaged individuals.

Students wishing to practice their German will have the chance to practice and enhance their linguistic skills.

POL S 459/596 (*3) Gender Politics in Wartime and Peacetime Berlin

July 1-19, 2024 - Dr. Siobhan Byrne - In English

This course introduces students to the international history of gender and peace politics by exploring Berlin's museums, monuments, and storied streets through field trips to locations such as the Museum at Checkpoint Charlie, the Reichstag Building (and possibly the German Federal Foreign Office), the Holocaust Memorial at the Brandenburg Gate (and related monuments and museums), and the Statue of Peace in Berlin (memorializing World War II' comfort women'). Berlin is ideal for learning about gender and peace and exploring United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 5: Gender Equality and 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. For example, Germany recently adopted a 'feminist foreign policy' (March 2023), following in the footsteps of countries like Canada, which promises to ground gender equality in German foreign policy. Students will learn what a feminist foreign policy is, how it is connected to the UN-led Women, Peace and Security agenda, and how it shapes Germany's military response to the war in Ukraine. Further, students will explore Germany and Berlin's remarkable history of women-led international peace activism --- beginning with the founding of the German Peace Society in Berlin in 1892 and the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to peace leader Bertha von Suttner, and extending to wartime and contemporary women-led resistance and peace activism today. Gender representations and masculine ideals have been central to 20th and 21st-century war propaganda and post-war demilitarization efforts. Students will explore the intersectional gender politics of wartime and peacetime propaganda through tours in Berlin's "Museum Island." Finally, Germany is the destination for refugees and asylum seekers fleeing so-called 'new wars.' Students will learn about themes such as gender-based violence and migration through a visit to the International Organization for Migration offices in Berlin. At the end of this course, students will develop a new understanding of the history of women's peace activism, gender wartime and peacetime violence, new feminist foreign policy commitments in the context of new wars, and increased migration through an immersion in the unique history and contemporary politics of Berlin, Germany. Further, students will gain an introduction to gender political analysis and feminist intersectional theory and activism (no prior background in gender politics required).

_{"The people I met through the program was my favourite part of the experience. I know I'll be friends with many of the people for years, especially because we all returned home to Alberta"}

Fees & Costs

e3 Berlin consists of 3 modules, which can be taken in different combinations. Students can elect to take 1 or all 3 modules. e3 charges additional fees on top of regular tuition for each 3-credit course/internship. This is to help off-set the cost of operating the program. The amount students will pay depends on the number of components students choose to participate in. In addition, students will be responsible for all other costs such as accommodation, food, insurance, books, flights/transportation, non-instructional fees, as well as other personal expenses. Students can explore the different tracks available and estimated total program costs via the links below:

e3 Berlin Program Fees

Housing

Once accepted into the program, students will be shared a list of where to find housing for the duration of their stay. Students are responsible for finding and securing their own accommodation.