American and Mexican representatives examine Germany and Europe
The Europe as a Global Player Program 2007 was a joint program directed at university or college employees, political officials and company representatives looking for hands-on experience with Germany and Europe. The aim of Europe as a Global Player was to build strong working relationships between academics and other professionals from North America and Germany through international and intercultural exchange.
The study tour successfully addressed diverse aspects of culture, economy, politics, and higher education, which were explored in a harmonious mix of past and present. Participants attended lectures given by specialists from various universities and experts in the fields of education, politics and economy.
The program took 13 US and Mexican participants through four different cities, each one of which provided them with a better understanding of a particular aspect of German and European culture, politics, and life. The challenges facing Europe today became visible during the visits to Straßbourg, Frankfurt/Main, Mainz and Berlin. Participants were able to take a closer look at German and European historical and political perspectives and German culture, and to observe German society's struggle for necessary change.
Highlights of the program in Berlin included: a guided tour of the German Reichstag including a visit to the cupola and lecture by CDU-CSU- expert Dr. Peter Reuss, Expert on Foreign, Security and European Affairs; a visit to the Foreign Office, where the group had a chance to discuss Transatlantic Relations with a high-level and long-term diplomat; and a visit to Castle Cecilienhof, where the group toured the 1945 Potsdam conference site.
Here EGP participants listened to a presentation by Historian Prof. Manfred Goertemaker, which was a great honor, as he was the initiator and coordinator of the exhibition site which Condoleeza Rice and her delegation visited during this year's G8-Summit.
Other highlights of the Berlin part of the program included a visit and guided tour of Berlin's oldest and most traditional university, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, where participants debated the German university and education system using the example of the "Exzellenzinitiative" after an introductory statement by Dr. Tim Stuchtey, head of the university's presidential office.
EGP was coordinated jointly by the Rhineland- Palatinate Ministry of Education, Women, Youth and Culture, and the institute for cultural diplomacy (icd) in Berlin.
EGP represents icd's continuing efforts to bring together leaders of civil society in a forum that promotes open dialogue and cultural exchange. Through internationally-focused programs like this, icd strives to build a sustainable transatlantic network and lay strong foundations for future business and academic cooperation between the United States, Canada, Mexico and Germany. As financial and business relations in the transatlantic community increases, it becomes more and more important to exchange cultural and social values and knowledge.
Today, more than ever, professionals need to be more flexible, mobile, and culturally-savvy. This program therefore attempted to discuss traditional ideas, but to simultaneously put them into an innovative and dynamic environment that will hopefully allow for the creation and growth of new perspectives and initiatives.
