A Week on Tour: Study Trip Through Europe

Athens, Limassol, Hamburg, Vilnius, Schleswig-Holstein, Valletta, Belgrade, Sofia, Paris, Palermo, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Milan, Copenhagen, Dublin

The study trips in the fifth semester are always something very special for our Bachelor's students. In small groups, they travel to destinations across Europe for a week to visit interesting companies and partner universities, gain in-depth insights into regional economic issues, explore local sights, and get to know the country and its people. A shared experience that will be remembered for years to come. 

This year, our students visited fifteen different locations: Athens, Limassol, Hamburg, Vilnius, Schleswig-Holstein, Valletta, Belgrade, Sofia, Paris, Palermo, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Milan, Copenhagen and Dublin.

We’ve compiled the highlights from each group along with some beautiful impressions here – many thanks to all the students for their contributions and wonderful photos!

Athens, Greece: „Logistics Challenges at the Maritime Crossroads”

Company Visits: Costamare Inc., Baseblue, Ministerium für Meeresangelegenheiten und Inselpolitik, Piraeus Port Authority S.A., Maran Gas, ATHINA Maritime Learning & Development Center (Minerva Group)

Led by Prof. Dr. Jan Ninnemann, the group travelled to Athens to explore the logistical challenges at one of the world's most important maritime hubs. Key findings included Greece's strategic role in global shipping and how investment, port operations and talent development are shaping the industry.

Some participants even extended their stay over the weekend to reflect on the inspiring and insightful week on site.

Limassol, Cyprus: “Venture Capital Strategies of European Limited Partnerships (LPs) located in Cyprus”

Company visits: Deloitte, Leon MFO Investments Ltd, Local Winery, German Embassy in Cyprus, Fibery, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, University of Cyprus

A divided country with great potential: As part of the excursion to Cyprus with Prof. Dr. Philipp Zaeh, we gained exciting insights into the local start-up scene at the Deloitte Innovation Hub under Constantinos Kritiotis. Discussions with Prof. Dr. Faustmann and representatives of the German Embassy also highlighted how closely Cyprus' economic development is linked to the political situation. The trip was complemented by insights into traditional industries such as viticulture, a visit to the university and an inspiring lecture by start-up founder Vadim Gaidukevich (Fibery) and hedge fund manager Demetris Nicolaoum from Leon MFO Investments. The excursion offered a glimpse into the economic, cultural and political peculiarities of the island nation.

Hamburg: “Human Rights at Sea and in Ports”

Company visits: HHLA, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, EY, Hapag Lloyd, Seemannsmission Duckdalben 

During our excursion week with Prof. Dr. Sarah Jastram in Hamburg, everything revolved around human rights at sea and in ports. From the HHLA terminal tour to a hearing at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to exciting insights at EY, Hapag-Lloyd and the Duckdalben Seamen's Mission – we gained many different perspectives. This week showed how diverse and important the Port of Hamburg is as a place of global responsibility and cooperation.

Vilnius / Lithuania ‘The talent magnet in the Baltic States: young, qualified, happy and successful in the fields of technology, fintech and global business services (against the backdrop of geopolitical challenges)’

Company visits: ISM University of Management and Economics, Deep Media Technologies GmbH, Sakiškės Brewery, Commerzbank AG – Representative Office for the Baltic States, German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK Baltikum), Oxylabs.io

We gained exciting insights into the economic, technological and cultural development of the Baltic region. From innovative start-ups to international companies and educational institutions, we saw how strongly the region is characterised today by openness, digitalisation and international cooperation. Particularly impressive was the exchange with experts who showed us how tradition and innovation can be successfully combined.

Schleswig-Holstein: “Discovering (the Management of) Cultural Heritage Sites & Visitor Attractions in Schleswig-Holstein – the Land Between the Seas”

Company visitsMultimar Wattforum in Tönning, Gut Immenhof, Plön Castle, UNESCO World Heritage Site Haithabu & Danewerk in Schleswig, Lübeck & Travemünde Marketing, Willy Brandt House Lübeck

Under the theme ‘Discovering (the Management of) Cultural Heritage Sites & Visitor Attractions in Schleswig-Holstein – the Land between the Seas’, we visited various cultural institutions and tourist sites in Schleswig-Holstein as part of our excursion week. We gained insights into management and explored sustainable tourism. Through guided tours, discussions and our own explorations, we were able to gain exciting perspectives on sustainable tourism and the development of cultural heritage in the region. This included visits to the Multimar Wattforum in Tönning, the Immenhof estate in Holstein Switzerland, Plön Castle, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Haithabu & Danewerk in Schleswig, Lübeck & Travemünde Marketing, and the Willy Brandt House in Lübeck.

Valletta, Malta: “Start-ups, Fast Growing Companies, Digitalization, Venture”

Company visits: DiHubMT, A8GreenroadsEBO.aiMalta Leadership Institute (MLI), Bank of Valletta, Malta Enterprise

Our study trip to Malta was an enriching experience with many exciting impressions. We were particularly impressed by the warm hospitality and openness of the local experts and leaders, who took a lot of time to give us an understanding of the Maltese economy. Their friendliness and enthusiasm made the encounters a real highlight and deepened our understanding of international economic relationships in a lasting way.

Belgrade, Serbia: “Eastern European Countries and the Way to EU - Opportunities and Threats”

Company visits: University of Belgrade, Milsped, Nordeus, Zoran Djindjic Foundation, Henkel

During our excursion week in Belgrade, we had the opportunity to gain exciting insights into the Serbian economy and culture. Among other places, we visited Milsped, the Zoran Djindjic Foundation, the successful start-up Nordeus, the University of Belgrade and the consumer goods group Henkel. In addition to the company visits, we also had the opportunity to learn about Serbian culture, for example during visits to the Cathedral of Saint Sava, the National Museum and Republic Square.

Sofia, Bulgarien: „Bulgaria's Situation After 18 Years of EU Membership”

Company visits: Commerzbank, Volvo & Renault Trucks, Lufthansa Technik, Carlsberg Bulgaria HQ, Sofia Tech Park

Together with our professor Torsten Keller, we travelled to the Bulgarian capital Sofia. Through visits to Lufthansa Technik, Carlsberg, Commerzbank, Volvo and Sofia Tech Park, we gained valuable insights into Bulgaria's growing economic importance and its preparations for the introduction of the euro in 2026. Cultural activities rounded off the experience and gave us a better impression of the country and its people.

Paris, France: “Government Finance and Demographic Change - How to Generate New Economic Growth”

Company visits: French Sénat, German Embassy, Assemblée Nationale, BUCHERER AG, HDI Global SE, EcoVadis, PKF Arsilon / PKF Fasselt

Our study trip to Paris offered a wide range of insights into the topic of ‘Government Finance and Demographic Change - How to Generate New Economic Growth’. Over the course of the week, we looked at political conditions, diplomacy and corporate perspectives and visited institutions such as the French Senate, the Assemblée nationale, the German Embassy, EcoVadis, Bucherer, HDI and PKF Arsilon. We would like to thank all our hosts for promoting valuable Franco-German exchange and for the practical insights they provided.

Palermo, Italy: “Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Challenges and Opportunities”

Unternehmensbesuche: Giglio S.p.A., Autoritá di Sistema Portuale del Mare di Sicilia Occidentale, Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'Ambiente, Sartoria Sociale, Boccadutri International Law Firm

Unser Fokus lag in diesem Jahr darauf, wie sich Nachhaltigkeit in Sizilien entwickelt, und Palermo bot hierfür ein faszinierendes Fallbeispiel. Von Initiativen für grüne Energie und nachhaltigen Hafenbetrieb bis hin zu Kreislaufwirtschaft in der Textilproduktion und Projekten zur sozialen Inklusion haben wir gesehen, wie die Stadt ihren eigenen innovativen Weg in eine grünere Zukunft findet.

Lisbon, Portugal: “5 years after the European Green Capital Award: Exploring Lisbon's Sustainability Journey”

Company visits: NEYA Hotels, Nova School of Business and Economics, TAP Air Portugal, Horta Solar, Universidade de Lisboa, Inspira Boutique Hotel

As part of our study trip to Lisbon on the theme of ‘5 years after the European Green Capital Award: Lisbon's path to sustainability’, accompanied by Tatjana Minulla, we explored various perspectives on sustainable development – including the question of where sustainability is authentically practised and where it may be more of a marketing ploy. The week offered a wide range of insights into sustainability in practice in the hotel industry, aviation, science, solar energy and agriculture, while also encouraging critical reflection on greenwashing and genuine responsibility.

Amsterdam, Netherlands: “Bridging Cultures: Turning National Cultural Differences Into Workplace Strengths”

Company visits: Richemont, FutureLabs, Heineken, UNS, IBM, Booking.com

For a week, we had the opportunity to experience different facets of culture – from the local culture in the heart of Amsterdam to the diverse internal and multicultural collaborations within companies in this city. We were able to gather many impressions, have stimulating discussions and rediscover how strongly culture influences our thoughts and actions and how we can all benefit from embracing it. We would like to thank all the companies that gave us such a warm welcome and wish them continued success for the future. 

Mailand, Italy: „Industrial Design & Digital Innovation“

Company visits: Terra Gelato, AHK Italy, Knoll International, CC Tapis, Alfa Romeo, Bending Spoons, Cantine Cavallotti, IULM University

During our study trip to Milan, we gained exciting insights into the topics of industrial design and digital innovation. We visited various companies, including innovative start-ups, international corporations and exclusive designers. At the IT company Bending Spoons, for example, we gained interesting insights into innovative approaches and design processes. The programme was complemented by visits to the German-Italian Chamber of Commerce and the Alfa Romeo Museum, which also gave us an understanding of cultural and economic perspectives. We also got to know northern Italian culture, including wine, ice cream and architecture.

Copenhagen, Denmark: “A City of Innovation and Sustainability”

Company visits:State of Green, German-Danish Chamber of Commerce, Lunar HQ Visitation, City of Copenhagen, Ubiqisense

During our excursion, we gained exciting insights into innovative Danish institutions and companies. Through exchanges with experts from business, administration and NGOs, we gained a direct understanding of the Danish concept of sustainability and were able to form a picture of what makes Copenhagen such a successful business location.

In addition to the professional impressions, our cultural events also offered us the opportunity to get to know Danish culture better and to understand values such as openness, design orientation and quality of life. In particular, the discussion evening prepared by our lecturer, Stephan Engel, and his accompanying keynote speech ‘The Nordic Secret’ helped us to exchange and finally classify the impressions and insights we had gathered.

Dublin, Ireland: “Dublin and its Role as a Major Financial Centre in Europe: Asset Management, Banking, Accounting, Big Tech etc.”

Company visits: J.J. Darboven, Fidelity International, Independent Fund Association, BDO, Workday, Deloitte

During our excursion week in Dublin, we took an in-depth look at the topic of corporate finance and gained practical insights into investment management, strategy consulting and various financial processes in the industry through visits to various companies. The technical programme was complemented by cultural highlights such as a visit to Trinity College, the Chester Beatty Library, a trip to Howth and an exploration of the history of Guinness. The combination of economic content and cultural experiences enabled us to comprehensively expand our professional and personal horizons.