Summer School EAFIT Colombia – FHNW Switzerland

All Students and faculty members of the participating universities

• Universidad EAFIT is a highly reputed private Colombian university located in Medellín offering over 100 programmes on undergraduate, master, specialisation, and doctoral level. The university offers degrees in various fields through its schools of Management, Engineering, Law, Finance and Economics, Science, and Humanities.
• FHNW: Students and employees of all schools are welcome. The aim is to have a truly divers group representing the various fields of FHNW.
• The summer school will be open for maximum 30 participants (15 EAFIT, 15 FHNW).

Participants need to be fluent in English (advanced level: European levels B2 written/C1 oral). No formal document/proof needed. Knowledge of Spanish not mandatory.

Participants book (and pay) flights individually. The flight from Switzerland to Medellin Colombia has to be on Saturday 5 or Sunday 6 July 2025 (programme in Colombia starts on Monday, 7 July at 13.00 local time). The flight back to Switzerland can earliest be on Saturday, 12 July 2025.

The summer school programme is open for bachelor and master students as well as employees from the organising universities. Its content is designed for students from all fields and each faculty of the participating universities.

The summer school programme focuses on four major aspects

• Fostering the interaction between the students from both countries across faculty boundaries and thereby strengthening the international as well as the interdisciplinary exchange between students and employees.
• Students learn how to use innovative techniques to find creative ideas and new solutions to today’s challenges.
• Students get to know relevant tools for the successful development of their projects / business idea.
• Target-oriented working and cooperating in international and interdisciplinary groups.

Our summer school concentrates on entrepreneurial skills and spirit. The courses are academically challenging with a strong practical focus. Lecturers are experts in their fields and experienced practitioners, interaction between students and lecturers will be fostered.

Participants will work in mixed groups on their own projects in various fields. Relevant content in the course:

• creating a business idea
• developing and evaluating business models
• strategic planning
• market analysis and market entry
• finance and human resources
• stakeholder dialogue
• intercultural management
• convincing pitching and persuasive communication

The programme also includes visits of companies (e.g. start-ups, social start-ups, SME’s) or organisations (e.g. business hubs) in both countries.

Attractive cultural and social events will make the participants’ stay an unforgettable experience and contribute to intercultural competence. The programme features excursions to cultural and historical sites in each country.

The summer school is accredited with 5 ECTS (please check with your dean of studies if and how this module will be accepted at your specific degree programme!).

The assessment consists of a group work and presentation during the summer school.

Preparatory evening before the summer school. Students will get insights about the main topics.

On site:

• Classroom instructions with workshops, lectures, seminars
  
• Group work on business idea
  
• Company visit / visits of institutions
  
• Cultural activities
  

In Medellín: All FHNW participants stay at the same hotel, organised and offered by EAFIT.
In Switzerland: All EAFIT participants stay at the same hotel, organised and offered by FHNW.

Prof. Dr. Rolf Meyer, Head of MBA programme, expert in Entrepreneurship (Lead), rolf.meyer@fhnw.ch

Dario Meyer, Research Associate, dario.meyer@fhnw.ch

Insurance is the participants own responsibility.
Health concerns and vaccinations are the participants own responsibility.
Visa and the fulfilment of the entry requirements are the participants own responsibility.

There is a fee of CHF 980 per participant. This fee is due within 10 days after the communication of the selection of the students. This fee will not be paid back when a student withdraws (except serious health issues).

• Included: accommodation in Medellín; lunches in Basel and Medellin, company visits, cultural and social programme both in Basel and Medellin.
• Not included: transport (except company visits, cultural and social activities), health insurance, visa cost (visa free for Swiss/EU citizens), other meals (lunch is included) additional individual sightseeing trips and personal expenses.

Please apply online till 30 April 2025.

With your application you confirm having read and accepted the following terms and condition:

• You are ready to participate in the on-site seminar and the preparatory session as outlined in the programme. Once the delegation members have been confirmed, full cost incurs in case of withdrawal (health reasons, e.g.).
• Flights can only be booked once participation has been confirmed. FHNW does not take over any responsibility for individual costs incurred (in case of early bookings, e.g.).
• Insurance coverage for the entire study trip is each student’s individual responsibility.
• You ensure that necessary travel documents (passports, insurance confirmation, visa, etc.) will be organised in time as required.
• You agree that photos and pictures taken of you while you are on the programme can be published by the FHNW on their respective home pages and in their brochures, flyers, etc, within reason.
• The nomination process is not further documented or commented. Students have no right to appeal the final decision on delegation members by the supervisor.

Selection of participants will be based on the availability of places, the quality of the application and on the timing of the application. You will hear from us latest at the beginning of May 2025.