Colgate students will now have the opportunity to apply for special 10-week paid summer internships with major companies located in Germany, thanks to the university’s new membership in the German American Exchange (GAE).
“German American Exchange provides students with ample opportunities to gain insight into the world’s economy, improve their German language skills, and enjoy cultural challenges,” the GAE website reads. “The program is designed to ensure that all students returning to the United States from Germany have an expanded self-confidence and will provide them with an incredible professional opportunity to accompany their undergraduate studies.”
Teresa Olsen, assistant vice president and director of career services, said students can begin applying for the program in November. Olsen expects two to four students from Colgate to be selected each year, and the first group will travel to Germany in the summer of 2019.
“Students don’t have to be German majors, but they need a proficiency in German and must have at least four semesters of coursework completed to apply. GAE works with German-based businesses to place as many students as they can,” said Olsen, who collaborated with Colgate’s Department of German to join the GAE program. “This is a great example of how career services can partner with academic departments to help create new learning endeavors that also bolster career preparation.”
The opportunity could also mesh well with students participating in Colgate’s full-semester study group in Freiburg, Germany, which was first established in 1979. Olsen said it is possible that students going to Freiburg could connect the internship with the study group, effectively extending their time and enhancing their experience in Germany.
In addition to placing students in internships at companies such as Porsche, Siemens, Bosch, and BMW, GAE also assists in obtaining required work permits and provides participants with a number of cultural excursions to Munich and Berlin.