Discovery, Sustainability and Friendship at KLU’s International Summer School
For three weeks throughout June and July, KLU welcomed students from China, Kenya, Mexico, Rwanda, South Africa, and Tanzania for this year’s Summer Sustainability School, bringing together future professionals to explore sustainability, management and global collaboration.
Led by Prof. Johannes Meuer and organized by Hamaidi Stulos from the KLU International Office, the Summer School in Sustainability welcomed one more time a diverse group of students with a common interest: to create a better world. The participants engaged in over a dozen lectures taught by PhD students and KLU professors - covering topics such as sustainable consumer behavior, nonprofit management, life cycle assessment, and more - combined with educational activities and company visits.
The first week began with lectures on intercultural competence and crisis management, followed by an upcycling workshop creating purses and bags. Students also had the chance to connect through a city-wide scavenger hunt. The participants shared that it was both educational and fun to explore the city in this way.
“The scavenger hunt was really fun because we got to learn more about Hamburg and many interesting facts about the city; it was something we really enjoyed,” shares Elías Barranco Vargas, student from the Universidad Panamericana (Mexico).
A big highlight of the trip was the visit to Gut Haidehof, where students learned about sustainable farming practices and gained first-hand insights into environmentally conscious agriculture. Students not only saw how the farm works, but also experienced some of it themselves by eating fresh cabbage leaves, walking around a chicken coop and enjoying a fresh vegetable meal afterwards. Additionally, they explored the work of Greenpeace and had the opportunity to visit their exhibition in Hamburg.
Learning inside and beyond the classroom
The field trips and educational experiences add real-world insight to the content of the program. During the second week, students took a trip to Lüneburg to visit ooniyo GmbH, an agency for branding and design. They also had the chance to get an introduction to the German language through seven classes on the basics of German.
In the last week, students had another opportunity to learn beyond the classroom in a visit to Hamburg’s harbor, which provided valuable insights into one of Europe’s largest logistics hubs. Besides the educational activities, students connected in their free time exploring Hamburg on their own, watching the football World Cup, relaxing at Jungfernstieg or walking along the Elbstrand beach.
“Life in Germany was open, international, and full of new experiences. KLU impressed me with its welcoming atmosphere, practical teaching, and strong international community.Overall, it was a valuable and memorable experience,” said Junyi (Julian) Huang, student from the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (China).
Reflecting on the experience
The program concluded with a farewell dinner and certificate ceremony, where the participants reflected on the experiences they had shared over the past three weeks and spent time with their new friends.
The Summer Sustainability School once again demonstrated the value of international exchange, combining academic excellence with cultural experiences and meaningful connections. We are grateful to everyone who made this program possible and look forward to welcoming the next group of participants to KLU.
More Information
