The European summer school, an intensive and multicultural program, offers a unique opportunity for Oberlin students to experience the social, cultural, political, and business climates of Europe while on site in the Netherlands, Belgium and German. Fully credited courses by Oberlin College, offered in English, explore the economics, institutions, and business practices shaping European integration today.

Scheduled over six weeks during July and August, the program offers student participants opportunities to explore Europe more widely from a central location with excellent transportation links.

The Organizers

Oberlin College is pleased to cooperate with the Center for European Studies at the University of Maastricht. Located in the dynamic Limburg region region in the southeastern part of the Netherlands, Maastricht is just north of the French speaking Belgian city of Liege and just west of the German city of Aachen. At the center of the Cologne-Brussels-Luxembourg triangle, the location offers opportunities to visit international institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice and NATO along with a variety of international business operations including Philips, DAF and the European distribution center for Nordson.

The Courses

The academic program is comprised of three components: two elective courses (3 credit hours each) and an optional tutorial program.

• Students choose from one of the following two options for the first three weeks:

1. European Economic Integration - The aim of the course is to provide a deeper understanding of the efforts toward further economic cooperation and integration in Europe. Topics include: the history of the EU, economic principles of custom unions and common markets, economic and monetary union in the EU, the common agricultural policy and eternal economic relations.
2. International Management - The course examines the financial management of international firms and organizations, in particular the problems of international capital budgeting, issuing securities, and dealing with exchange-rate risks. An overview of the functions, structures and innovations in contemporary international financial markets will be presented.

• Students choose an elective course from one of the following three options for the final three weeks:

1. Law & Politics: Current Topics in the European Union - The course will give an introduction to the key institutions guiding European integration. After an brief history of the EU coverage will be devoted to the legal framework of the EU and the European Community which governs the internal market, the four basic freedoms, economic and monetary union and EU enlargement. Links between the EU and member states will also be examined.
2. Intercultural Communication - The course is designed to raise your awareness of the variety of cultural values in today's world and help you compare your own cultural background with that of various European cultures. The course reveals how organizational cultures can be managed effectively and outlines ways of learning intercultural communication.
3. European Culture: History & Art. The course addresses cultural and political developments that have marked Europe. Lectures will focus on highlights of European cultural history and artifacts will be used to illustrate the wide variety of social, cultural and political developments that have influenced European history.

• Tutorial on EU Current Events (ungraded and no credit) - 10 hours of optional tutorial-based disscussion of current events in European political economy conducted by Professor David L. Cleeton. Preparatory readings will be drawn from the Financial Times and The Economist.

Costs

• Tuition -  $3,600 for 6 credit hours. The fee covers class excursions and course materials including all book, use of the university library and computer facilities.
• Housing - Students will be housed in single or double rooms at the International Student dormitory at the University of Maastricht. Costs are $1,150 for a single and $975 for a double. Students are responsible for their own meals but the dormitory has built-in kitchens in the double rooms and a communal kitchen for students with single rooms. The dormatory has wireless internet connections, free use of laundry room, and recreational facilities (tennis and basketball).

• Travel - Detailed information will be communicated to accepted participants. Students must arrange for their travel to and from Europe but may be able to obtain reduced price airfare through the Council on International Educational Exchange.
• Deposit - A $750 nonrefundable deposit will be required approximately two weeks after notification of acceptance in the program.  Details will be given to accepted applicants.
• International Student Identification Card (ISIC) - All students traveling on the program are required to obtain an ISIC.  The card provides a number of benefits including reduced travel through CIEE and an travel insurance coverage. Click on the card for further information.

Applications are due no later than Monday 31 March 2008.

Contact:

Professor David L. Cleeton

Economics Department

225 Rice Hall

Oberlin College

Oberlin, OH 44074

E-Mail: dcleeton@oberlin.edu

Phone: (440) 775-8483

Fax: (440) 775-6978