STEM and Enterprise Learning and Understanding New Career Horizons (STEM & Enterprise LAUNCH)

STEM and Enterprise LAUNCH 2025

Connecting students and faculty from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States with Germany's industry, business, research & academic institutions

In 2025, the STEM & Enterprise LAUNCH program spans up to 14 days and includes visits to Berlin and the city of Rostock. Both cities boast a variety of research and career opportunities while allowing for a complementary experience in Germany’s capital and one of its dynamic regional centers. During the study tour, participants visit leading research institutions, start-ups, SMEs, corporations, and universities. Additionally, they interact with decision makers at the federal, state, and municipal levels to gain exclusive insights into how German politics and society are shaped. Cultural immersion experiences round off the program and allow for insights into everyday life in Germany.

The program also aims to strengthen the existing sister city relationships between Rostock and Raleigh, NC as well as Berlin and Los Angeles, CA. As such, students at HBCUs in both Raleigh, NC and Los Angeles, CA are especially encouraged to apply to the program and strengthen ties between their respective sister cities.

Application Deadline: Sunday, December 1, 2024

All required fields in this application must be answered completely.

Costs and Benefits

The fee to participate in the STEM & Enterprise LAUNCH program is $2,500 and is to be paid to Cultural Vistas before February 28, 2025.

The program fee covers flights from a central departure point in the U.S., accommodations in Germany, all transportation within Germany, meetings with STEM, business, and political contacts in Germany, cultural immersion and historical excursions, and meals during the program. The majority of program costs are covered by a generous grant by the Transatlantic Program of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs & Climate Action.

Program Dates

Application deadline: Sunday, December 1, 2024

Notification of selected participants: Mid December 2024

Pre-departure seminars: March to May, 2024

Travel dates: May 10, 2025 (departure in the U.S.) to May 24, 2025 (departure in Germany): Program to Germany *

Post-program engagement: June to August 2024

*Dates to be confirmed (TBC).*

**Participation in all components of the program as well as the accompanying virtual preparation seminars is mandatory.**

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria for students:

Student applicants must be enrolled at an HBCU in the United States at the time of application (undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students are accepted)
Fields eligible to participate include sciences, technical fields, engineering, mathematics, architecture, or various business fields (international business, marketing, finance, etc.).
Student applicants must indicate how program participation could benefit their future personal and professional goals
Student applicants must indicate how they envision their future roles to further positively impact German-U.S. relations
Student applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
No prior German language knowledge is required

Eligibility criteria for faculty members:

Faculty applicants must be instructors, assistant professors, or full professors at an HBCU at the time of application and must actively be teaching in one of the following areas: sciences, technical fields, engineering, mathematics, architecture, and various business fields (international business, marketing, finance, etc.).
Faculty applicants must indicate how program participation may benefit their future personal and professional goals
Faculty applicants must indicate how they envision their participation will help to increase international mobility, preferably to Germany, for students at HBCUs in the future
No prior German language knowledge is required

Application Directions

**Please note that once started, the application is only saved upon full submission. Should you wish to print a copy of your application, please do so prior to submitting. It is recommended that applicants have all required documents (resumes, written materials, etc.) ready and in PDF format prior to begining the application. No other format types are supported and any materials submitted in other formats will not be accepted, deeming the application incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be processed.**

1. Prepare electronic versions of the following items; you will upload them at the end of this application:

• Current C.V. or Resume (Limit 2 pages, PDF format) *all applicants
• Scan of biographical page of Passport or other government issued I.D. *all applicants
• Copy of certificate of enrollment *student applicants only
• Most recent official transcript *student applicants only
• Letter of recommendation *all applicants

2. Complete this form in entirety including the essay questions.

3. Upload the required documents

4. Review and agree to program terms and conditions

5. Submit

Personal Information

Provide your full name AS IT APPEARS IN YOUR PASSPORT (*Information below must match your passport or other government-issued ID*)

Surname (Family name)
*

Given Names *

Application Category

Please indicate whether you are applying as a student or faculty member: *

Student

Faculty Member

Biographical Information

Gender *

Date of Birth
Day, Month, Year (Example:1 June 1975) *

City/Town of Birth *

State/Province of Birth (U.S. only)

Country of Birth *

Country of Citizenship *

Please list your Country of Residency
*

Please list country of residency Please list country of residency

Current Contact Address

Street Address *

Street Address #2 (If applicable)

City/Town *

State (U.S. only)

Postal Code *

Primary Telephone
(Include country code) *

Other Telephone
(Include country code)

E-mail Address *

Re-type E-mail Address *

Home Address (if different from current address)

Street Address

Street Address #2 (If applicable)

City/Town

State (U.S. only)

Postal Code

Academic & Professional Experience

Provide most relevant work experience in the targeted field.

Current or Most Relevant Employer Name *

Dates of Employment/Internship/Engagement (ex. 04/2016-06/2020) *

City/Town *

Country *

Website

Position Title *

Please list any additional information about activities, organizations, or jobs you would like to share that is not evident from your CV:

International Experience

Do you have any previous experience travelling to Germany?
*

No

Yes (If yes, please describe) Yes (If yes, please describe)

Program Information

How did you find out about STEM and Enterprise LAUNCH?
*

If you selected "OTHER", please explain:

Emergency Contact Information

Please give the name and contact information of a spouse, relative and/or close friend which Cultural Vistas can contact in case of an emergency in which we cannot reach you.

Title *

Surname (Family Name) *

Given Name(s) *

Relationship to You *

Street Address *

Street Address #2 (If applicable)

City/Town *

State (U.S. only)

Postal Code

Primary Telephone
(Include country code) *

Secondary Telephone
(Include country code)

E-mail address *

Re-type E-mail address *

Essay Questions

In 300 words or less, please describe your motivation for applying for the STEM and Enterprise LAUNCH program.
*

0/400 words

In 300 words or less, please explain what topics you are interested in during this program and how you plan to apply the acquired expertise in your future studies/work. *

0/400 words

In 300 words or less, please explain which post program activities you envision to implement in order to share your gained knowledge in your university/school/networks.
*

0/300 words

Supporting Documents

Please upload the following documents:

C.V./RESUME - (Limit 2 pages, PDF Format) *all applicants

PASSPORT - Scan of the current biographical page of your passport (page with picture, legal name, birth information) *all applicants

CERTIFICATE OF ENROLLMENT - Copy of your certificate of enrollment *student applicants only

TRANSCRIPT - Copy of your most recent unofficial transcript *student applicants only

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION- Please submit a signed and stamped letter of recommendation by a professor at your university (students), or a superior (faculty) *all applicants

Program Terms and Conditions

Read and check each statement below to indicate agreement:

I hereby agree to the following terms and conditions:
*

I certify that the information given in this form is complete and true and that if selected to participate in the program, I will fulfill my obligations and responsibilities associated with the STEM and Enterprise LAUNCH program.

If you have any questions about these program conditions, program details, or need assistance submitting an application, please contact Cultural Vistas at ppahlke@culturalvistas.org.

Application Deadline: Sunday, December 1, 2024