After completing their semester at the university, three of our students, Hailey, Kate and Kris, took the opportunity to not only study abroad but also gain practical experience in Germany through the Praxis Summer Camp. Once the program came to an end, they took the time to share their experiences…
As part of the Praxis Summer Camp at the University of Bremen, we had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with German companies and organizations. Over the course of a couple of weeks, we worked in teams on real-world projects provided by partner companies, allowing us to apply what we had learned in the classroom to professional challenges. Along the way, we developed skills in teamwork, communication, problem-solving, public speaking, and project management while experiencing a German professional environment firsthand.
Although we all participated in the same program, each of us had a very different experience. We worked with different companies, took on different responsibilities, and approached different challenges. Below, we share our individual perspectives on what we learned and what made the Praxis Summer Camp meaningful to us.
Haley Henderson
During my internship as part of the Praxis Summer Camp at Uni Bremen, I (as well as Kate) had the opportunity to work with Danach.de, a start-up in Bremen specializing in digitalizing end-of-life planning and legacy storytelling. Our group was able to help this newly formed company develop a marketing strategy from scratch. This experience initiated by Praxis was a great opportunity to gain internship experience, meet new people, practice public speaking, and work together as a group to create a final product, all within the span of a couple of weeks.
One of the most interesting parts of the practical seminar was thinking about the different ways we could work together to create the best final product. We went through many phases of trial and error with brainstorming, drafting, writing scripts, and more before reaching our final product. I really enjoyed getting to interact with a German start-up company and seeing the different ways they operate. While the camp itself was conducted in English, I was still able to use my German language skills when communicating with the company and my teammates.
Working on this project also gave me a better understanding of how much thought goes into creating an effective marketing strategy. It is not only about designing an attractive advertisement or choosing a social media platform. It is about understanding your audience, considering what they need, and finding the right way to communicate with them, especially when working in a country whose market and culture are different from what I am used to.
Overall, my experience with Praxis and Danach.de allowed me to apply ideas from my German and international business studies to a real-world project while also learning how a start-up develops its ideas and works through challenges. Most importantly, I had the opportunity to experience all of this while living and studying in Germany.
Katherine Elmes
The highlight of my experience in the Praxis Summer Camp was getting to meet and work with so many new people from so many different places. My teammates were American, Ukrainian, British, and German. Although we had different experiences, cultural perspectives, and ways of approaching the problem, we put our strengths together to create a professional and polished project. They were also lovely people, who I genuinely enjoyed spending my time with!
In addition to the teamwork aspect, I appreciated the opportunity to apply what I had learned in the classroom to the real world. Classroom material can sometimes feel like it only exists in the classroom, or like it is disconnected from its practical applications, but my experiences at Praxis Summer Camp allowed me to see firsthand how these concepts and theories can be used in a real professional environment.
Ultimately, I left Bremen feeling more confident in various professional skills, including teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Kris Nguyen
several weeks I had with the Praxis Summer Camp were definitely a one-of-a-kind experience. I was assigned to a team of five working in tandem with smart insights GmbH, a market research firm, to develop a basic, locally operable Large Language Model (LLM) that could accelerate solution delivery. By the end of the internship, we had successfully built an AI model—the Wissenassistent, or Smart Assistant—which uses data uploaded by the company to process information and respond to relevant queries.
Within my team, I took on the tasks of troubleshooting and testing the model, as well as developing weekly timelines and dividing tasks. Notably, our group was made up of members from greatly diversebackgrounds, majors, and education levels, which initially led to some challenges in internal communication and task management. However, this experience taught me the importance of stepping up and assuming leadership in such team dynamics.
The Praxis Summer Camp served as a great wrap-up to my semester abroad. It offered a unique glimpse into German working culture and professional environments, both of which were incredibly valuable. Overall, my experience this summer has equipped me with the skill set, mindset, and resources that will be valuable for my future professional endeavors.
Although our experiences with Praxis were all different, we each left the program with new skills, experiences, and perspectives that we will carry forward. Studying abroad through Dickinson opened the door to opportunities like the Praxis Summer Camp that allowed us to experience Germany not only as students, but also as young professionals. Being able to work with German companies, collaborate with people from different backgrounds, and apply what we had learned in the classroom made this an especially meaningful part of our time abroad. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in such a unique experience and to bring these lessons with us as we continue our studies and future careers.