The preparation phase always takes place in the summer semester and consists of two main components. A four-week intensive language course at the Language Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (LSI) and a course during the semester in which the intercultural competence and Asian expertise of the students is developed.

The intensive language course at the LSI in the respective national language(Chinese, Japanese or Korean) is compulsory for all participants in the ASBE programme and is supervised by several bilingually trained lecturers and native speakers. Active participation in the language course is compulsory and usually takes place during the lecture-free period before the summer semester. The costs are covered by the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics upon successful completion of the programme.

At the beginning of the course, a literature study is carried out with reference to the students' respective exchange countries. Based on the findings from the literature studies, students work in groups to create a podcast on current relevant topics in the Asian economic region. This encourages students to actively engage with social, political and economic issues and problems in the target countries. The course is rounded off with a workshop on intercultural skills development to familiarise students with the aspects of communication in different contexts. The models learned are then applied using so-called "critical incidents" experienced by previous participants in the ASBE programme.

An idea for the project work should also be developed during the preparation phase. Students independently find a professor to supervise them. A list of previous topics can be found at the bottom of this page.

To summarise, the preparation phase is based on the following four pillars:

• Fundamental linguistic and cultural competence
• Communicative and intercultural competence
• Professional competence
• Methodological competence

Please note that active participation in the courses is compulsory.

The stay abroad always takes place in the winter semester and represents the second phase of the programme. The focus here is on deepening Asian expertise through specialised modules at the partner university, project work and the use of the language learned in the country.

Specialised courses worth 20 ECTS* are taken during the stay abroad. A list of courses that have been offered in the past and the respective conversion into ECTS can be found at the bottom of this page.

In order to reflect on learning processes and personal experiences, a reflection diary should record the opportunities and problems experienced in order to identify differences between the cultures and adapt accordingly.

To summarise, the second phase is based on the following five pillars:

• Advanced linguistic and cultural competence
• Social competence
• Regional competence
• Professional competence
• Project competence

*Exchange studentsat Tohoku University have to take 35 ECTS due to a guideline of the partner university. Accordingly, the project work (ASBE 2) is replaced by two specialised courses with 5 ECTS each. In addition, a further 5 ECTS course must be taken, which can be credited outside the ASBE programme via the normal credit transfer system.

In the follow-up phase, students reflect on and evaluate their own findings. The project work is finalised in this phase and presented to fellow students, professors and the following ASBE year at a closing event. The final event is expected to take place in May.

In addition, the ASBE graduates will be available to the following year as contacts for questions and will organise a small country-specific workshop in the country groups to facilitate the exchange of experience and information between the years.

To summarise, the follow-up phase focuses on the following four pillars:

• Presentation skills
• Reflection skills
• social skills
• Project competence

Applications can be submitted through the Paderborn University's central application procedure via the International Office in the winter semester prior to your stay abroad . Please note that only complete applications in accordance with the International Office's requirements can be considered.

You can apply if

1. you are enrolled in a Master's programme of the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics at Paderborn University (all Master's programmes of the faculty can be found here) or
2. you are at least in the 5th semester of a Bachelor's degree programme in the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics at Paderborn University and are enrolled in a Master's degree programme at the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics at UPB at the start of the programme.

Your letter of motivation for your application for a semester abroad should clearly state why you want to participate in the ASBE programme. No extra letter of motivation is required for the ASBE programme.

Further general information on the application for a semester abroad can be found here.

Due to the cooperation agreements, no tuition fees are generally charged at the partner universities.

The ASBE programme is based on the DAAD-ISAP framework project (International Study and Training Partnerships). Each partnership is assigned to its own ISAP project. Scholarship funding is therefore dependent on the chosen partner university. There are currently 5 scholarship places available for the partnerships with Beijing (Beijing Institute of Technology), Shanghai (Tongji University) and Seoul (EWHA University).

Sources: DAAD funding rates depending on the respective project start date. You can find the funding rates for German students there.

For other universities, you can apply for scholarships such as PROMOS or from the Phoenix Contact Foundation independently of the ASBE programme. Further information can be found here.

In addition, the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics will cover the costs of the intensive language course lasting several weeks at the National Language Institute at the Ruhr University Bochum if you successfully complete the programme.

English-language Master's courses can be attended at the School of Management and Economics, among others. The range of courses is constantly being updated. Frequently offered courses include: Intercultural Management (5 ECTS), Organisational Behavior (5 ECTS) and Research Colloquium (5 ECTS). You can also take a Chinese language course offered by the International Student Centre. Below you will find a selection of the courses available in WS 19/20.

• Intercultural Management
• Human Resource Management
• Managerial Economics
• Operation Management
• Strategic Management
• Business English
• Accounting
• Financial Management
• Management Accounting
• Employee Relationship Management
• Organisational Behaviour

Numerous English-language courses are offered at EWHA Womans University at the graduate/master's level: e.g. interdisciplinary courses from various faculties, subject-specific courses in the fields of business administration and economics from the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS). All German exchange students are administratively supervised by the Office of International Affairs (OIA).

Here you will find the full range of courses offered by EWHA Womans University (for Master's students, please select "2nd semester" for winter semester under "Year/Semester"; for Graduate: "Graduate School of International Studies").

As part of the International Programme Oita University (IPOU), the University of Oita offers business courses in fields such as management, economics and economertrics. In addition to the elective courses, there are four compulsory Japanese language courses (Japanise 1: Grammar/Function, Conversation, Reading and Integrated Activities) and one compulsory course (Introduction to Japanese History, Culture and Society) in the field of culture.

Here you can find the courses offered by Oita University in the winter semester 2019/2020.

At Tohoku University, Master's courses of the International Programme in Economics and Management (IPEM) can be taken.

Here you can find a list of past courses: Master courses in English.

Our partner institute at Tongji University offers courses in vocational training and further education. Additional business, language and cultural courses can also be attended at other institutions of the university. This course programme changes from year to year.

Course programme 1: At the Chinese-German Institute for Vocational Education and Training (CDIBB), German exchange students have been able to choose between the following Master's-level specialist courses in recent years.

• Comparison of Chinese and German Vocational Education (compulsory)
• Newest Development of Vocational Education
• Governance and quality assurance of vocational education and training in Germany
• Qualification standards and aptitude tests for vocational school teachers in Germany

Course programme 2: International School

All German exchange students are administratively supervised by the Chinese-German University of Applied Sciences(CDHAW). A study-related introduction is provided on this page under "Students Guide".

VET-track: At Tongji University (Shanghai/China), students on the Master's degree programme in Business Education also have the opportunity to complete the VET-track, particularly in business education, as part of their degree programme.