WFI Summer School Archives

Firms in Society

In July 2016 the Ingolstadt School of Management hosts its first thematic international Summer School on "Firms in Society". The two-week program (18th July 2016 - 30th July 2016) features 13 courses by renowned researchers in economics, business administration and law as well as company visits, practicioners' talks and a vibrant social programme. The keynote on evidence-based management will be delivered by Prof. Iwan Barankay from the Wharton School, one of the most prestigious U.S. Business Schools.

• Come to the Ingolstadt School of Management, located in the heart of Bavaria near Munich, and experience an inspiring and exclusive event for only 40 students studying towards a Masters (or advanced Bachelors) degree in Business Administration, Economics, Law or the Social Sciences.

• Meet managers from AUDI AG, HiPP GmbH & Co. Vertrieb KG and the Bauer Group.

• Visit Neuschwanstein Castle and enjoy the Bavarian way of life.

The WFI thematic Summer School offers over 14 two-week courses, all of which take place on our campus in Ingolstadt.

Courses start around 9 in the morning and end in the late afternoon, depending on the evening program and the company visits, for which travel time also needs to be taken into account. The Summer School comprises a 2-week program. The various courses we offer illuminate the Summer School’s topic, “Firms in society,” from a wide range of perspectives:

• Workplace Incentives and Health Choices
• Business Ethics
• Employment and Work Relations
• Innovations and Transformative Services
• Production and Supply
• Social Responsibility in the Health and Finance Sectors
• Taxation

Courses can often be taken for credit towards degrees at other institutions. Successful students will receive up to 10 ECTS.

The program is rounded out by presentations from on-site representatives of renowned companies. All of the courses, presentations and other activities take place in English.

Firms in Society

In 2018, the Ingolstadt School of Management presented the second thematic international Summer School.       

Prof. Devin Pope from the prestigious University of Chicago's Booth School of Business was the keynote speaker. He is well known for his research within a variety of topics at the intersection of economics and psychology.

During the two-week programme students gained insights into several aspects of the topic from the theoretical, empirical and practical perspectives of management science and economics.

The 2nd WFI Summer School offers 8 courses, all of which take place on our campus in Ingolstadt. Courses start around 9 in the morning and end in the late afternoon, depending on the evening program and the company visits, for which travel time also needs to be taken into account. The various courses we offer illuminate the Summer School’s topic, “Firms in society,” from a wide range of perspectives:

• Negotiations and Behavioral Economics
• Digital Technologies and Data-Driven Decision Support Systems in Business and Public Operations
• Leadership vs. Entrepreneurship: The Role of Personalities in Changing Societies
• The Ethics and Economics of Profit Sharing and Employee Ownership
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Regional Economics
• Innovation in a Hybrid Context: Social Business Ventures
• Corporate Tax Avoidance
• Firms in Developing Countries: Social Impact and Employment Relations

Courses can often be taken for credit towards degrees at other institutions. Successful students will receive up to 10 ECTS. All of the courses, presentations and other activities take place in English.

The engagement with regional champions through company visits, management talks and networking opportunities is unique to our Summer School.

In 2019, the Ingolstadt School of Management presented the third thematic international Summer School.       

During the two-week programme students gained insights into several aspects of the topic from the theoretical, empirical and practical perspectives of management science and economics.

The 3rd WFI Summer School offers 7 courses, all of which take place on our campus in Ingolstadt. Courses start around 9 in the morning and end in the late afternoon, depending on the evening program and the company visits, for which travel time also needs to be taken into account. The various courses we offer illuminate the Summer School’s topic, “Firms in society,” from a wide range of perspectives:

• Consumer Psychology for a Better World
• Corporate Governance as Linking Pin between Firms and Society
• Transformative Service Innovations
• Operations Management
• Corporate Tax Avoidance
• Global Supply Chains and Firms in Developing Countries

Courses can often be taken for credit towards degrees at other institutions. Successful students will receive up to 10 ECTS. All of the courses, presentations and other activities take place in English.

The engagement with regional champions through company visits, management talks and networking opportunities is unique to our Summer School.

Prof. Dr. Jennifer Brown

Prof. Jennifer Brown from the prestigious Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia was the keynote speaker. Jennifer Brown studies a variety of topics including platform competition, competitors’ strategies in tournaments and behavioral economics. She has published work in top outlets such as the Quarterly Journal of Economics and Management Science. She earned a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and previously held appointments at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

In 2020, the Ingolstadt School of Management presented the fourth thematic international Summer School.       

During the two-week programme students gained insights into several aspects of the topic from the theoretical, empirical and practical perspectives of management science and economics.

The fourth WFI Summer School featured 7 courses by renowned researchers in economics and business administration. Summer School students were able to choose up to 4 courses. Each course was equivalent to 2.5 ECTS. All courses were taught in English. The various courses we offered illuminate the Summer School’s topic, “Firms in society,” from a wide range of perspectives:

• Gender Differences in Education and Work

• Strategic Sustainability

• Global Supply Chains and Firms in Developing Countries

• Digital Business Models and Innovation

• Consumer Psychology for a Better World: “Nudging” in Consumer Behavior

• Corporate Tax Avoidance

• Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Economics

Courses can often be taken for credit towards degrees at other institutions. Successful students received up to 10 ECTS. All of the courses, presentations and other activities took place in English.

The engagement with regional champions through company visits, management talks and networking opportunities was unique to our Summer School.

Prof. Basit Zafar

Prof. Basit Zafar from the W. P. Carey School of Business was the keynote speaker at the WFI Summer School 2020. Before his current employment, Basit Zafar served for more than eight years in various capacities in the Research Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and as a visiting faculty member at Princeton University. His research is focused on labor economics, economics of education, and household finance. Specifically, his research seeks to understand how individuals make decisions under uncertainty. His more than 25 academic articles have appeared in a range of top publications, including the Journal of Political Economy, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Review of Economic Studies, Review of Financial Studies, and International Economic Review.

Company visit at LEDVANCE

LEDVANCE is a world leader in innovative lighting products as well as intelligent and connected lighting solutions (Smart Home). The company is an offspring of OSRAM, combining traditional general illumination with modern, ground-breaking lighting technologies. The company is active in more than 140 countries and achieved a turnover of around €1.9 billion in the 2017 fiscal year.

After our plant visit in Eichstätt, Dr. Oliver Vogler, Vice President Global Sales & Marketing Functions, gave an exciting talk on "How to restart in one of the most disruptive industries like lighting – the story of a “2 billion startup”.

Manager Talk Thomas Sattelberger

Thomas Sattelberger is a German top manager and politician (FDP). After holding Managing Board positions at Continental AG and Lufthansa Passage, he was the Chief HR Officer of Deutsche Telekom from 2007 to 2012. Sattelberger made a name for himself as a proponent of diversity management; he introduced the 30-percent quota for women in management positions. In 2017, he has been elected as a member of the German Bundestag for the Liberal Party (FDP). After an exciting presentation on "Firms in Society - Transformation, Talent, Tolerance" by Thomas Sattelberger, there was a lively discussion session with drinks and fingerfood.

Visiting Audi AG

Summer School participants got to know the AUDI AG automotive group, headquartered in Ingolstadt, during a plant tour and a insightfull follow-up presentation on "Sustainability at Audi".

Manager Talk Thomas Sattelberger

Thomas Sattelberger is a German top manager and politician (FDP). After holding Managing Board positions at Continental AG and Lufthansa Passage, he was the Chief HR Officer of Deutsche Telekom from 2007 to 2012. Sattelberger made a name for himself as a proponent of diversity management; he introduced the 30-percent quota for women in management positions. In 2017, he has been elected as a member of the German Bundestag for the Liberal Party (FDP).

After an exciting presentation on "Enterprises in Transformation - Talent Management & Diversity" by Thomas Sattelberger, there was a lively discussion session with drinks and fingerfood.

In addition to the academic programme, students will be able gain a deeper insight into German and especially Bavarian culture through a diverse social programme offered by the WFI.

Various group activities will also be offered during the two-week stay:

At our welcome event, participants will enjoy finger food in a casual atmosphere followed by a campus tour, giving them an opportunity to get to know each other. After a group lunch, there will be a guided tour through the historical Old Town of Ingolstadt, where the faculty is located.

In addition to all kinds of evening presentations and company visits, there is also a group day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle on the agenda. Probably the most famous castle built by Ludwig II, the Fairytale King, it is nestled in a picturesque Alpine panorama and will be visited as part of a guided tour.

In addition, the program includes plenty of free time for recreation and opportunities to explore Germany and Bavaria – especially Munich, Nuremberg, Regensburg and the Altmühl Valley, as well as the Bavarian Alps, on your own time. One weekend day as well as your arrival and departure weekend will be free, so you can arrange other trips according to your own preferences. We are happy to answer any questions you might have.

In addition to the academic programme, students gained a deeper insight into German and especially Bavarian culture through a diverse social programme offered by the WFI. Various group activities were offered during the two-week stay.

There was also a guided tour through the historical Old Town of Ingolstadt, where the faculty is located.

In addition, the program includes plenty of free time for recreation and opportunities to explore Germany and Bavaria – especially Munich, Nuremberg, Regensburg and the Altmühl Valley, as well as the Bavarian Alps, on your own time. One weekend day as well as your arrival and departure weekend will be free, so you can arrange other trips according to your own preferences. We were happy to answer any questions you had.

Excursion to Neuschwanstein Castle

At our welcome event, Summer School participants enjoyed finger food in a casual atmosphere followed by a trip to one of the most fascinating spots in Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle. This famous castle was the model for the Cinderella Castle in Disney’s beloved movie and theme park. It was built by Ludwig II, the Fairy-tale King, and it is nestled in a picturesque Alpine panorama. Walking through the halls as part of a guided tour, we got an impression of the splendour of European kings in former times. 

We also had lunch together and visited the Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche), a rococo church. The Wieskirche was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. We enjoyed a marvellous view of the mountains, especially the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.

In addition to the academic programme, students gained a deeper insight into German and especially Bavarian culture through a diverse social programme offered by the WFI. Various group activities were offered during the two-week stay. There was also a guided tour through the historical Old Town of Ingolstadt, where the faculty is located. In addition, the program includes plenty of free time for recreation and opportunities to explore Germany and Bavaria – especially Munich, Nuremberg, Regensburg and the Altmühl Valley, as well as the Bavarian Alps, on your own time. One weekend day as well as your arrival and departure weekend will be free, so you can arrange other trips according to your own preferences. We were happy to answer any questions you had.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Summer School participants enjoyed a trip to one of the most fascinating spots in Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle. This famous castle was the model for the Cinderella Castle in Disney’s beloved movie and theme park. It was built by Ludwig II, the Fairy-tale King, and it is nestled in a picturesque Alpine panorama. Walking through the halls as part of a guided tour, we got an impression of the splendour of European kings in former times.  We also had lunch together and visited the Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche), a rococo church. The Wieskirche was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. We enjoyed a marvellous view of the mountains, especially the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.

In addition to the academic programme, students gained a deeper insight into German and especially Bavarian culture through a diverse social programme offered by the WFI. Various group activities were offered during the two-week stay. There was also a guided tour through the historical Old Town of Ingolstadt, where the faculty is located. In addition, the program includes plenty of free time for recreation and opportunities to explore Germany and Bavaria – especially Munich, Nuremberg, Regensburg and the Altmühl Valley, as well as the Bavarian Alps, on your own time. One weekend day as well as your arrival and departure weekend will be free, so you can arrange other trips according to your own preferences. We were happy to answer any questions you had.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Summer School participants enjoyed a trip to one of the most fascinating spots in Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle. This famous castle was the model for the Cinderella Castle in Disney’s beloved movie and theme park. It was built by Ludwig II, the Fairy-tale King, and it is nestled in a picturesque Alpine panorama. Walking through the halls as part of a guided tour, we got an impression of the splendour of European kings in former times.  We also had lunch together and visited the Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche), a rococo church. The Wieskirche was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. We enjoyed a marvellous view of the mountains, especially the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain.