For the first time since the end of the pandemic, a group of 50 Canadians from all parts of the country spent a weekend at the castle campus of the Bundesbank’s University of Applied Sciences in Hachenburg. The visit was part of the guests’ multi-week round-trip to various European institutions. Alongside Brussels, Luxembourg, Frankfurt am Main and Strasbourg, Hachenburg has been an integral part of the European Study Tour and Internship for several years now. The annual Canadian visit has been part of the University’s calendar since 2006. 

Topics of European policy 

Andreas Igl, Professor at the University, held an introductory lecture on European banking supervision for the Canadian students titled The European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) – an introductory overview. After their visit to the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt am Main the previous day, the Canadian guests were well versed in the role of the ECB in the supervision of euro area banks and the Bundesbank’s role in the European System of Central Banks. At the lecture, they also learned that the Bundesbank is not a purely German institution but instead a European institution. Further discussion covered current issues and recent developments in European policy.

In the afternoon, Canadian and German students travelled together to Marienstatt Abbey and took the opportunity to chat about the similarities of their student lives and their cultural differences. Christof Wolf, Head of Studies at the University and co-organiser of these Hachenburg visits since 2006, then took the students on a tour of the Abbey’s medieval church and baroque monastery complex. 

 

Further visits planned

Following this renewal of the cooperation, plans have been made for Canadian students to continue to visit the University in the coming years. This will be led by University of Victoria Professor Amy Verdun. In addition, discussions have begun with the Canadian organisers concerning the potential organisation of a similar tour through their country for Hachenburg students in the future.