• - Program duration: 4 weeks,  17 January to 17 February 2013

  • - Target group: 15-18 year old high school students

  • - Host family based, in Heilbronn (in the South-West of Germany)

  • - Intensive program including a language course, no school attendance

  • - Program includes an on-arrival orientation and a pre-departure camp

  • - Project based workshops on sustainability issues with subject matter    
      experts and intercultural trainers together with German students

  • - The language spoken in the Green Academy” is English

  • - Willingness to study and learn German is a prerequisite

  • - Regular attendance of Green Academy courses and language courses
      required

  • - On and off campus, with experiential learning methods and intercultural
      learning modules

  • - Fulfils all AFS quality standards


Background

AFS Germany has developed a new program-format for high school students and graduates aged 15-18. This program aims to create opportunities for young people to develop an international perspective on sustainability issues. Germany is known as a leader for innovation, technological progress and environmental action. Baden-Württemberg, the South-West region of Germany, is home to Germany’s leading car companies, major industries and a hub for environmental innovation. In short, Baden-Württemberg offers great conditions for an intercultural learning experience on sustainability issues. AFS’ cooperation partner for this program is the “Academy for Innovation and Education” (“aim”) from Heilbronn (a mediumsized city in Baden-Württemberg), which provides high quality educational programs.


The Green Academy: Program Outline

The Academy includes project-based workshops and seminars on selected “green” topics, such as sustainable energy, electric cars, bio diversity, wildlife conservation and climate change, while also offering a host-family based intercultural learning experience. The language spoken in the “Green Academy” is English. However, a language course to obtain basic German language skills is also included. There is no German language requirement to take part in this program, the willingness to learn German is a requirement of participation though.

The program includes a mix of on-campus and off-campus components. Experienced subject-matter experts work alongside intercultural trainers and create the “Green Academy” curriculum. Excursions may include field work, site visits at local corporations and companies (such as Audi) as well as seminars and group exercises. Participants are working jointly together and benefit from bringing together multi-national perspectives on topics of sustainability, putting it into practice and taking home best-practice examples. At the end of the program all participants will present the results of the “Green Academy” to their host families in a public event.

All students will be hosted by carefully selected families from the Heilbronn region. Ideally all students live with a similarly aged host sibling who also takes part in the “Green Academy”. Volunteers provide support to the students and their host families. The program is designed so participants spend time with their host families in the evenings and weekends.


The Green Academy is offered only to the short-listed candidates who attended the State-level Interview middle of this year.  
For those who are interested to apply, do look out for the 2012 intake when our new applications open in January.

Click here for the program's flyer;
Flyer-Green Academy (page 1)
Flyer-Green Academy (page 2)