Sixteen Alfred University undergraduates traveled to Germany over the recent Allen Term break, either as students in the class Looting Europe: How Hitler Stole the Continent's Art class, led by Associate Professor of History Andrew Kless, or German Auto Industry, led by Dean of the College of Business Mark Lewis. Additionally, ten Chinese students from the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan also joined the trip this year, led by doctoral candidate Nuerxiati Juleiti.
"Given the tense geopolitics of the moment, it's great that American, German and Chinese students and faculty could work together and enjoy and form friendships,” remarked Kless.
While visiting the cities of Stuttgart, Kirchheim unter Teck, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Sindelfingen, Böblingen, and Munich, students visited art museums such as the Alte and Neue Pinokothek, in Munich, or the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart and BMW World in Munich, depending on their class.
For Hana Otomo, a junior art and design major with a minor in psychology minor, both the museums and architecture provided an opportunity to build on what she has been studying.
“As someone very interested in art history, the historical architecture I got to see in person was very impactful,” Otomo says. “My favorite things were the Gothic churches and the Gustav Klimt paintings in the Alte Pinakothek museum.”
A highlight of the trip for both classes was a three-day business simulation at the Cooperative State University of Baden Wurttemberg (Duale Hochschule Baden Württemberg, DHBW) in Heidenhiem, allowing German students of Professor Dr. Juergen Seitz to work alongside the American and Chinese students. Another memorable and sobering feature was a visit by the entire group to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial. The trip was capped by visits to the famous German Löwenbrau and Augustiner beer halls in Munich, where a brass band played favorites like "Ein Prosit," "Sweet Caroline." and "Country Roads."
Alfred University began offering the Allen Term class at DHBW Heidenheim in 2008. “2027 will mark the 20th year offering this unique educational and cultural experience to our students,” Lewis says. “Alumni have reported this class being a highlight of their time at AU.”
Having students with a wide range of academic backgrounds adds to the quality of the trip, he adds. “The addition of Professor Kless and our history students has made the trip even richer.”
The Germany trip will be hosted again in January 2027. Interested students should contact Laura Johnson, director of AU Education Abroad, at [email protected]
