15th World Business Dialogue
On March 14th and 15th, 2012 the World Business Dialogue will take place at the University of Cologne for the fourteenth time. The "World Business Dialogue" is the world's largest student-run business convention. Here, 50 top-class personalities from economy, science and politics enter a discussion about economically and socially relevant, future-oriented topics with 300 international students and just as many executives.
All Austrian students can apply for the dialogue via an application form on the APAIR website. The application deadline is December 31st, 2011.
All Austrian students can apply for the Dialogue via a form on the APAIR website
An application via the World Business Dialogue website ist not intended for Austrian students. APAIR also accepts applications of students with close ties to Ausria.
Please fill out the entire application in English. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any applications in German (or other languages). There is no age limit for applying. As long as you are a student who is enrolled at a university at the time of the dialogue, you are eligible to apply. The application for the World Business Dialogue and the possibility of receiving scholarships (see below) are independent of an APAIR membership. However, APAIR will grant additional special scholarships for APAIR members.
The application tool will be opened on October 15th, 2011 and remain open until the December 31st, 2011. The application period will be separated into two consecutive application rounds. The first application round starts on October 15th, 2011 and ends on November 15th, 2011, whereas the second round starts on November 16th, 2011 and ends on December 31st, 2011. First-round applicants will have earlier access to the workshop application and the Supporting Program application, i.e. they have better chances to participate in their favored workshops and activities.
We will pool all the applications which were not selected in the first round with the second-round applicants and distribute the remaining places among this pool after our evaluation of the second-round applicants. Therefore applicants who are rejected after the first application round will still have the chance to attend the World Business Dialogue. To be considered after the second round first-round applicants don't have to apply again.
You will receive an email regarding your application approximately two or three weeks after the application round in which you applied has ended. This would be the middle of December 2011 for first-round-applicants and the middle of January 2012 for second-round applicants. Please check your emails frequently around this time!
What are the costs of participating in the 15th World Business Dialogue?
Normally participants pay the costs for travelling to the World Business Dialogue on their own. For creative, innovative students the World Business Dialogue and APAIR have the opportunity to offer scholarships to students to help cover travel costs.
The scholarship application is the opportunity for students to show their creative side. If you are interested in applying for a sponsorship, you will need to submit an additional creation. This work can be another essay, video, song, blog, etc. Let your creativity and personality flow! The scholarship material can be more about who you are, why you want to attend the 15th World Business Dialogue, or about your interests in and knowledge of the convention's topic. Be innovative! Be creative! Be exciting!
Possible scholarships are independent of an APAIR membership. However, APAIR will grant additional special scholarships for APAIR members.
The participation fee for the World Business Dialogue is 50 Euros for all students studying in Germany, Austria or Switzerland at the time of the convention and 100 Euros for all students studying in other European countries as well as for those who study outside Europe at the time of the convention and it is mandatory. The participation fee ist not covered by a possible travel expense scholarship. APAIR grants a number of participation fee scholarships for APAIR members.
OFW, the organizer of the World Business Dialogues covers following costs of all participants: expenses of the supporting program, the food at the convention area, packed lunch, the accommodation and public transport in Cologne from March 12th to 16th.
What is the Career Fair?
The Career Fair is the recruiting event of the 15th World Business Dialogue. Here you have the opportunity to meet our partner companies from various industries. It will take place on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012, one day before the convention. This event is mandatory for all students.
What is the Supporting Program?
The supporting program will take place the day before the Career Fair (Monday, March 12th, 2012) and the day after the convention (Friday, March 16th, 2012). The program consists of get-togethers for the attending students including sightseeing, company visits and parties in the evening. It is highly recommended that you attend these events, although it is ultimately your decision if you would like to participate.
Additional information
The dress code for all official events (Career Fair, World Business Dialogue, Get Together) is business formal, which means suits, dress shirts, and ties for men and suits and blouses for women. For all other events, like the supporting program, feel free to dress as casual as you like.
We highly suggest that you bring your résumé, especially to the Career Fair.
The entire conference is held in English.
Upon successful completion of the 15th World Business Dialogue, each student will receive a certificate of participation. To receive it, you will have to fill out a document evaluating the convention which we will provide.