From April 30 to May 10, 2026, the 11th Spring School of the Transatlantic Institute (TI) of the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society took place in cooperation with the College of Business of the University of West Florida (UWF). The long-standing and successful partnership between the two universities was once again strengthened and intensified by the international exchange program.
International cooperation and academic exchange
19 students, two professors and two UWF employees traveled to Germany for the ten-day program. Together with the students from the German MBA cohort, they took part in the Advanced Managerial Economics course led by Professor Richard Hawkins (UWF). The academic program was complemented by various excursions and cultural activities.
Diverse excursions with cultural highlights
The Spring School began on April 30 with a festive Welcome Reception at the Premier Inn Hotel in Mannheim. Immediately afterwards, the first excursion took the group to the baroque palace gardens of Schwetzingen in glorious weather. Afterwards, the group rounded off the afternoon with a meal together in a traditional restaurant with regional specialties. A guided tour of the Welde brewery formed the Degree of the day and offered interesting insights into the combination of traditional brewing art and modern production processes.
Ludwigshafen - Heidelberg - Lucerne
On Friday and Saturday, the German and US students came together for joint lectures at the HWG LU, which provided space for professional exchange and intensive discussions. The following days included excursions to Heidelberg with a visit to Heidelberg Castle and a three-day trip to Lucerne. The Swiss city impressed with its picturesque scenery and diverse culinary delights and offered the participants numerous shared impressions outside of the lecture hall.
Strasbourg: experiencing Europe up close
From 6 to 8 May, the participants spent several days in neighboring France in Strasbourg - a city that stands for the European idea and the close connection between Germany and France like no other.
During their stay, the group explored the Alsatian metropolis on a boat tour through the historic old town and the European Quarter. This gave the participants a wide range of impressions of the city's architectural and cultural features - from the half-timbered houses along the river to the modern buildings of the European institutions.
Another highlight was a visit to Strasbourg Cathedral, one of France's most famous landmarks with its impressive architecture. There was also time for individual exploration of the picturesque alleyways, small stores and cafés in the old town. The stay offered the students not only cultural insights, but also numerous opportunities for personal exchange in an international atmosphere.
TSG Hoffenheim Research Lab: Innovation in professional sport
A special highlight of the Spring School was the visit to the TSG Research Lab in Zuzenhausen, which offered exciting insights into the combination of sport, science and technology. Current research projects on mental and physical health and decision-making in professional sport were presented.
Practical applications such as the "Footbonaut" and the "Helix" virtual training environment aroused particular interest. Both systems impressively demonstrated how responsiveness, perception and decision-making processes can be analyzed and trained under realistic conditions. The visit not only offered the participants interesting insights into current research approaches, but also the opportunity to experience modern technologies in professional sport first-hand.
Degree at Edesheim Castle
On the last day, the program included an impressive tour of the BASF plant and the last event of the MBA Advanced Managerial Economics course. The official Degree of the Spring School took place in the stylish ambience of Edesheim Castle. The participants enjoyed the evening with culinary delights and a relaxed atmosphere. The ceremonial awarding of certificates by Prof. Dr. Gerhard Raab marked the worthy conclusion of the program and was accompanied by great applause.
Successful continuation
The 11th Spring School was characterized by intensive professional exchange, intercultural encounters and numerous shared experiences. At the same time, the program helped to further deepen the transatlantic partnership between the two universities on both an academic and personal level.
We would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment and are already looking forward to the next Spring School in spring 2027!
Next start of the MBA program at the Transatlantic Institute
The next start of the MBA program in cooperation with the University of West Florida is in January 2027. Applications will be accepted until the end of September 2026. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Kathrin Paul (kathrin.paul@hwg-lu.de, 0621-5203-440).
Further information can be found at: www.ti.hwg-lu.de/mba
Author: Janina Steffens, TI
