Department of Management Sciences
Codeshare Teaching and Learning - An International Virtual Academic Collaboration Project
The Codeshare Teaching and Learning Project is a unique virtual program that brings together students from different universities to learn, collaborate and exchange ideas. The program is inspired by the principle of code sharing, where different airlines jointly offer a scheduled flight. In this case, cross-university courses are offered connecting students from around the world.
Codeshare Teaching and Learning Summer School 2023
Successful pilot project with the University of Cape Coast
The project was initiated by Prof. Dr. Ralf Meyer of Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS) and Prof. Dr. Daniel Agyapong from the University of Cape Coast (UCC). Starting with a team project comparing the use of mobile payments in different countries in 2019, students from Ghana and Germany worked in groups to write a joint paper in their finance classes.
Following this initial pilot project, Prof. Agyapong visited Germany, held guest lectures and evaluated the project progress with H-BRS students. Vice versa, Prof. Meyer visited Cape Coast to get to know the university and meet Ghanaian students.
In the context of H-BRS and UCC´s 3-year BET-Project, a dedicated elective course was offered at both universities in 2019, focussing on building expertise in the consumer goods and food processing industry in Ghana.
Subsequent to the successful support of the BET-Project, the scope of the Codeshare courses was broadened to allow more students to participate. Prof. Agyapong and Prof. Meyer established the elective course “Current Topics in Global Finance”, which by now has already been completed by more than 80 students.
DAAD funding and project start
Following the successful application for funding under the DAAD IVAC program, the "Codeshare Teaching and Learning" project is granted the support of 91.000 Euro for the period of one year.
In March and April 2021, two project courses were launched. In addition to the already established elective curse "Current Topics in Global Finance", Prof. Ralf Meyer developed the course "Social Impact Investing", focussing on effective altruism and the analytical assesment of social investments. Students receive 3 credits for succesful participation.
With around one hundred participating students from five partner universities in four countries, the "Codeshare Teaching and Learning" project sets a new benchmark for the cooperation between international students and institutions.
Project phases
Codeshare Teaching and Learning Summer School 2022
The Codeshare Teaching and Learning Summer School is one key element of the project. In 2022 the virtual international intensive programme took place for the second time. International lecturers offered 11 courses in 4 different paths, such as "Technology and Digitisation in Business", "Special Topics in Global Finance", "Sustainable and Ethical Business Practices" and "Innovative Business Practices".
The Codeshare Teaching and Learning project in the Winter Semester 2021/22
After the successful Codeshare Teaching and Learning Summer School in July and August 2021 the project continues with four courses from three project partner universities in the Winter Semester 2021.
Students from all partner institutions were able to select courses from the curriculum of each partner university and attend those online in a hybrid course setting with local students.
International exchange students are invited again to attend the project courses in winter semester 2021.
Social Impact Investing
Offered by
Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg; Prof. Dr. Ralf Meyer & Tafadzwa Mlambo
Course content
Financial donations and other (non-financial) altruistic contributions to social programs can be viewed as investments into social endeavours. Considering that in 2017, individuals, foundations and corporations in the U.S. alone gave together over $410 billion to social causes to touch the lives of others and to improve the world for a better, we must approach social investing with the same seriousness that we do our for-profit investing. Who would ever invest his retirement savings or even buy a car without a thorough analysis of benefits, strengths, weaknesses, and risks of the available options? So why don’t most individuals and even organizations apply the same level of assessment when transforming lives is at stake, as opposed to increasing profits?
This course analyses these questions from three different angles. First, we will study typical decision-making problems in selected social and ethical situations to understand the fit – and the limitations – of ‘traditional’ altruistic and non-profit concepts. We will also analyse the current state and best-practices of the social impact investing landscape and ask the question whether ‘modern’ approaches like ‘Effective Altruism’ are better suited for the current social challenges in a globalized world. In a second step, the students will assess and further develop their own individual philanthropic strategies by drafting their personal social investment plan following a structured approach. In this step, the students must answer difficult questions like ‘How much and what should I give to live a (ethically) fulfilling live?’, ‘Which social purpose do I want to support?’, ‘Which charitable organization is suited best to support my social cause’ as well as ‘Which social causes do not justify my support?’. Finally, we will study how the respective individual strategies and tools can be applied in nonprofit organizations and charities of various sizes to enhance their effectiveness.
Course Sessions
- Course Introduction
- Finding the right purpose
- Assessment of charities
- Your Personal Social Investment Journey
- Managing Charities and Group Presentations
Intended learning outcomes:
This course will provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge, skills and capabilities needed to manage investments that target social impact. In this context, students will assess and further develop their individual altruistic contributions to society and environment. The course will educate, equip and empower students to give in a way that matters more by applying a rigorous strategical and analytical process to their own social contributions that they are passionate about.
Furthermore, students learn how to transfer this process to an organizational context which enables them to become philanthropic leaders.
Instrumental competences:
Students study the relevant literature and research to directly apply the newly acquired knowledge in case studies situations. In addition, the students develop their own written social investment plan that builds on the students’ individual altruistic agendas over the course of the semester.
Communicative competences:
Students understand the significance of philanthropy, its evolution, and the role it plays in addressing society’s most urgent needs. They learn how to develop, formalize and communicate their own altruistic agenda as they explore the issue areas, they are passionate about and reflect on how they can make a positive impact on society.
Intercultural competences:
The course will include participants from different universities that study together. Therefore, the students will develop and apply their intercultural competencies in project teams and regular Online Sessions.
Teaching Format
Online Sessions and Video Lectures.
Teaching methods
Video Lectures, Case Studies, Class Discussions, Individual Assignments, Assigned Readings and Group Project.
Target group
Bachelor students and other interested students
Prerequisites for participation
Good English language skills.
Requirements for successful completion
Active participation in at least four class sessions and the group project + submission one essay.
Crypto Assets and the Bitcoin "Rush"
Offered by
Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg; Prof. Dr. Ralf Meyer
Course content
The course exposes students to Crypto Assets, Digital Currencies, and Tokenization incl. Bitcoin and the related financial market characteristics. We will address important questions about Bitcoin, such as:
- How do Crypto Assets work?
- What makes Bitcoin in particular stand out?
- What determines the price of Bitcoins?
- Can Cryptocurrencies be regulated?
- What is the difference of Crypto Currencies and Digital Curencies issued by central banks?
- How can financial institutions and other companies benefit from the Bitcoin “Rush
- What might the future hold?
After this course, students know everything they need to be able to separate fact from fiction when reading claims about Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies. They have the conceptual foundations to assess the market potential of Crypto Assets and gain a solid understanding of current and future market developments.
Teaching Format
Online Sessions and Video Lectures.
Teaching Methods
Video lectures, Case Studies, Class discussions, Simulations, Group assignments, Assigned Readings and Group project.
Target group
Bachelor students
Prerequisites for participation
Basic knowledge in Finance and good English language skills.
Requirements for successful completion
Active participation, one group project and final exam.
International Career Building
Offered by
Hochschule Koblenz RheinAhrCampus; Andreas Faulstich
Course content
- Strategic planning of international projects and activities in academic contexts (short-term/long-term; student exchange or internship; thesis projects in other countries and cultures)
- Effective job search methods in different regional and cultural environments (CV / resume writing; anti-discrimination policies in the HR sector; the role of social platforms and internship/job search engines in international career development)
- Interview practices and simulated job interviews
- Selected assessment centre tasks
- Culture at work (hierarchies; written and unwritten rules of conduct; formal and informal communication styles)
After completing this course, students
- know about job search methods in selected countries and cultural environments
- are able to write convincing letters of motivation, CVs and resumes
- are familiar with typical interview questions and are able to answer them in English
- are familiar with selected assessment centre tasks
- are aware of some cultural differences they need to expect and know some strategies for successful integration in an international work environment.
Teaching Format
Online sessions, group assignments and projects, blog discussions.
Teaching methods
Interactive blended learning class with synchronous and asynchronous study phases (in order to cater for different educational needs and time zones); individual coaching on demand (in addition to group sessions).
Target group
Bachelor students and international exchange students
Prerequisites for participation
English language skills (CEFR Level B2 or higher).
Requirements for successful completion
Active participation in 80% of the synchronous class sessions and the group project + submission of written documentation as described in class and via online platform.
Economics of Tourism
Offered by
Coastal Carolina University; Prof. Yoav Wachsman
Course content
Teaching Format
Online Sessions and Video Lectures
Teaching methods
Target group
Bachelor students – max. 5 participants per partner university
Prerequisites for participation
Requirements for successful completion
Codeshare Teaching and Learning Summer School 2021
The first digital "Codeshare teaching and Learning Summer School" took place from July 26 until August 20, 2021 with eight courses offered by five different partner universities. Students from the international partner universities were able to choose a variety of courses in the main topics of "International Finance" and "Digital Business Environment" and "International Career Building".
More than 80 students have succesfully participated in up to three courses of the Summer School and joined the additional intercultural online events.
Find more information about the Codeshare Teaching and Learning Summer School 2021 under the link below.
The Codeshare Teaching and Learning Project in the Summer Semester 2021
During an eight week teaching phase in March and April 2021 the two project courses "Current Topics in Global Finance" and "Social Impact Investing" were offered for over 80 participants from different project partner universities.
In both virtual courses students worked together in international teams.
Course "Social Impact Investing"
Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Meyer (Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences)
Content: Financial donations and altruistic contributions as investments into social endeavours. Topics include best-practices of the social impact investing landscape, effective altruism, development of student´s own individual philanthropic strategies and their application in non-profit organizations.
Course "Current Topics in Global Finance"
Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Agyapong (University of Cape Coast), Prof. Dr. Meyer (Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences)
Content: Impact of distinctive aspects of global and emerging economies finance on financial management practice and strategy. Topics include digital finance, global health finance, crypto assets, changing trends in global finance and lessons learned from the financial crisis.
„"The course exposed me to a perspective of finance that is technologically adaptive, culturally inclusive, and relatively more evolved. I also made great friends and gained refreshing insights into other cultures and communities." ”
Former participant of a Codeshare project course
International project partners
University of Cape Coast , Ghana
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Daniel Agyapong, Osman Issah Fuseini
Hochschule Koblenz RheinAhr Campus, Germany
Contact person: Jens Andreas Faulstich
Coastal Carolina University, USA
Contact person: Prof. Yoav Wachsman
Shenzhen Technical University, China
Links
Further links