- Application
Can I apply for the 15th World Business Dialogue even though I have already participated in one of the former conventions?
Yes, every student has the opportunity to apply for the 15th World Business Dialogue. Attendance at other World Business Dialogues is not a factor.
Is there a limit to the number of students from any university/country/continent?
No, there are no participation limits. Students will be selected by the quality of their applications.
I am a recent graduate - can I still apply as a student?
No, unfortunately that is not possible. You have to be enrolled in a university during the time of the convention.
When can I apply for the 15th World Business Dialogue?
The application tool will be opened at the 15th of October 2011 and remain open until the 31st of December 2011. The application period will be separated into two consecutive application rounds. The first application round will last from the 15th of October 2011 until the 15th of November 2011, whereas the second round will start at the 16th of November and end at the 31st of December 2011.
First round: 15th of October 2011 - 15th of November 2011
Second round: 16th of November - 31st of December 2011
Are there any benefits for first-round-applicants?
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.
How many students are invited after the first application round?
It depends on the number and the quality of the applications which we will receive during the first application round. However there will be an upper limit for the number of applicants who will be invited after the first round so that the second-round-applicants also have the chance to apply for the World Business Dialogue.
If I am not invited after the first application round, will I still have the chance to attend the World Business Dialogue?
Yes. 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. They will receive the invitation after the complete application process has ended. To be considered after the second round first-round applicants don't have to apply again. However, they won't be able to edit their application, so it is of high importance that your application is optimized before you submit it.
Would I still receive the benefits if I applied in the first round but receive the invitation after the second round?
Yes. Every participant of the World Business Dialogue who has applied in the first application round will receive the benefits regardless of the date of his / her invitation.
What are the evaluation criteria?
During the application you will have to fill in a standardized résumé and a questionnaire which consists of personal questions as well as topic-related questions. The whole application will take place in the application tool. We will use both documents for your final evaluation. We do not need any further documents (e.g. a cover letter) except for the sponsorship application in case you want to apply for a sponsorship (more information can be found in the sponsorship section of the FAQ).
What is meant with "Academic Commitment" - what am I supposed to mention here?
Under this category you can mention all your achievements or commitments which are related to your studies.
Can I also send in the required documents via email or other channels?
No. Only applications which are submitted through the usage of the application tool on our website will be considered for the evaluation.
Will I have to apply in German or English?
Please fill out the entire application in English. Unfortunately, we cannot accept any applications in German (or other languages).
Do I need to attach any diplomas or references to my application?
It is not mandatory to attach any further documents. However, you have the chance to attach up to three documents to your application. In case you already have them filed on your computer we highly encourage you to do so.
Is it possible to stop the application procedure and continue later?
Yes. Everything you have filled in and uploaded so far will be saved in our system. Just log in again and you will be able to resume where you left off. Therefore it is highly important that you remember your access data.
What will the procedure after my application be like?
After receiving your application, you will get a confirmation email from us. We will be reviewing your application after each application round has ended and will send you an email to confirm or decline your participation. If selected, you will be asked to log into your application account, send us your flight details as soon as possible, and transfer the participation fee within 14 days or you will lose you spot in the convention.
Is there an age limit for applying for the 15th World Business Dialogue?
No. There is no age limit for applying for the 15th World Business Dialogue. As long as you are a student who is enrolled at a university at the time of the dialogue, you are eligible to apply.
Can I apply for my whole student club? Can you reserve any spots for my student organization?
No. We are not reserving spots for any student organization. You must submit your own application and each application will be reviewed separately. We will not be reserving spaces for student organizations. We want to give every student the opportunity to attend the event and we want to encourage everyone to apply for the event. This is why we refuse to reserve spots. So encourage you and your entire student organizations to apply! However, if your student club is interested in cooperating with the OFW, please contact us at ir@ofw.de.
When will I receive a confirmation or refusal for my application?
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 beginning 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!
- Sponsorship
What is the sponsorship?
The sponsorship is an opportunity for the students of the convention to have their travel costs paid for by the OFW e.V. The sponsorship will cover the cost of the participant to fly/arrive by train from a major airport/train station to Cologne.
How many sponsorships will be awarded?
We have a limited number of sponsorships. We cannot give a definitive number of sponsorships that will be awarded. We will try to award as many sponsorships as possible.
Who will receive a sponsorship?
You must apply separately with sponsorship material when you submit your scholarship application. We will be awarding the sponsorships to the students who submit the best additional material. Only the additional material will be considered for our decision who will receive the sponsorships.
Are there any restrictions concerning the additional material?
Our only restriction is that the sponsorship application has to be a creative work which is topically related to the 15th World Business Dialogue. This could be a short movie, a collage of pictures, a cartoon, etc. This enumeration is not complete, of course, so there are several other possibilities.
Is there a separate due date for the sponsorship application?
No. The sponsorship application must be submitted with your application, so it is also due on November 16th, 2011 or December 31st, 2011.
Is the participation fee included in the sponsorship?
No. The participation fee has to be paid by every applicant and is not covered by the sponsorship.
- World Business Dialogue
What is the dress code?
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.
Is there a time to talk to the keynote speakers, panel speakers or any of the company participants?
As some of the speakers are limited in time, we cannot guarantee that you will have the opportunity to talk to everyone. There will be Question & Answer sessions during workshops and after some speeches to hopefully answer all questions that you have.
In what language is the convention carried out in? Do I need to speak any German?
No, it is not required to speak any German as the entire convention is held in English.
Where will the 15th World Business Dialogue take place?
The 15th World Business Dialogue will take place on the campus of the University of Cologne in Germany.
Is there a way for me to meet other participants before the convention?
We highly encourage you to join our Facebook fan page: World Business Dialogue. This will allow you to meet other students that are attending, in addition to receiving updates from us.
Will I receive a certificate of participation?
Yes, 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.
- Expenses
Is there any participation fee?
Yes. 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.
How can I pay the participation fee? Where do I transfer the participation fee to?
Please transfer the participation fee to our account. The only way to transfer the participation fee to us is PayPal. We will provide you with all the information in your invitation email.
What kind of expenses will be covered by OFW?
We will cover the 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. Food and the like which is purchased elsewhere will not be refunded by the OFW.
What happens if I do not transfer the participation fee on time?
Unfortunately, if you do not transfer the fee on time, you will not be able to attend the event. So please take note of the fee due date!
Slots allocation and payment
Please note that the tercentary person who pays the participation fee is the last person who participates the convention.
Thus, there is no specific deadline for the payment of the fee.
Is refunding of the participation fee possible?
The participation fee can not be refunded, if a participant can not attend the convention after he was accepted meaning that the person was among the first 300 persons who transfered the payment.
- Travel
How do I get from the airport to the hostel?
You will be picked up from the airport/ train station by the World Business Dialogue shuttle service.
Who organizes the visa? Where do I get it?
If you come from a non-EU-country please check with your embassy if you will need a visa for your stay in Cologne or if a valid passport is adequate.
Students needing a visa will have to apply for it at the German embassy in their country of residence. You should do this immediately upon the confirmation of participation as it may take several weeks before your visa is granted. Please contact the responsible embassy as soon as possible to ask what documents will be required. Please give us their contact data so we can send them the necessary documents to prove you are attending the 14th World Business Dialogue. These expenses will not be covered by us.
For more information visit the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs (Auswärtiges Amt): www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en
What do I do if nobody is waiting for me at the airport?
In case nobody is waiting for you at the airport or at the station platform, please call the contact person, whose number you will receive with your electronic ticket.
What happens if I miss my flight?
If you miss your flight, we will not refund your participation fee, so please make sure that you will arrive at the airport on time.
How do I get to the 15th World Business Dialogue?
* Arriving by plane: The OFW will organize transportation for you from the airport.
* Arriving by train: The OFW will organize transportation for you from the main train station.
* Arriving by car: There are parking spaces at the University of Cologne or at your accommodation.
What kind of insurance will I need? Who will pay for it?
It is required for your visa that you have a health insurance for Germany that covers a minimum of 30.000 Euros. Please ensure that you have a valid policy before applying for your visa.
We also recommend a travel cancellation insurance and liability insurance.
Is there any kind of vaccination required when travelling to Germany?
Unfortunately, we are unable to advise you on such matters. Please consult a doctor or vaccinator to ask for any medical advice.
- Program
Are the Career Fair/Supporting Program/Company visits mandatory?
The Career Fair is the only other mandatory event for every student. You must attend it in order to be able to participate in the convention that takes place over the following two days. The supporting program, as well as the company visits, is not mandatory. Nevertheless, if you have agreed to participate in these events before your arrival, you must attend them.
What exactly is the supporting program?
The supporting program will take place the day before the Career Fair (Monday, March 11th, 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.
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.
Is there any leisure time during the stay in Cologne?
Yes, you will have some free time in the evening, but not during the convention days.
What happens if I arrive late at the daily meeting point?
You should always be on time. If you are late, you will unfortunately not be allowed to take part in the daily programs.
How do I indicate that I am interested in participating in the Supporting Program?
If you are invited, then you will get access to the Supporting Program application in our online tool as soon as both application rounds are finished and evaluated. Then you will have the opportunity to indicate whether or not you wish to participate in the Supporting Program.
Is there anything specific that I should be bringing to the convention? Do I need to bring my résumé?
We highly suggest that you bring your résumé, especially to the Career Fair. We will be giving participating companies your résumé, but we suggest you have it anyway. We would also suggest a camera for sightseeing, an umbrella for all possible rainy days in Cologne, and a little bit of pocket money for snacks and souvenirs.
- Cologne
What does the accommodation look like and where is it located?
You will stay in a youth hostel in Cologne Deutz, which is approximately 10 minutes away from Cologne Central Business District.
Does the hostel/convention/university provide internet?
The hostel does provide internet lounges. In addition, you will find several internet cafés in the city.
Who do I contact if I get lost? Who do I contact in case of an emergency?
If you get lost, you have to call one of the members of our team. You will receive the numbers upon your arrival. In addition, we will provide you with a city map and there is a good public transport network in Cologne. The German emergency phone number for the police is 110 and that for the ambulance and the fire department is 112.
How much money do you recommend for the 5 day stay in Cologne?
We recommend you take around 100-150 Euros with you. This should be enough for the evening social events, snacks in-between and some souvenirs.
