Without a doubt, Europe is much more than the EU-27 and the bureaucracy of Brussels, not to mention the long list of EU institutions! Mexico deserves our attention, not only because of its border with the USA, but also because of its good food and Aztec history. One of the world's largest economies, led by its first female president, has a lot to offer, from political and economic partnerships to cultural exchange and business opportunities. Its importance to Europe is growing!

Therefore, we invited students from Germany and Mexico to Otzenhausen for a week to explore each other's cultures, learn from one another, and share their perspectives and experiences and grow together as a group. They had a unique opportunity to discover their similarities and differences through encounters and academic exchanges.

Topics covered during the week included current developments and challenges in the EU, security and the EU's global role, borders and migration, climate and human rights, and the right to water. The participants also visited Luxembourg and Strasbourg, where they met with experts from the European Court of Human Rights, the Council of Europe, the European Investment Bank, and the European Parliament. Finally, we took the group wine tasting in the Moselle region because we believe informal exchange is as important as the academic part of the program.

Take a look at some of their reflections of the week and their experience:  

Donati, Student from the TEC de Monterrey: 
“The seminar helped me expand my horizons. I learnt a lot about the EU, which is not widely covered in Mexico. Working with the German group in particular was a valuable multicultural experience. And I was surprised or even shocked that we did not need to show any passports or documents when travelling to Luxembourg and France - the border alliance in Europe is great!”

Helena, Student from University Würzburg:  
“I really enjoyed the intercultural exchange, the discussions and workshops during this seminar. It was a unique opportunity to get in contact with students from Mexico and it didn't get boring for a moment during the whole week. Especially the combination of theory and practice made it a very enriching experience for me and I am particularly grateful I got the chance to visit some European institutions in Luxemburg and Strasbourg.”

Moritz, Student from htw saar commenting at the Remembrance Path: 
“We are all sometimes the followers and sometimes the leaders. However, people should be always aware of who and what we are following.”

Frank Faber für die Saarbrücken Zeitung: Artikel.