MBA STUDENTS ON A 5-DAYS LOBBYING EXCURSION IN BERLIN

„Lobby and Advocacy of NGOs in the Capital – Protagonist, Instruments and Methods“
The aim of the excursion was to teach the students on methods, concepts and instruments of lobbying in a practical sense through personal discussions in meetings with members of selected organizations and representatives from different political ministries. By the help of the meetings, during the discussions and by interviewing these experts, the students should learn to build the bridge from their theoretical knowledge they´ve gained in their MBA studies to a practical hands-on approach. The link between theory and practice and the comparison between different experiences and approaches of organizational and political lobby work created a comprehensive framework for a critical reflection of organizational lobbying with political parties.

The five-days excursion program has been fully organized and initiated by Prof. Dr. Warning (formerly Head of International Programs and Domestic Promotion at Bread for the World and, since May 1st of this year, the new Head of Middle East, Asia and Latin America Department at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Cooperation (BMZ) in Berlin). As lecturer of the module seminar "NGO Business Strategy and Organization" in the MBA program and with her expertise and excellent network, Prof. Warning enabled the students an unique opportunity to get in direct contact with the leaders of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), like Bread for the World, the Diakonie Deutschland, Germanwatch and VENRO as an umbrella organization of German Non-Governmental Organizations in Germany and to learn first-hand about the various aspects of lobbying in the organizations. The students used the chance to ask about their daily work in their organizations and interviewed them on their current project initiatives and their relations to the political decision-makers in the ministries. Of course, the students also used the occassion and informed themselves about the job and career opportunities in the resepective organizations.

Exploring Berlin's turbulent history
For the student group of 13 people, coming from nine different countries of five continents of the world, the excursion program of course also included a few touristy highlights to allow them to explore the capital´s metropolitan spirit, it´s vibrant culture and imposing history. In addition to the exclusive guest visit to the German Parliament ("Deutscher Bundestag"), the students also took a guided boat cruise on the Spree river. On another day they furthermore altogether joined a thematically guided "Walking Tour" through Berlin, while they learned valuable information on the political past and cultural development of the city of Berlin and Germany during the 20th century. Without any doubt, the group enjoyed these special moments outside the formal meetings and the regular classroom atmosphere to the fullest.