• January 02 –16, 2027

• 3 credits in one course
  Choose between:
  Production Management & Supply Chain Management 

  OR 

  Systems Design 

• lectures and program are held in English
• free room
• 3 day trip to Munich, including a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle
• day trip to Baden-Baden including a visit on the Christmas Market, day trip to Strasbourg in France, including a visit to the European Parliament, daytrip to the Mercedes Benz Museum or Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, daytrip to the Black Forest
• official student status at Pforzheim University
• free public transport in Pforzheim, the Pforzheim region and during all trips
• buddy program with local students
• 24/7 phone number

All for € 3.000 program fee including taxes and fees

Please note that the program may be subject to changes.

Course A:
Production Management & Supply Chain Management

After completing the course, students will have an idea about the mindset, the problems, and the tasks of production and logistics management in the automotive industry, and discover trade-offs like those between product design, custom orientation, logistics, and production. Thus that experience will enable them not only to focus their attention on broadening their knowledge of pure engineering, design, or development, but will also enable them to perceive and understand the dependencies and effects of their engineering work on other functions.

Students discuss specific tasks and problems concerning production and supply chain management and learn how to use well-chosen methods to solve related tasks and to prevent related problems.

Students will gain a deeper understanding in management tasks and skills in a technical environment, consider how the dilemma and polylemma have to be balanced, and speculate on the optimization of production systems. Included in the overall program are visits to production plants such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, and BMW as well as technology-oriented museums as the German Museum in Munich.

Thus students are able to deal with problems and tasks and have the ability and knowledge to act with self-assurance in production and supply chain environments

40 contact hours
Syllabus

OR

Course B:
Systems Design

Design and Implementation of Complex Systems

The development of complex cyber-physical systems requires collaboration among designers, engineers, and business professionals from a wide range of disciplines. Managing such a project demands a systems-oriented, interdisciplinary approach as well as effective methods. In the “Systems Design” seminar, these methods will be introduced and applied and tested using practical examples.

The course is intended for participants with a technical background who are interested in addressing product development from a methodological perspective.

The following topics will be covered:

1. Systems Thinking
2. Stakeholders and Their Needs
3. Mission Statement
4. Requirements Management
5. Thinking in Terms of Functions
6. Creating a Functional Model
7. Product Architecture
8. Interfaces
9. System Life Cycle and Project Planning
10. Risk Management
11. System Specification
12. Product Development Management

40 contact hours
Syllabus

Students from other universities must arrange for credit transfer with their home university in conjunction with Pforzheim University. Please contact us for further information.

All EMIG Winter School participants live together in shared apartments with double rooms, creating a welcoming and personal atmosphere throughout the program. The apartments are fully equipped with kitchens, free Wi-Fi, television, bed sheets, towels, washing machines, and drying facilities. Located in the city center, they offer easy access to bakeries, supermarkets, cafés, and everyday amenities. Pforzheim University can be conveniently reached by public transport, with a ticket included in the program fee.

With more than 6,200 students, Pforzheim University is one of the state's largest University of Applied Sciences. Today, the School of Engineering, the School of Design and the Business School combine creativity and the urge to innovate with business administration studies and technical precision - a combination that makes it a highly attractive partner when it comes to questions and research contracts from industry and the world of business.

147 years of successful professional education: Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences dates back to 1877 when the historical predecessor of the School of Design was founded. In today's form it exists since 1922, developed in the transitional phase of past and present. In cooperation with regional companies the Chamber of Industry and Commerce developed a solid range of innovative and future-oriented study programs.

In all Bachelor and Master programs the so-called Pforzheim Model focuses on a traditional canon of academic subjects combining basic knowledge with modern technology and course relevant specialisations. Over the last years and by leaving trends behind we created study programs for future professionals. This model is highly appreciated by potential employers ensuring excellent prospects on the job market of the future.

With 34 Bachelor and 24 Master programs Pforzheim University has highly specialized course offers. More than 6,000 students are taught by 190 professors and 250 lecturers, supported by 350 staff members. Pforzheim University is thus one of the largest Universities of Applied Sciences in Baden-Württemberg. The modern campus, awarded for its architecture, is situated on a hill overlooking the city, thus creating a unique learning environment that is being regarded as outstanding.

Pforzheim stands for an excellent student-to-teacher ratio during the entire study period. We emphasize interdisciplinary cooperation between our three schools and provide for a practice-oriented education. The high academic level guarantees the outstanding reputation of Pforzheim University in Germany and abroad. Another trademark is the large network of cooperation partners, sponsors and partner universities. 

Positioned regionally, oriented internationally - this philosophy is both aim and task for Pforzheim University. All of our study programs are accredited by national accreditation organizations. Furthermore, as the first University of Applied Sciences and as one of the few universities in Germany, Pforzheim University's Business School and the Engineering and Management department are AACSB accredited  (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), thus confirming its excellent quality on international level. The accredetation contributes to the worldwide reputation of Pforzheim University enhancing opportunities for our students to study abroad at internationally renowned universities.
 The School of Engineering, founded in 1992, offers a broad range of bachelor and master study programs in the fields of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Medical Engineering, Mechatronics and Engineering and Management (Industrial Engineering). More than 2,200 students are enrolled in the school's study programs which enjoy close collaboration with business representatives and established industrial enterprises. Thus, we are able to ensure that our future graduates will secure excellent job offers in industry, taking on technical, business and organizational managerial responsibilities.

We offer a learning situation based on the diversity of our students in terms of nationality, ethnicity and gender. Our school is student oriented and provides a high level of interaction and communication with other students and professors. We focus on good and effective mentoring in small-sized classes (on average 30 students). Students enhance their knowledge primarily through individual projects and group work. As a result, students are able to work effectively in teams or leading positions.

Interdisciplinary thinking plays a significant role at our school. Throughout their studies and research projects there is excellent cooperation between students and business companies, engineers, designers and experts from various sectors. The Institute of Applied Research, the Steinbeis Transfer Centers and the Jewelry Technology Institute are actively involved in applied research projects. Close collaboration with internationally acclaimed companies like Bosch, Daimler, Porsche, SAP etc., has led to an increase in applicants to the school. Consequently, the school has been expanding internally as well as internationally.

Pforzheim is worth its weight in gold in every sense. With a population of around 133.000 the city lies in the south-west of Germany, right in the heart of Europe – an extremely attractive location from both a commercial and geographical perspective. Known as the cradle of the German jewelry and watch-making industry Pforzheim has made its name throughout the world as the »City of Gold«. 70% of German jewelry originates from factories in Pforzheim – a seal of approval which guarantees top quality.

Numerous famous global enterprises are located in the region thus making the metropolitan area around Pforzheim and the Baden-Württemberg state capital of Stuttgart into one of the strongest economic regions in Europe. Worldwide renowned companies originate from this area and even today have their headquarters in the vicinity of Pforzheim.

For engineers in particular is Pforzheim the perfect place to reap the benefits of the combination of innovative talent and the long-standing tradition of reliable quality. In a national comparison it was demonstrated that the state of Baden-Württemberg has filed the most applications for patents for its inventions. Famous inventors of the region, such as Ferdinand von Zeppelin, Gottlieb Daimler, Carl Benz, Robert Bosch and Johannes Kepler laid the foundations which led to Baden-Württemberg being deservedly known as the »land of inventors«.

The Baden-Württemberg people have always been strongly linked historically to the automobile industry. Milestones, such as the first car journey, which Bertha Benz undertook from Mannheim to Pforzheim, tie the city closely to the history of the automobile and have spurred it on time and again to achieve peak innovative performance. In order to carry on this tradition Pforzheim University is educating the engineers of tomorrow in close collaboration with the region’s industry.

Alongside these economic locational advantages, Pforzheim also has something to offer when it comes to quality of life. With the highest amount of hours of sunshine per year Baden-Württemberg is known as the »Sunshine State« of Germany. Located on the northern edge of the Black Forest the city is ideally situated to undertake numerous leisure time activities in both summer and winter such as hiking, climbing, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding in the mountains, watersports on Lake Constance or to enjoy the pulsating nightlife in the nearby state capital Stuttgart. In addition due to its location in the heart of Europe Pforzheim is the perfect starting point to explore Europe. You can find so much scenic and cultural diversity in very close proximity. It is all just waiting for you to visit.

Further information is available at the website of the city of Pforzheim

If you are an engineering or business student from one of our partner universities please contact your Study Abroad Office for further information and application. 

The application period is now open until November 1, 2026

Please note: Your home university may have earlier time limits for the application process!

 Students from other universities please contact us for further information