Recap Summer School 2025

Here you can read the experience report of two participants about this year's Summer School!

The BayIND Summer School 2025 began on 17 August in Bangalore and concluded on 6 September in Kochi. In total, there were 22 students representing a diverse mix of academic disciplines. The Summer School was organised and supervised by Olga Schloss and Akshay Kshirsagar. In preparation, all participants attended a two-day preparatory meeting at Hof University of Applied Sciences.

The Summer School programme spanned almost three weeks. The first week consisted of projects and excursions with Indian students at the Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS). The second week was dedicated to company visits, while the third week took us to “God’s Own Country”, Kerala.

Week 1: RUAS, Bangalore

Sunday, 17 August, finally marked the start of the programme. Some participants had arrived earlier, and depending on flight schedules, everyone gradually arrived in Bangalore. For those who arrived early, a visit to a temple followed by Indian food was already planned for Sunday. Afterwards, there was time to explore Bangalore independently. As most flights from Germany arrive in Bangalore at night and the journey combined with jet lag can be exhausting, an early arrival is highly recommended.

The project work at Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) officially began on Monday, 18 August. We were welcomed by the VC of the university and the Dean of the Faculty of Management. This was followed by the first guest lecture and a guided tour of the campus. The aim of the project week was to develop various sustainability approaches in small groups. We were divided into four groups, each consisting of equal numbers of Indian and German students. During the week, each group also went on excursions to start-ups and companies focusing on sustainability, such as sustainable furniture manufacturing, a CO₂-neutral delivery service, and inclusive clothing.

To start the day with plenty of energy, mornings began with a yoga session led by a Yoga teacher. After breakfast at the hotel, we attended a guest lecture at the university, followed by a shared Indian lunch on campus and group project work with the Indian students in the afternoon.

The evenings were equally eventful. We had dinner together as a group, played cricket with the Indian students and went out to bars. One evening, we were invited by the father of an Indian student to a house party with traditional food. We ended the night dancing on his rooftop terrace overlooking Bangalore.

The week at RUAS concluded on Friday with project presentations and a joint closing celebration at the university. Highlights included the award ceremony, dance performances—some of them interactive—and a traditional festive meal. Those who wished could also take part in a pani puri eating competition. Afterwards, we once again explored Bangalore’s nightlife.

On Saturday, a cooking class at RUAS with lessons in Indian cuisine was scheduled, followed by an excursion to a farm involved in renaturation projects in Bangalore.

Saying goodbye to the Indian students was difficult for all of us. Although the time at the university was demanding, we had an incredible amount of fun and grew very close through our shared work during the project week.

Week 2: Mysore, Bangalore & Chennai

On Sunday morning, we set off early by Bus to Mysore. There, we made a stop at a German bakery and then visited Mysore Palace. A local guide led us through the palace and later through Mysore’s bustling market. We also witnessed an elephant procession in preparation for an upcoming festival and tested our bargaining skills at the market stalls. In the evening, we visited Mysore Palace again, this time illuminated by nearly 100,000 lights and accompanied by a live concert performed by the police orchestra.

The following day, we visited our first company, the Infosys campus in Mysore. The programme included a guest lecture and a tour of the campus. After lunch at Infosys, we visited the Somnathpur Temple before returning to Bangalore.

In Bangalore, Tuesday began with a visit and guest lecture at the Indian Institute of Management. This was followed by an excursion to Siemens Healthineers, where we were welcomed by the site manager and given a tour of the laboratories. Afterwards, we were invited to the Ascend Karnataka Congress 2025, which featured exciting panel discussions with managers, experts and politicians on topics such as India’s semiconductor strategy and the real estate sector. The evening concluded with a Bavarian Stammtisch at a brewery.

On Wednesday, we visited the German Consulate. In addition to gaining insights into the work of a consulate, we also received an overview of career opportunities as a consul with the German Foreign Office. This was followed by an excursion to Beckn Protocol, a provider of online business transaction services. We also had the opportunity to ask Laura Höflinger, a journalist for Der Spiegel, numerous questions over a shared lunch about life as an expat and working abroad, gaining fascinating insights into her work in India.

The next day, we travelled by train from Bangalore to Chennai. Alongside the impressive performance of Indian air conditioning systems, we were surprised by the modern train, its service and punctuality.

In Chennai, we visited the local BMW plant. In addition to a factory tour, we had a very engaging exchange with the plant manager, Thomas Dose, about management practices in India and his experiences as an expat. After navigating Indian traffic on the return journey, we ended the evening at a beachfront restaurant in Chennai.

The following day, we went on a day trip to visit the temples of Mahabalipuram. Alongside shopping in the streets, we recovered from Chennai’s heat with lunch at a beach restaurant and relaxed by the sea in the evening.

On Sunday, Indian students guided us on a city tour of Chennai before we flew to Kochi in the evening.

Week 3: Kochi & Munnar

After spending the night at an airport hotel in Kochi, we travelled by bus straight to the mountains of Munnar on Monday. Along the way, we stopped at breathtaking waterfalls set in the stunning landscape of the Western Ghats. Upon arrival in Munnar, we explored the town and market before enjoying the mountain views from the hotel pool in the evening.

The following day featured a guided hike through the mountains and tea plantations of Munnar. We learned all about tea cultivation and how best to avoid elephants, before visiting a tea factory. On Wednesday, we returned to Kochi, stopping en route for a guided tour of an Ayurvedic garden.

Back in Kochi, we stayed in Fort Kochi, the city’s historic district. The programme included a guided tour of the fort and a trip on the Kochi Water Metro. In our free time, we could be found at the pool, shopping in the many small boutiques, or strolling along the seaside promenade. In the evening, we attended a traditional dance performance with a martial arts demonstration.

To conclude the Summer School, we went on a boat trip through Kerala’s beautiful backwaters, followed by a festive Onam Sadhya meal. Before the official programme ended, we rounded off the Summer School with a shared dinner in the evening. Our time together in India had brought us very close, and saying goodbye was difficult for everyone—though a reunion at future BayIND alumni meetings is already planned.

After the official end of the Summer School, some participants took the opportunity to continue exploring the country together in smaller groups.

The BayIND Summer School 2025 was an incredibly intense and wonderful experience, filled with countless lasting memories and impressions. Even though upset stomachs, air conditioning and Indian cuisine occasionally posed challenges, the BayIND Summer School was an outstanding encounter with Incredible India. We will definitely be back!

Many thanks to the entire BayIND team, Olga and Akshay—this was absolutely incredible!