The EBS Symposium is the biggest collegiate economic congress in Germany organized solely by students with over 1000 participants each year. The EBS Symposium takes place annually in September on the campus of the EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht in Oestrich-Winkel. One of the main goals of the EBS Symposium is to generate an open conservation to discuss current economic issuesbetween students, young professionals and well-known representatives from business and politics. At the recruiting fairvarious companies have the opportunity to introduce themselves and to pass on information about their company to participants and potential applicants. The topical speeches, panel discussions, and workshops on current economic and socially relevant topics offer space for interaction and communication among the participants and promote the establishment of contacts. Each year a great number of speakers are invited to join the EBS Symposium to contribute their experience and knowledge in favor of the current topic through presentations or key-note speeches. Every year the EBS Symposium welcomes renowned speakers for e.g. Alexander Dibelius and Matthias Buck.
Career Opportunities
Career Fair
One of the most important events at the EBS Symposium, is the Career fair. The main purpose of the career fair is to network with representatives of globally leading companies, such as VW Consulting or Accenture. The career fair offers young professionals an opportunity to enter a dialog with potential employers. During the EBS Symposium, corporate partners are able to award golden tickets to participants for the corporate cruise on the Rhine River to further intensify business connections.
Workshops and Interviews
Besides the topical speeches there are interactive panels, workshops and Interviews, at which participants have the opportunity to show skills and abilities to potential employers. Companies have the chance to find future applicants. At the recruiting fair, there are various exhibition stands represented by different companies. The participants from diverse universities have the opportunity to ask questions to the employees and experts about their everyday work along with individual areas of interest such as consulting or financial advisory. Furthermore, at the recruiting fair, the exhibitors have the chance to introduce the structure and culture of the company to the interested students.
Innovation Fair
At the innovation Fair, participants of the EBS Symposium take part in innovative works and ideas as well as entering into a dialogue with the presenting company. The fair offers the companies the opportunity to exhibit their products, to conduct market research and to find common grounds with other exhibitors. The spectrum ranges from companies in the automotive industry to manufacturers of TVs.
Former Speakers
The EBS Symposium has been honoured to welcome well-known public figures such as:
An important part of the EBS Symposium is the fact that the organization of the event is the sole responsibility of students of the bachelor’s degree at EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht. The organizing Students of the EBS Symposium engage in different positions such as member, Head, and chair positions, working on a well-organized event during the first year of their studies. They are supported by the “Wirtschaftsrat”, former chairmen, as well as EBS alumni and representatives of renowned companies, to ensure that knowledge based on experience is used and implemented.
History
In 1989, three student initiatives founded the economic symposium under the name of “Pro 90”. The idea and goal behind this event was the convergence and entering into dialog of students of different branches of study and representatives of politics, science and economics. The first EBS Symposium was conducted under the topic of “Made in Germany – a term to be redefined” and received fantastic responses from students and participants alike. From then on, the students' aim was to establish their project as a fixed annual event at the European Business School - and they succeeded. For the first time, in 1992, the “Bankenforum” was organized by students. This international event focused its attention on financial issues. With students from the first and second semester organizing the event and bringing in of new ideas and fresh concepts, they are supported by the “Wirtschaftsrat”, former chairmen, as well as EBS alumni and representatives of renowned companies, who ensure that knowledge based on experience is used and implemented In 2008, under the patronage of Thomas Enders, the 19th Symposium took place with about 1,500 participants, including 200 representatives of several companies. Among the 55 speakers were Jean-Claude Trichet, John Major and Jochen Zeitz. The 20th Symposium took place from 17th-19 September 2009 with Dieter Zetsche as its patron and, in 2010, Axel Weber the former President of the German Federal Bank served as patron. Under the topic “Dawn of Demography – Import Growth or Export Knowledge?”, the 22nd EBS Symposium took place from 21st-23 September 2011 on the campus of the EBS in Oestrich-Winkel under the patronage of Philipp Rösler, the Vice Chancellor of Germany.
