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A truly international education at the heart of Berlin

If you want to study, but dread the bureaucracy and red tape of a traditional academic institution, and fancy a spell in one of Europe’s most dynamic cities at the same time, the ECLA in Berlin could be just the place for you.

A truly international education at the heart of Berlin

The European College of Liberal Arts (ECLA) was set up in 1999 by a group of young graduates from Harvard, Stanford and Oxford, who wanted to bring a liberal arts institution to the vibrant city of Berlin.

It is a college without departments, offering instead an interdisciplinary curriculum where students can explore the values of life and specialise in Art & Aesthetics, Ethics & Political Theory, and Literature & Rhetoric.

ECLA offers a four-year bachelor’s programme, on the completion of which the students receive the BA in Value Studies. It has been recognised as a private university by the Berlin Senate for Education, Science and Research. In November 2011, ECLA became a satellite institution of Bard College in New York, meaning it can now introduce new programmes and dual-degrees.

ECLA’s curriculum is unique as it seamlessly combines philosophy, literature, political theory, art history and film theory. It is ideal as a basis for further studies or to develop a career in politics, public policy, journalism or the art world, for example.

“Our core courses bring together experts from different fields to encourage faculty collaboration and to stimulate interesting discussions,” says Sofiya Skachko, Admissions Counselor.

The first two years of the BA are spent at the ECLA campus, while the third year is customised according to the student’s wishes, usually involving study or an internship placement somewhere else in the world at one of ECLA’s partner institutions. During the fourth year, students do a research project that functions as a capstone for the entire degree.

Besides the full BA programme, ECLA also offers one-year non-degree courses for those who want to explore the questions about political, moral or aesthetic values in an academic setting.

Twenty-three year old Tuvshinzaya Gantulga, from Mongolia, is in his final year of the BA programme. “I first came to ECLA to study for the summer school. But the place grew on me, and I decided to stay on for the BA,” he says.

“The ECLA experience has been life-transforming. Compared to the day I arrived here, I feel I am much better equipped with tools and content to understand complex issues.”

The charm of the ECLA in Berlin is that it is a small and cosy campus with around 50 students per year. Lectures and tutorials are intimate, perfect for students who shy away from larger lecture halls and prefer one-on-one sessions. Students are also actively encouraged to express their opinions.

American Paris Helene Furst is in her first year of the BA, focusing on Art and Aesthetics, and Ethics and Political Theory. She came across the ECLA website by chance last year and it took her just five minutes to realise that this was exactly the right kind of education for her.

“I felt kind of like a shipwrecked sailor who had the unlikely fortune of being washing up on the shores of an idyllic island just as he was drowning,” she reveals. “I had refused to stay at other institutions that I felt were approaching education in all the wrong ways.”

While she says ECLA classes are demanding, the community of students and professors is so supportive that nobody ever feels overwhelmed. “I have never been so fully involved in such a rich community of learners; the students and professors come from all over the world, carrying their own cultural histories and personalities – I have learned as much from my peers as I have from my books,” she says.

“I think we know that we are stimulated when we find ourselves sitting at dinner extrapolating on the themes of our lectures and seminars.”

Even though it’s small, the ECLA is truly international, counting students from around 30 countries today. The staff is equally international and each is specialised in an area of liberal arts. While most come from Europe and the US, visiting academics from further afield such as Latin America and the Middle East add more multi-culturalism.

ECLA combines the best of urban and suburban life as it is located in the quieter northern suburbs of the city but close enough to trendy Prenzlauer Berg. The campus consists of several neo-Bauhaus buildings which used to house several embassies during the German Democratic Republic days.

The fees include tuition, accommodation, full board and study trips. All students live on campus.

Article sponsored by ECLA

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EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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