Berlin Cathedral with boat going under bridge.
Dublin, Ireland Copenhagen, Denmark Berlin, Germany

Global Entrepreneurship & Innovation in Europe

Business

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$8,950

Highlights

Business proposal

Career exploration

Daily activities and excursions

Dorm/hostel

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Overview
Develop a business concept and pitch your ideas like a pro across three European capitals.

From Dublin to Copenhagen to Berlin, discover three different markets and exciting business cultures. Explore what it takes to bring an innovative concept to market. Develop your own new business idea alongside other Global Navigators. Then, pitch it to a panel of professionals at the end of your stay! 

In this fast-paced program, fly from one city to the other and gain practical business skills like budgeting, pricing, promotion, and selling. Grasp the process of developing and marketing an idea from start to finish. Make business connections with entrepreneurs. Gather insights from their success stories about how to assess opportunities, requirements, and risks. 

Enjoy the local sights and flavors of these incredible cities. Turn the medieval corners of Dublin castle, wander along the royal gardens of Copenhagen, and reflect on the Berlin Wall Memorial. Get a taste of three distinct corners of Europe, each with their own cultures, languages, and unique food, and meet local teens, too. 

Academic Merit Award Available 

Only the Academic Merit Award is available for this program. The CIEE Global Navigator Scholarship (GNS) is NOT available. If you want to apply for the GNS based on your academic merit and financial need, check out our check out our Global Entrepreneurship program in Berlin or Global Entrepreneurship program in Dublin.

Why Choose This Program?

Explore

Have fun discovering three historic cities and startup cultures in just three weeks!

Network

Meet new friends and business entrepreneurs. Build your own community.

Get Inspired

Develop practical business skills and collaborate on a concept for a new business.

Destination
  • city shot
  • Church
  • Berlin_germany

The Destination

Welcome to Dublin, Copenhagen, and Berlin, three of the best cities in Europe for entrepreneurs!

The capital cities of Ireland, Denmark, and Germany are all known for being at the forefront of startup scenes. Representing northern and western Europe, they are home to thriving businesses that attract young people and top talent each year. The European headquarters of the world’s tech giants are in Dublin, Copenhagen leads in green technology, and Berlin is renowned for providing many resources for startups.

Beyond creating the right conditions for businesses to succeed, all three cities have a strong focus on sustainability and maintaining a high standard of living for its residents. You’ll find large, clean open-air spaces all around. Spend your afternoons strolling Dublin’s huge green spaces like Phoenix Park, roaming past the brightly-colored houses along the Copenhagen canal, and visiting Berlin’s historical landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate. Revel in lively street life and delicious food markets where you can find dishes you can’t leave without trying, like Irish colcannon (mashed potatoes), Danish smørrebrød (open-faced sandwiches), and German bouletten (meat balls).

Cultural Awareness

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Copenhagen, Dublin and Berlin

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Objective

You will settle into Dublin, visit local startups, and explore the processes and traits of successful entrepreneurs. You will start collaborating with a group to develop concepts for a business proposal and fly to Copenhagen.

Highlights*

  • Welcome dinner at The Black Sheep
  • Visit to The Rolling Donut
  • Croke Park Stadium and GAA Museum
  • Ballad tour through Dublin led by a local musician

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

You will settle into Copenhagen. You will interview entrepreneurs to help define a target market for your new business. You will build a customer profile, test your ideas, and fly to Berlin.


Highlights*

  • Walking tour of Copenhagen’s key landmarks
  • Canal boat tour through Nyhavn
  • Copenhill for a city view and tour
  • Reffen visit, an open-air street food venue
  • Tivoli Gardens scavenger hunt and unlimited rides

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

You will settle into Berlin. Through case studies and simulations, you will consider marketing strategies for your target customers, define your costs, and set your price. You will develop an exciting pitch and present your business proposal to a panel of judges.
 

Highlights*

  • Walking tour of Berlin’s historic sites
  • Visit to Urban Nation, Berlin’s street art museum
  • Ropes course at Mount Mitte
  • Visit to the East Side Gallery
  • Panoramic view from the Fernsehturm

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Monday–Friday   

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.     

  • Breakfast at the dorm/hostel or out in the community  
  • Experiential learning with expert instructors and business professionals  
  • Lunch with your fellow Global Navigators   
  • Out and about for a Cultural Activity or Workshop   
  • Dinner at the dorm/hostel or out in the community  

Weekends   

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites
  • Quality time with friends   

Housing

Dorm/hostel, shared rooms with other Global Navigators

Activities

Top Rated Activities

berlin-wall-memorial-at-bernauer-strasse.jpg

Berlin Wall Memorial and Mount Mitte

The Berlin Wall Memorial stretches before you, its preserved sections standing as a stark reminder of a city once divided by a barrier that shaped history. Just across the street, the ropes course at Mount Mitte hums with playful energy—a vibrant symbol of Berlin’s united and thriving present. Today, you’ll experience both—reflecting on the weight of the past and embracing the dynamic spirit of the present to see how transformation shapes a city and its people.

At the Berlin Wall Memorial, you walk alongside fragments of the wall and immerse yourself in stories of resilience and hope. Photos and artifacts bring the Cold War era to life, showing how people persevered under extraordinary challenges. Later, the ropes course at Mount Mitte shifts the focus to collaboration and problem-solving. You and your friends work as a team, pushing through obstacles and cheering each other on, much like entrepreneurs turning ideas into reality.

This experience blends history, teamwork, and creativity, offering lessons that go beyond the past. By understanding Berlin’s journey of transformation, you’ll gain insight into how communities innovate and rebuild—and how you can apply these lessons to your own path as a global entrepreneur.

copenhagen_kings-garden.jpg

Station Site Visit in Copenhagen

You step into Station, a massive 3700-square-meter building that hums with energy and creativity. Once a major Copenhagen police station, it’s now the world’s first student-driven hub for big ideas and collaboration. This isn’t just another startup incubator—it’s a youth innovation powerhouse, and today, you’re a part of it. Inside, you see students from different universities brainstorming in colorful workspaces, their projects buzzing with excitement and purpose.

Your visit begins with a tour, where you explore vibrant spaces designed to spark teamwork and hear stories of how collaboration drives groundbreaking ideas. At Station, you see the theories from your classroom come alive—students combining their unique perspectives and skills to solve real-world problems. In the ideation workshop, you and your peers work as a team to develop creative solutions, realizing that innovation is never a solo journey but one built on shared ideas and diverse strengths.

By the end of the day, you understand that you don’t have to wait to start making a difference. Whether in high school, university, or beyond, the time to create impact is now.

Testimonials

What Students Are Saying

  • “I have made so many fantastic memories! I learned so much about the country and culture as well as myself and business. Everyone should do something like this if they have the opportunity!”

    Morrigan T., Global Navigator Alum

  • “It’s a fun program! The most memorable part was the business pitch that concluded the trip and consisted of all the new topics we learned related to business.”

    Nathan Y., Global Navigator Alum

  • “It is a great way to explore places you have never been to before and meet new friends. I obtained knowledge that I will continue to use throughout my life and future career.”

    Andrew H., Global Navigator Alum

  • “I enjoyed learning about entrepreneurship and being able to talk about what we learned with my peers! I have made friendships with people who I might have never met if it wasn't for CIEE.”

    Cassidy S., Global Navigator Alum

From CIEE

Defining, Developing, Designing, & Discovering: How Station and Copenhill inspired our creative thinking

By Marina Tavarez at CIEE

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By High School Summer Abroad at CIEE

High school summer abroad is not just about teens exploring a topic in an exciting location. It’s also about finding a temporary home away from home. Read the 7 things you should know about our housing options.

From CIEE

What to Expect from a High School Summer Abroad Business Program

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Imagine spending your summer exploring the world, learning from real entrepreneurs what it takes to succeed in business, and making new friendships and connections that last a lifetime. With a... keep reading

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Participants must be 15 years old and above.
  • Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
  • Only the Global Navigator Academic Merit Only scholarship is available for this program. The Academic Merit + Need scholarship is NOT available. For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee

$25

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what's included with your tuition.

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Summer Blocks IV, V, VI 2025 3 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $8,950

Ready to change your life?

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to WIFI

(No international data plan or SIM card included)

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Staff

Our Staff

Enda O’Connell

Center Director

Enda is responsible for overall management of CIEE Dublin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Primary Education Teaching from Dublin City University and the equivalent of a Master’s degree in...

Robert Cassidy

Center Director

Robert Cassidy brings a background in neuroscience and extensive leadership experience in higher education. Originally from New Orleans, Rob studied biology and neuroscience in Washington, D.C., before conducting research in...

Andrea Adam Moore

Center Director

Andrea Adam Moore holds a Master in Business Administration. Andrea was previously the Director of the Indiana University Europe Gateway in Berlin.

Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.

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