Are you looking for a truly global challenge?
The Global Entrepreneurship Summer School (GESS) is an international education program supporting entrepreneurially-minded students who are strongly committed to improving our society.
WHAT IS
GESS
GESS by SEA offers a unique opportunity to young people to make an impact and drive change through a global community. Social Entrepreneurship is the tool of choice. We run the program in cooperation with the entrepreneurship centers of leading universities in Munich, Shanghai, Querétaro (Mexico) and Cape Town.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT
GESS
In international and interdisciplinary teams you will work on large-scale problems hands-on and develop your own sustainable, innovative, and profitable business model. Your team will be partnered with a coach and a series of interactive input sessions will provide you with the complementary practical and theoretical knowledge. At the end of the program, you and your team will pitch your idea to a public audience and you will become part of a global community of change agents.
WHO CAN ATTEND
GESS
We are looking for students who are aligned to our core values. Students who are driven to improving our global society. If you are a team-player, can engage and communicate well in English and are interested in learning how to think and act entrepreneurially, then GESS is the right place for you! We want to connect students of all disciplines and from all over the world to advance sustainability and innovation on a global scale.
Drive change through a global community
Get to know other driven change makers from all over the world and create lifelong connections.
Methods for impact
Learn hands-on how to develop a scalable and sustainable business model to solve social and environmental issues.
Application
Drive change through a global community: Join the Global Entrepreneurship Summer School 2025 and unlock the transformative potential of AI-powered social innovation!
Harvest the power of human talent and AI to take climate action.
Imagine combining human creativity with AI tools to design solutions that can reshape our world. You’ll learn how to leverage artificial intelligence not as a distant technology, but as a dynamic partner in solving real-world problems. From designing impact business models to analyzing complex environmental challenges, you’ll gain practical skills that turn innovative ideas into actionable impact.
This isn’t just another entrepreneurial program – it’s your launchpad to become a next-generation entrepreneur who knows how to harness technology for meaningful change!
This year, GESS will take place in three locations:
- Shanghai, China: 9 to 15 August (arrival and departure days: 8 and 16 August)
- Munich, Germany: 12 to 18 September (arrival and departure days: 11 and 19 September)
- Querétaro, Mexico: 14 to 20 September (arrival and departure days: 13 and 21 September)
An Alumni Summit is expected to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, at the end of 2025. We will publish updates on this here.
Applications for GESS 2025 are unfortunately no longer possible. Sign up for the application reminder below and we will notify you as soon as the application phase for GESS 2026 starts.
Due to the high number of applications we receive each year, all applications will undergo a multi-stage selection process.
We are currently reviewing the applications for GESS 2025 and will contact you in early to mid-June with an acceptance/rejection.
Should you have any questions please contact us via info@globalsummerschool.org.
Application Reminder
Who can apply?
All undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, aged 18 – 35, from all fields (e.g., design, computer science, business economics, humanities, social sciences) and different levels of academic progress (B.A., M.A., MBA, and Ph.D) are welcome to apply. You must be enrolled at a university at some point during the calendar year in which the GESS takes place.
The program requires your full commitment. Please make sure you do not have further obligations during the program.
Please check our terms, conditions and rules.
We encourage you to focus on demonstrating the following qualities in your application:
- You think and act entrepreneurially.
- You are deeply motivated to find answers to the most challenging problems in our global society.
- You have strong proficiency in English.
- Ideally, you are engaged in student initiatives or community efforts.
- You are committed to peace and to acting in a responsible manner.
- You are a strong team player, open-minded and interested in working in international and interdisciplinary teams.
We charge a non-refundable Expense Contribution of 199,00 €. Its timely payment is a requirement for participation.
All participants are required to pay the Expense Contribution except students from the organising German universities which participate in GESS in Munich. For specific information please reach out to info@globalsummerschool.org.
Travel costs to the respective GESS location must be covered by the participants themselves, while accommodation and meals are provided on site.
Here, we´ve collected a few tips on how to get financial support.
It is possible to receive up to 6 ECTS for the participation at GESS. The extent to which the credits can be granted within the respective study program must be clarified individually.
Impressions
Why GESS? Participants share their experience
Team
Our international team from México, China, South Africa und Germany:
Your contact person
Kristina Notz
Project Lead
info@globalsummerschool.org
In cooperation with
