ZEW-CDSE Summer Courses: Cutting-Edge Topics and Intensive Exchange
Dates and NewsScientific Qualification in Cooperation with the University of Mannheim
This summer semester, ZEW Mannheim again offered students in the PhD track the opportunity to attend summer courses taught by internationally renowned professors. More than 60 aspiring scholars from ZEW and the University of Mannheim attended the four courses on cutting-edge economic subjects, taking advantage of the opportunity for discussion and expanding their networks. The ZEW Summer Courses, financially supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg, are part of a close cooperation with the University of Mannheim as part of the PhD track of the Center for Doctoral Studies in Economics (CDSE).
ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach comments on the successful outcome of the summer courses: “It was important and pleasant for us that the summer courses could again take place in presence this year. Our doctoral students benefit hugely from the intensive personal exchange with renowned scholars. This offering from ZEW and the University of Mannheim is made possible only through the support of the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg. A heartfelt thank you for that.”
Courses offering a diverse range of topics
Similar to previous years, this summer’s courses offered a wide spectrum of subjects, spanning from machine learning and market design to applied econometrics and research. Four esteemed external professors hailing from international universities took the helm of the ZEW summer courses, commencing in June.
Professor Daniel Rees from Carlos III University of Madrid kicked off the series with a course on applied econometrics and research. He gave a practical overview of conducting applied economic research, encompassing econometric methodologies and the process of publishing in scholarly journals. Meanwhile, Professor Jordi Jaumandreu from Boston University provided an in-depth exploration of the production function. Alongside elucidating the theory on the estimation of firm-level production functions, he provided the students with the knowledge of the microeconometric methodology and the tools to perform this estimation consistently.
Professor Nicolas Schutz from the University of Mannheim gave a comprehensive introduction to applied theory for empiricists. Bringing the series to a close, Professor Michael Lechner from the University of St. Gallen held a course on causal machine learning, a highly relevant subfield of artificial intelligence.
The ZEW Summer Courses of 2023 weren’t just about expanding knowledge; they also provided a platform for networking. Through an intense week of courses and informal gatherings, participants engaged in diverse exchanges with fellow students, professors, and ZEW researchers.
The ZEW Summer Courses are elective block courses aimed at supporting doctoral students with their thesis. What sets them apart is that ZEW and University of Mannheim’s PhD students have the chance to partake in these courses during the summer break, from late June to August. These courses, led by esteemed international professors, serve to enrich the already diverse range of offerings within the University of Mannheim’s economics doctoral programme.
