Virginia Tech RSAP Summer 2020 Milan | Bologna | Munich | Berlin
Each year, Sols ce partners with a select number of universi es to create one-of-a-kind, fully customizable study experiences around the world. With careful guidance from Sols ce’s team of American and interna onal educators, Virginia Tech RSAP students will gain invaluable insight into Europe’s visionary science tradi on and the future of some of its most relevant industries.
Sols ce provides three core services: (1) assistance in developing your program i nerary; (2) comprehensive pre-departure support; and (3) facilita on of all logis cal provisions (e.g., domes c and interna onal airfare, buses, hotel accommoda ons, restaurant recommenda ons and bookings, ac vity planning, and Sols ce program leaders).
Please note that while the spirit of the below schedule will remain unchanged, certain aspects — in consulta on with VT faculty leaders — are subject to be updated. Company and university visits are typically scheduled one to five months prior to the program start date. As a result, our proposal may include a few placeholders for unspecified visits. Each will be specified in the months leading up to May 2020, and this process will be completed in close collabora on with Virginia Tech faculty leaders. Sols ce maintains a strong track record of providing engaging and impac ul visits to local firms, mul na onal corpora ons, local educa onal ins tu ons, and more.
Our team looks forward to welcoming Virginia Tech RSAP back to Italy and Germany in 2020!
May 17 - May 22: Italy | Masters of Design and Gastronomy | Day 1 | Sunday, May 17 (USA to Milan) All Day Fly from Washington, DC to Milan, Italy
Day 2 | Monday, May 18 (Milan) Midday Arrive in Milan; travel into the city and check into Ostello Bello Grande Hostel While traveling into Milan, engage in a comprehensive orienta on session to understand and conceptualize the journey ahead, and share program goals and expecta ons amongst your fellow travellers. 3:00 PM Embark on a guided walking tour of the streets of Milan Ruled by the Caesars, Napoleon, the Austro-Hungarians and Mussolini, Milan has an ancient and fascina ng history. Today, the city leads the way in futuris c and sustainable architecture and is a vibrant hub for high-tech firms, both new and established. 5:00 PM Free me to relax or explore on your own 7:00 PM Group welcome dinner followed by gelato dessert!
RSAP Italy & Germany 1 www.gosols ce.org
Virginia Tech RSAP Summer 2020 Milan | Bologna | Munich | Berlin
Day 3 | T uesday, May 19 (Milan) 10:30 AM Visit the Politecnico di Milano campus for an engineering-focused lecture and cultural exchange with local engineering students 12:30 PM Group lunch near the university 2:00 PM Visit Arup Milan offices for a presenta on on their local engineering projects 4:00 PM Free me to explore the city and small group dinners on your own
Day 4 | W ednesday, May 20 ( Milan to Bologna) 6:30 AM Early check out; relax on a scenic bus ride to Bologna (~3 hours) 10:00 AM Tour the Lamborghini Factory & Museum en route to Bologna Gain an insider’s look into this famous Italian brand’s manufacturing factory for luxury supercars and sports cars as well as its accompanying museum. 12:00 PM Group lunch near the Lamborghini Factory 1:30 PM Con nue to Bologna (~1 hour) and check into the hotel Bologna, the historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, is home to Europe’s oldest university and is renowned for its street art, leisurely piazzas (city squares), and medieval and Renaissance architecture. 3:00 PM E mbark on an architectural walking tour of Bologna’s most iconic landmarks, including the Piazza Maggiore, Neptune Fountain, Basilica di San Petronio and the beau ful University of Bologna, the oldest university in Europe 6:30 PM Free me to enjoy small group dinners and explore the city
Day 5 | T hursday, May 21 ( Bologna) All Day Free me to explore Bologna! Suggested ac vi es include visi ng the Casa di Lucio Dalla, the Basilica di Santo Stefano, and the Palazzo Poggi.
Day 6 | Friday, May 22 (B ologna) 9:00 AM Visit an engineering company and gain insight into its inner-workings 12:00 PM Lunch on your own at the Fico Eataly World, the largest food park on the planet 2:00 PM Explore the Duca Factory Gain an insider’s look into how the Duca motorcycle is assembled at this pilgrimage des na on for automo ve fans and motorcyclists worldwide. Evening Free me for small group dinners
May 23 - May 30: Germany | A High-Tech Powerhouse | Day 7 | S aturday, May 23 ( Bologna to Munich) Early Morning Fly nonstop from Bologna to Munich (~1 hour)
RSAP Italy & Germany 2 www.gosols ce.org
Virginia Tech RSAP Summer 2020 Milan | Bologna | Munich | Berlin
Late Morning Visit the Dachau Concentra on Camp 12:00 PM Upon arrival, group lunch in the Dachau cafeteria 1:30 PM Self-guided tour of the concentra on camp 3:30 PM Bus to Munich and check into Smart Stay Hostel - Munich City 4:30 PM Embark on a walking tour of Munich (op onal), or take me to relax and reflect Best known for Oktoberfest, there’s a lot more to Munich than beer and pretzels. This modern Bavarian city is rich with culture, art, history, and industry. 7:00 PM Free me to explore Munich and enjoy small group dinners on your own
Day 8 | S unday, May 24 ( Munich) All Day Free me to explore Munich on your own! Suggested ac vi es include visi ng the Residenzmuseum, the museums of the Alte Pinakothek and the Pinakothek der Moderne or just spending the day at the sprawling city park of the Englischer Garten.
Day 9 | M onday, May 25 ( Munich) 9:30 AM Par cipate in a tour of the BMW Welt Factory and Museum Engage in an exci ng behind-the-scenes tour of all areas of produc on of this iconic automobile, from the press works to its assembly. 12:00 PM Lunch on your own in BMW’s cafeteria 1:30 PM Visit the engineering department of the Technical University of Munich Engage in one-on-one cultural exchange ac vi es, tour the campus with local university students as guides, and par cipate in a behind-the-scenes tour of their research laboratories. 4:30 PM Free me to explore Munich with local peers
Day 10 | T uesday, May 26 ( Munich to Berlin) 9:30 AM Company visit to Transsolar Klima Engineering Transsolar Klima Engineering is comprised of a diverse team of engineers focused on crea ng climate-responsive built environments. The firm collaborates with its clients and partners to enhance the human experience while minimizing resource use following its self-declared a tude: High Comfort, Low Impact. Transsolar has been opera ng for more than 25 years with offices in Stu gart, Munich, Paris and New York. 12:30 PM Hotel check out, followed by group lunch 2:30 PM Embark on a train journey to Berlin (~3.5 hours); transfer to your hotel 7:00 PM Enjoy a group dinner in the Mi e neighborhood, in downtown Berlin
RSAP Italy & Germany 3 www.gosols ce.org
Virginia Tech RSAP Summer 2020 Milan | Bologna | Munich | Berlin
Day 11 | W ednesday, May 27 (Berlin) 9:00 AM Partake in a guided walking tour of the Brandenburg Gate, the Kurfürstendamm and the remains of the Berlin Wall Berlin’s combina on of tangible history, cu ng-edge architecture, superb food, and trendse ng culture mesmerize visitors of this mul cultural metropolis. 12:00 PM Group lunch at the Hackescher Markt, famous for its local eateries 2:00 PM Visit an ocean engineering company for a behind-the-scenes tour and conversa on with its local management team 6:30 PM Free me and small group dinners in Kreuzberg, a vibrant cultural hub
Day 12 | T hursday, May 28 ( Berlin) 9:30 AM Visit an engineering company and gain insight into its inner-workings 12:30 PM Group lunch in Neukölln, in the south of Berlin 2:30 PM Explore the German Technology Museum with an expert guide The Deutsches Technikmuseum exhibits a large collec on of technical ar facts. The museum's main emphasis was originally on rail transport; it now also features exhibits on a variety of industrial technology. 6:00 PM Enjoy small group dinners with local peers at the food stalls of “Street Food Thursday” at Markthalle Neun, an indoor interna onal food market
Day 13 | Friday, May 29 ( Berlin) Morning/A ernoon Free me to explore on your own! Suggested ac vi es include visi ng the Pergamonmuseum, the Neues Museum and the Museum für Naturkunde. 7:00 PM Enjoy a fes ve farewell dinner with your classmates and program leaders!
Day 14 | S aturday, May 30 (Berlin to Washington, DC) All Day Fly back to the USA
RSAP Italy & Germany 4 www.gosols ce.org