© Photothek

Greeting of the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Johann Wadephul

As patron of the 10th German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) competition for German schools abroad, Federal Foreign Minister Wadephul wishes the participating students much success and creative ideas.

© DIHK / Werner Schuering

Foreword by Peter Adrian, President of the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry

DIHK President Adrian highlights the significant importance that the German economy places on German schools abroad.

Die Jury

Peter Adrian

President DIHK, Vice President IHK Trier, Chairman of the Board of TRIWO AG, Trier

Christina Beinhoff

Director-General for Culture and Society, Federal Foreign Office

Doris Birkhofer

President AHK France and CEO Siemens France

Ludwig Georg Braun

Honorary President DIHK, former Chairman of the Supervisory Board of B. Braun SE, Melsungen

Swaantje Creusen

Chairwoman of the DIHK Education Committee, Global Head of Transformation & Change, BayWa r.e. AG

Heilke Daun

Chair of the Board of the World Association of German Schools Abroad, former Chair of the Board of the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhuk

Gabriele Georgia Lothholz

President AHK Chile, Entrepreneur specialised in strategic communication and reputation management, Board Member of various economic and social institutions in Chile

Online Application

• For your application, we have created an online questionnaire, accessible here - DIHK-Auslandsschulwettbewerb 2026 Registration. You will need a one-time registration. You will receive an email from "webtop.de." Please confirm your email address and registration by clicking the provided link (double opt-in procedure). Afterwards, you can log in anytime via the hyperlink provided in that email to manage your data.
• After successful registration or login, you can enter and save data into the form. The saved data remains accessible for further editing. When you re-login via the hyperlink, the most recently saved data will automatically load.
• Within the application form, please introduce your school and the submitted project as per the questions. To assist you, the application form provides hints and guiding questions.
• As in the previous competition, your students are expected to create a video about the project, highlighting its objectives and execution in no more than two minutes. The video should be a straightforward mobile recording without professional equipment. An interview format is acceptable. The video will be included in the evaluation process. With your consent, we will use the videos as part of the award ceremonies and for reporting on the DIHK competition for German schools abroad. Required consent forms for participants should be uploaded in the online application.

Criteria

Assessment will focus on the following aspects:

• Initiative and independent work by the students during the project
• Recognizable contribution to school development
• Integrative efforts among students, parents, teachers, and the board, as well as the project's importance for the school
• Networking and inclusion of partners, such as businesses, AHKs, IHKs, other (international) schools, "PASCH" schools, academia, and public administration. This includes the role of partners, such as advisors, collaborators, financial sponsors, target audiences, etc.
• Sustainability and positive, exemplary effects for other German schools abroad, with potential for replication or collaboration
• Contributions to economic and career education
• Most importantly: clear and comprehensible presentation of your project's objectives, activities undertaken, and achieved outcomes

Participation Conditions

• Eligible participants include all German schools abroad supported under the Foreign Schools Act, as well as vocational departments with their own proposal rights.
• Submitted projects or initiatives must have been implemented and documented at least once. Pure project ideas cannot be considered.
• Previously submitted projects may be re-applied, provided they have significantly progressed and achieved new results. Projects already awarded are excluded.

Application Deadline

• The completed application form must be submitted by 31 October 2026.
• Access the online application form here: here - DIHK-Auslandsschulwettbewerb 2026 Registration.

Further Application Process

• The jury will select winners. The jury meeting is planned for January 2027.
• Winning schools will be promptly informed of their recognition.
• Legal recourse is excluded.

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