The GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E.V. increasingly engages in research and continuing education. We've combined the various activities under the name 'German Council Academy'. In the following, we've provided an overview:

Stipends
Eight stipends to IREBS were awarded to members of the GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E.V. for a compact university course in retail property 2010. These funding measures and the perfect cooperation with the IREBS should also be continued in future years.

ICSC Summer School
Each year, the INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTER hosts one-week continuing education courses, the ICSC Summer School. It took place in this year in Brussels again. The GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E.V. financed the attendance of 12 young German Council members. The funding will also be made available through the GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E.V. in the future.

German Council Libary
For several years now, the GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E.V. has donated 5,000 euros annually for the establishment of a speciality library. This library is located at the University of Leipzig, Institute for City Development, and is being professionally managed from there. It is available free of charge to students throughout Germany and to all members of the GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E.V.

Training
Under the name 'German Council Academy' we'll offer one to two continuing education events. These events will deal with management training and personality development. A recognized speaker will be invited by the GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E.V. to lecture for an entire day. The first engagement will be in December 2008, and will feature a motivational seminar presented by Klaus Kobjoll in Nuremberg. Stefan Spies (Body Language) and Prof. Jens Weidner (Die Peperoni Strategie) were further TOP Speaker. The event would be continued by a TV- and Mediatraining with Kathrin Knodel. The attendance at these seminars is available to all GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E.V. members for a comparatively low fee.

Visiting Professorship
In coordination with the IREBS, a visiting professorship will be set up at the University of Regensburg. This will directly focus on subject matter related to retail properties. The annual funding currently amounts to 25,000 euros.

Center Award
The best shopping centre planning, which is completed as part of the requirements for the university course in retail properties, will be awarded by the GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E.V. with the Centre Award. The awarding of this prize traditionally takes place within the German Council Congress.

Research
The GERMAN COUNCIL OF SHOPPING CENTERS E. V. has retained the GfK Geo Marketing and IREBS to analyze the Shopping Center Deployment in German in Detail. Out of it the '10 Megatrends of the Shopping Centre Branches' has been deduced, which has been presented on the occasion of two PR Meetings in Frankfurt and berlin in Summer of 2009. In July 2010 the association has been presented the Update. The Feedback from the Press was incredible.