§ 1 Scope
The following General Terms and Conditions govern the contractual relationship between the participant (hereinafter referred to as “Participant”) in courses of the doctoral program (hereinafter referred to as “Course”) and the German Academic Association for Business Research based in Cologne (hereinafter referred to as “Service Provider”). They therefore apply to any future business relationship, even if they are not expressly agreed upon again. Variants of these General Terms and Conditions are only valid if confirmed in writing by the Service Provider.

§ 2 Enrolment
The Participant can enroll in a course in writing by letter, fax, and email, or online. The enrolment becomes legally binding upon written confirmation by the Service Provider via email.

§ 3 Attendance Fee
The attendance fee specified in the service offer is per person and per course. It is only possible to participate in the entire course; a reduction of the attendance fee for partial participation is not possible. Accommodation, travel and other expenses are not included in the attendance fee unless agreed otherwise. 

§ 4 Service
Unless expressly agreed otherwise in the offer, the service offer consists of the participation in the course in question, including the acceptance of services, course documents, lunch, course refreshments, confirmation of participation or, if an examination is to be taken, course assessment. The scope of the service is primarily based on the service description. The Service Provider reserves the right to make amendments, such as a change of venue, the replacement of the trainers advertised or changes to the course program, while maintaining the overall character of the course. 

§ 5 Terms of Payment
Unless expressly agreed otherwise in the offer, the attendance fee is to be paid immediately upon receipt of the invoice without deduction. The invoice shall be issued before the Course commences. The Participant is to pay the contractually agreed attendance fee in full, even if he or she misses the course for any reason whatsoever.  

§ 6 Course Documents and Other Materials
Course documents and electronic media provided by the Service Provider are included in the agreed attendance fee. The copyright for the individual course documents or media of any kind belongs to the Service Provider or, if identified accordingly, the individual author or publisher. The Participant is not permitted to reproduce the course documents or media in part or in full, save them on data-processing media, distribute them in any form and/or make them available to third parties without the written consent of the Service Provider.  

§ 7 Withdrawal/Cancellation
If the Service Provider is unable to conduct the Course on important grounds (e.g. due to the illness of a trainer or an insufficient number of participants), the Participant shall be informed immediately. In this case, any attendance fees paid shall be reimbursed in full. Additional claims cannot be made against the Service Provider.  

The Participant can only cancel the enrolment in writing.

If a preparatory course assignment is planned, it is possible to cancel up to two weeks prior to the date stated in the syllabus for when the preparatory task is to be issued. The Service Provider shall charge a cancellation fee of twenty-five euros. Thereafter, cancellation is possible up to four weeks prior to the commencement of the classes; the cancellation fee shall then amount to fifty percent of the course fee. Thereafter, or in the case of non-attendance by the Participant, the full course fee shall be charged.   

If there is no preparatory course assignment, it is possible to cancel up to four weeks prior to the commencement of the classes; the cancellation fee shall then amount to twenty-five euros. In the event of a cancellation up to two weeks prior to the commencement of the course, fifty percent of the course fee shall be due. Thereafter, or in the case of non-attendance by the Participant, the full course fee shall be charged. It is possible to send a replacement participant. 

§ 8 Liability
The Service Provider accepts no liability for any success intended with the Course. The course format is routinely designed in such a way as to comprise 6 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System; the exact number of ECTS credits is stated in the respective service offer). Successful participation is confirmed in the form of a performance certificate. Recognition by the faculties is to be clarified individually by the Participant. For any damages the Participant suffers in the course rooms (hotel, conference center etc.), claims for compensation against the Service Provider and its subcontractors and vicarious agents are excluded provided that no willful or grossly negligent conduct has taken place. The Service Provider accepts no liability for any objects brought in by the Participant (clothes, learning material, valuables etc.). The respective house rules are to be heeded.      

§ 9 Data Acquisition and Data Protection
For the duration of the contractual relationship and in the cases set forth in Clause 2, the Service Provider is entitled to store and use the Participant’s personal data with due regard to the valid legal regulations. The Participant also agrees to the retention of information by the Service Provider after the end of the contractual relationship.

The trainers are entitled to pass on information regarding the non-receipt of performance certificates due to scientific misconduct to the dissertation supervisors. The Service Provider points out that, based on the individual in-house university doctoral regulations, scientific misconduct may lead to the Participant´s  exclusion from the doctoral process.