On August 28th, the summer camp for German students organized by Sino-German College of Applied Sciences, Tongji University opened in Jishi Building of Jiading Campus. Ninety-seven German students from 38 member universities of the German Federation for International Cooperation of Universities (DHIK) participated in the camp, which became the largest team in Germany's visit to China since COVID-19. The summer camp lasted from August 28th to September 15th.
Students at the summer camp
"We are pleased to see that German young people are very interested in China". We had planned to take only 50 students, but had to consider taking more since German students showed their super high enthusiam for the camp. Eventually, we decided to open an additional class. The student number increased to nearly 100 students. The dean of Sino-German College of Applied Sciences extended his warm welcome to the German students from partner universities before introducing the cooperation Sino-German College of Applied Sciences had with his German counterparts in training Chinese and foreign students. It was very important to strengthen exchanges between Chinese and German people, especially young people, he said. Cultural and educational exchanges between China and Germany would also contribute to bringing peace and stability to the two countries and the whole world. "I hope that students can see more, think more and experience more to understand Chinese culture and experience the unique charm of China. I would like to welcome students to study in Sino-German College of Applied Sciences for a longer time in the future, e.g. to join an exchange program for one semester or to do a degree course.
German students are excited about joining the summer camp. Lara Heller, a management student from Westfalen University of Applied Sciences in Germany, said: "I hope to learn more about China, enhance exchanges with Chinese students, and hope to learn a little Chinese." Johannes Abraham, a mechanical student from Nuremberg University of Applied Sciences in Germany, said: "I am looking forward to this summer camp. I have learned a little Chinese and hope to practice it. I also want to feel the Chinese way of thinking."
Nearly 100 German students would attend lectures such as "Digital and Artificial Intelligence Transformation""Competitiveness of German and Chinese Enterprises""Mixed Education and Network Education""German Economy under Institutional Tension""Chinese Language and Culture""Chinese Economy, Education and Politics""Cross-cultural Management and Negotiation", and visit enterprises including ZF, LIEBHERR, NIO, TRUMPF, RUHLAMAT and Volkwagen. In addition, students would also visit Tongji campuses, Shanghai, Suzhou and Zhengzhou that students had long yearned for, and witnessed the recent development of China with their own eyes.
The camp was hosted by Sino-German College of Applied Sciences, and supported by International Office, International Students Office and Graduate School of Tongji University, as well as German Engineers Association (VDI), German Invisible Champion Association (VDHC), German University International Cooperation Federation (DHIK), German Zwickau University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Zwickau), Shanghai German Center, Suzhou Xiangcheng Investment Promotion Center, Taicang Sino-German Industrial Park, and Zhengzhou Airport Economic Comprehensive Experimental Zone.
