Workshop on Chinese-Lower Saxony university cooperation and conclusion of China Week 2021

In light of the current differences between the People's Republic of China, the USA and the EU regarding the Winter Olympics, Mr. Hanschke recommends that participants read the essay by Chinese Ambassador Wu Ken "The world needs more bridges, not walls", which was published in the Berliner Zeitung on 21 November 2021. He appeals for more understanding and tolerance and to keep the channels of communication between China and Germany open, especially during the pandemic.

The basic prerequisite for communication at eye level is a minimum level of China competence, which Prof. Dr. Hiltraud Casper-Hehne, Head of the Department of Intercultural German Studies and the German-Chinese Institute for Intercultural German Studies and Cultural Comparison at the University of Göttingen, will talk about. According to her, too little experience often leads to stereotyping of "the Chinese", although China is "as diverse as an entire continent". She illustrated the lack of China expertise at German universities with the low number of chairs of sinology compared to chairs of Romance studies, which visibly impressed Prof. Dr. Hanschke. The China Competence Working Group is then dedicated to promoting the set of knowledge, attitudes and skills required for cooperation, e.g. through specific offers for different target groups (students, academics, administrators, university management) or the survey and documentation of existing measures. Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences can look back on a positive example of successful strategic German-Chinese cooperation on an equal footing. Prof. Dr. Hendrik Lackner from Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences will present the nine fields of cooperation that have been continuously developed in this context. In addition to a recently introduced Master's specialization in "China", the university's offerings include double degree programs, summer schools, further training in China competence and publications. The university is particularly proud of its collaboration with the Chinese journal "Application-Oriented Higher Education Research" (AOHER). Seven articles by German professors are published in each issue, meaning that over 200 articles by German academics have already been published over time, which is "unique in its form". The subsequent article entitled "Energy transformation and Covid-19 - The role of engineers in China and Germany by" Prof. Dr. Carsten Ahrens from the Jade University of Applied Sciences in Oldenburg is more specific. According to him, the requirements of engineers, which before the coronavirus pandemic mainly consisted of ensuring basic needs such as food, clean water and electricity, have changed to ensuring ventilation systems, disinfection and hygiene products as well as home office and home schooling equipment. The dilemma here is maintaining the production chain. If this were to be interrupted, it would result in an unfair distribution of available goods; if it were to be maintained, contact restrictions would be difficult to comply with and there would be a risk of self-infection. He therefore concludes that the coronavirus pandemic will transform the world, as it has "gone through our lives like a scythe". Changes can also be seen in energy consumption, which fell by 35% in China during the first wave. It is clear to him what role renewable energies will play in this: "Our future is green hydrogen". Current projects and formulated strategies, both on the German and Chinese side, are hopeful.

The first three presentations will be followed by specific examples of German-Chinese university cooperation. Prof. Dr. Dietmar Möller from Clausthal University of Technology will kick things off with a brief definition of Industry 4.0 and Made in China 2025, followed by a presentation of the planned Master's degree course in "Intelligent Manufacturing" between Clausthal University of Technology and Zhengzhou University. The following contribution by Prof. Dr. Georg Gesk from the University of Osnabrück is then dedicated to a legal perspective. In his opinion, appropriate (Chinese) language skills play an important role in German-Chinese cooperation. For although English as a bridge language "can do everything", it is difficult to imagine that an English translation of the German Civil Code could be convincing in China. However, after an enormous amount of persuasion, it has been possible to develop a unique concept between Osnabrück University and Hefei University in Anhui Province: While the German students write and defend their Master's thesis in Chinese in China, the Chinese students have to write a thesis in German in Germany in return. This was a particular challenge during the coronavirus pandemic, as no exchange programs could take place. In conclusion, he once again emphasizes the relevance of appropriate China expertise in the legal field and considers it "almost a criminal omission" that it has been allowed to come to this and that Germany does not know about its most important foreign trade partner. His most important appeal is therefore "No matter what subject you work in, try - no matter how - to make progress in this area somehow". Prof. Dr. Michael Z. Hou, who is not only the China representative at Clausthal University of Technology, but has also headed the China Competence Center since 2018 and initiated China Week, is particularly committed to responding to this appeal. For example, as in the previous year, a conference volume is planned to make the knowledge gained during China Week 2021 accessible to a wide audience. In addition, Clausthal University of Technology can look back on a long tradition of German-Chinese cooperation, of which four current projects are presented in his article as examples. In addition to the Bachelor's degree program in Electrical Engineering with SCU in Chengdu, which started in September 2021, the recently founded Sino-German Institute of Carbon Neutrality and Green Development at Zhengzhou University also emphasizes the current cooperation efforts. The efforts of Prof. WAN Gang, who joined the official welcome of China Week live from Beijing on Monday, and former Federal Minister Annette Schavan on the Sino-German Academy for Young Elite Researchers are also to be driven forward after the pandemic.

Despite the successful collaborations already in place, Prof. Dr. Hanschke believes that we must not stop promoting cooperation with China. A great deal of educational work is still required - and this is particularly evident in the presentations by Prof. Dr. Casper-Hehne and Prof. Dr. Gesk - in order to "not miss the boat". In conclusion, he would like to see an intensification of the dialog with China, which would be efficiently and successfully supported by formats such as the China Week of Clausthal University of Technology and the China Network Lower Saxony and can only succeed together.

Video Link: https: //video.tu-clausthal.de/film/china-woche-2021_1228.html

Photo link: HERE