A tour of the campus allowed the guests to see Kiel’s new Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB) and GEOMAR| Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research in Kiel. In the presence of Dr. Cordelia Andreßen, State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Economics and Transport for Schleswig Holstein, CAU Vice President Professor Thomas Bosch and the Deputy Chairman of the university council of Zhejiang University, Zichen Chen, underlined their plans for a strategic partnership in a declaration of intent. “We are at a point at which we are getting to know each other better in order to develop an overarching concept with a model character” Bosch said at the signing. Andreßen emphasized the significance of academia for the regional and economical development of both countries.
Zhejiang University has been a partner of CAU since 1986. Up to six Chinese scientists a year will be invited to Kiel for a one year long research stay. In return, scientists from Kiel will travel to Hangzhou to give speeches and further projects. So far the main focus for the most part has been on medicine. Every year Chinese doctors come to Kiel to do their PhD. The intent is to extend this model in future to other areas such as marine science, economics and law.
A few students and graduates from Kiel also regularly go to Hangzhou for a year's stay. During a three week summer school, they are gain insight into the different facets of China today. The partner university awards partial scholarships to the participants. In this academic year 2011/12, for the first time, Zhejiang University is offering five scholarships to graduates from CAU (BA/MA) for a one year long course called “China Studies”, to be held in English, at the end of which the participants will be awarded the Masters degree.
“We can look back at a fruitful collaboration of more than a quarter century” said the president of CAU Gerhard Fouquet at the reception of the delegation on the roof terrace of the university administration building. He also pointed out that there are a large amount of Chinese exchange students in Kiel. Zichen Chen said that, based on the experience gathered up to now, it is in their interest to establish a cooperation in areas such as marine science and law. “In many aspects, Kiel University has become an international role model.”
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