DHBW Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University - China Study Programme

A group of 32 students from the Karlsruhe, Loerrach, Mannheim, Stuttgart campuses of the DHBW Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University, Germany, came to join the two-week China Study Programme from 4 Aug - 16 Aug 2019. The programme was filled with inspiring learning topics and exciting field visits in Hong Kong and Beijing, China.

Learning topics included China’s Development, Hong Kong Business and Economy, Hong Kong Financial System and Services, Business Culture in the Mainland China, etc. Participants were pleased to have received different academic views from lecturers and guest speakers from the two cities in China.

For field visits, participants were inspired by the insightful advice and the hands-on experience from the sharing sessions. Visits included Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Hong Kong, and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, ZhongGuanCun and the German Chambers of Commerce in Beijing, etc. It concluded with the cultural site visits including The Forbidden City and The Great Wall.

The China Study Programme was a great success! Students took back so many great memories and invaluable knowledge. Many of them were inspired from this niche international immersion programme and would like to come to China for work one day.

Testimonials from Past Participants

From Lisa Raab

Why China?

In 2018, I decided to join the China Study Programme at DHBW Mannheim in cooperation with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Due to a Chinese language course and my first practical experience with Chinese business clients at my employer, I was interested in the Chinese culture. As experiencing the banking sector during my study programme, I was particular interested in learning more about the Hong Kong stock exchange- especially from an Asian perspective (lecture given by Dr Derek Yim). The excursions to companies, having also subsidiaries in Germany, were also boarding. Because of digital project in my daily business, I expect that my business contact with Chinese employees will expand in the future. Therefore, I appreciate and recommend the programme to explore the Chinese culture and to gain first business/academic experience in China.

What did I get out of it?

From my perspective, it was very helpful to participate in the programme, because my current employer endorses my intercultural experience. So, my projects profit from the programme regarding interacting with people from different cultures. Additionally, the programme formed up a kind of network between the participants and experts from PolyU. Sometimes we are still exchanging articles towards interesting topics and discussing about them.

Credits and greetings to PolyU and Karen!

From Marcel Hofmann

Why did I choose China?

I wanted to take the exceptional chance to get exposure to another culture and international experience. I was looking forward to fly to Hong Kong to get the taste of an international and very different experience. Compared to all European possibilities, choosing China turned out as the best way to step out of my comfort zone and broaden my horizon.

Not only I did expect an interesting trip to this one way very traditional, but in the other way highly modern country. One of the most relevant aspects that made me want to join this short-term program in China, was the wide range of knowledge areas which were attended in only two weeks.

How useful was the trip to me?

I got a very exciting and educational stay in Hong-Kong and Beijing with a group of skilled young people out of other companies and from different DHBW locations. In today’s business world understanding the global market, working in teams with different cultures is a true asset, and this is what the program enabled for me. And at least I learned also a lot about me during this stay. Seeing me acting outside known fields was very helpful for my personal development process. And for sure through this program I was able to extend my international network with various precious people.

Thanks for this very special program and well organized stay in Hong Kong and Beijing!

From Gabriel Ebert

What did you like about the International Immersion Programme?

The DHBW Summer study program in 2019 was a great learning experience. While staying for one week in Hong Kong and Beijing each, I had the opportunity to learn more about China’s fast growing economy. I gained deep firsthand insights by visiting major companies, e.g. Lenovo and furthermore by having discussions and assessments by representatives from the German chamber of commerce in Hong Kong.

The most astonishing experience to me was the visit to different innovation hubs. Contrary to many stories, I was able to learn more about major innovations from China in recent years.

The organisation from the DHBW and PolyU coordinators made the two-week program to a great learning journey that I can recommend to other students. By attending the program, I was able to make many new experiences to deepen my cross cultural experience that will be more important than ever before in the German-Sino business relations and my personal professional career.

Programme Timetable