Meeting of scholarship holders in Sichuan

On 10 April 2008 a meeting of scholarship holders of the Hanns Seidel Foundation took place at the Sichuan Agriculture University in Yaan. There are 20 scholarship holders in Sichuan, half of them study at the University in Yaan 122 km southwest of Chengdu, whearas the other half is enrolled at the Xichang College in southern Sichuan.

In cooperation with the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development which is attached to the Association of the Chinese People for Friendship with Foreign Countries the Hanns Seidel Foundation implements a China-based scholarship program since 2002.

45 students in Sichuan and Yunnan have been awarded scholarships. The program targets talented and socially committed students from low income families. Besides the forementioned universities the Yunnan Shifan University, the Kunming Ligong University and the Kunming University take part in the program. After restructuring of the program the scholarships are awarded for a term of three years in the second-to-fourth year of a Bachelor degree program. In 2009, the first group of Bachelor graduates will have finished their studies.

The percentage of female scholarship holders is high, in Sichuan women make up over 80% of the awarded students. Study subjects of the scholarship holders from Yaan and Xichang comprise agro economics, forest management, food science, management of land resources, bio sciences, water management, construction engineering, computer sciences and marketing. Majority of scholarship holders would like to go directly into jobs after graduation, some want to obtain a master degree and work in the scientific field afterwards.

During the first part of the meeting, after a “get-to-know-each-other”, the Hanns Seidel Foundation was introduced. During the afternoon session which was held in the auditorium due to more interested students taking part facts about Germany were given, e.g. the political system, demographic trends, social security and education systems. A lively discussion followed the presentation. Questions raised by students comprised western fears of China's economic rise, views of Chinese products in Germany and key success factors for the development of the German economy. Besides, taken Germany as an example, the significance of how a country come to terms with its past was highlighted.

Universities participating in the program facilitate discussion with students, thus contributing to a better understanding of different opinions on intercultural matters. Students once again showed keen interest in direct discussion. Particularly in remote areas there is a huge demand for information exchange on Germany and Europe related topics. The Sichuan Agricultural University has close ties with several German Universities. Two out of four vice presidents of the University have studied in Germany, and speak German fluently. The University participates in the “211 program” and is among the top 100 Chinese universities for the 21 century. German is not yet offered due to lack of suitable teachers. There's however interest among individual students in learning the language.