The ecological student exchange of 2009

Groningen, 08.09.2009 – On the 17th of October the Hanze University Groningen in the Netherlands will give the start signal for the fourth China project. In association with the Nankai University in Tianjin, China communication students from all over the world will team up and develop communication strategies and advices for seven companies. Special about this year is that the environment is in the very center of all interests.

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GRONINGEN - De Hanzehogeschool in Groningen en de Nankai Universiteit in het Chinese Tianjin breiden hun samenwerking uit, dankzij minister-president Balkenende.

Groningse studenten International Communication reizen eens per jaar met hun docenten naar China om te kijken of ze daar voor noordelijke bedrijven contacten kunnen leggen. De studenten zijn bijvoorbeeld succesvol geweest voor Philips Drachten en voor constructiebedrijf Miedema, dat aardappelrooimachines verkoopt.

http://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/indexwm.asp?actie=totaalbericht&pid=81849

Also the Pedimed project group achieved their goal of finding a suitable business partner in China, from whom to obtain high quality pedicure furniture and equipment on a long term relationship. Three company visits throughout China and a lot of preparation work in collaboration with the Nankai buddies, helped to identify the best company match for Pedimed. The Nankai students were a great support. Without them the project wouldn’t have been possible. Translation work, sharing insights into the do’s and don’ts of the Chinese business world and arranging flight and train tickets, to mention just a few activities that enabled the group to get started for the exciting, final company visits.

Multi Purpose Industries (MPI) is a Dutch consortium that operates in the waste management industry with a special focus on sustainable landfill sanitation. With their product, the Multi-Purpose Unit (MPU), they convert waste into energy and useable materials which are sold to businesses and individuals alike.

Studenten International Communication van de Hanzehogeschool Groningen gaan de ervaringen die ze hebben opgedaan tijdens een studietrip naar China delen met noordelijke ondernemers. Dertig studenten van de opleiding hebben recentelijk veertien dagen in China doorgebracht. Ze ontdekten daar een aantal belangrijke (zakelijke) culturele verschillen en vonden een aantal oplossingen om deze te overbruggen.

Korte toespraak minister-president Jan Peter Balkenende bij de opening van HanzeForum van de Hanzehogeschool Groningen, 25.11.08

The Lypack group is with 6 members the largest project group this year. The Lypack group worked on a wide variety of tasks during the two weeks. The project was extra interesting for all students, because of the recent melamine scandal. In the first week the group worked hard to prepare for business meetings in the beginning of the second week. Also a questionnaire was translated and adjusted to the Chinese standards. In the second week two groups of Chinese students accompanied each by a student of the Hanzeuniversity, got as many people as possible to complete the questions.

Our group was very well prepared to go to China. We tackled some difficulties beforehand regarding contacting potential business partners while still being in the Netherlands and we noticed our product was not the easiest to find a market for. We prepared by printing business cards, creating a very professional Powerpoint presentation and a clear overview of companies we already contacted and the once we still had to contact.

Philips was overwhelmed by the amount of young Chinese professionals and graduates who want to come to Drachten to develop new product innovations in Philips’ new Advanced Technology Center. The project started with an initial meeting in Drachten. The head of Philips in the North of the Netherlands, our contact person and the student group were present. Subsequent to the first meeting, we - Iris, Celine, Linda, and Iskren - were designing Flyer and Poster for the recruitment day that we were supposed to hold at Nankai University in Tianjin, China.