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A petition to save the China project has opened. The aim of this petition is to support the prolongation of the Chinalize Project of Hanze University Groningen. The project offers International Communication students a unique learning opportunity during a 3-week trip to Tianjin, China.
The Hanze Nankai China Project has seen 4 successful generations. During the last 4 years, over 20 companies enjoyed great benefits by the creative and innovative work by the students. However, the future of the project is uncertain. There is a high probability that the project will be discontinued, thus future IC students won't visit China.
Please go to our petition http://www.chinalize.nl/petition2010/
and tell us why you think the China project should continue
This year, the Hanze University Groningen of Applied Sciences (Hanze) is sending several students to China, where they will take part in a unique social and economical experience. For the previous China project and experiences, please visit www.chinalize.nl/2008.
The China Project, also called “Chinalize” by the university, its students and the media at large, will see roughly thirty 4th year students of all ages and backgrounds journey to the Far East. The 3-week long trip to Tianjin, Beijing and Shanghai hopes to shape their outlook on globalization and cooperation for years to come. The students will leave The Netherlands for China in mid-October via Amsterdam's Schipol Airport- and will be joined on the trip by several Hanze faculty members, government officials and NGO representatives.
Chinalize 2009 is an integral part of the 4th year specialization “International Business Communication” of the Hanze's International Communication degree program (based in Groningen, The Netherlands). The Project will partner Hanze and its students with Nankai University (one of the top universities in China) and several Chinese companies with local and international ties. Now in its 4th iteration, The China Project will have several objectives, which include:
- Working together on projects for mutual business and cultural partnerships between Dutch and Chinese companies.
- Sharing and exchanging cultural experiences between Hanze and Nankai students, university officials and governmental/non-governmental entities.
The project was brought to life in 2006 by Erik Kostelijk (Marketing/ Marketing Communication Professor at the Hanze Univerity Groningen) and Wang Fei (former International Communication student). It has consistently proven time and again the importance of becoming a global citizen, breaking down barriers and fostering a healthy desire to address world problems together.
One small example of such is one of the companies the students will be working with this year: Wangpai. A Chinese manufacturer of electronic bikes – Wangpai - has devoted itself to spreading the message that cutting-edge technology and being responsible for the environment can be uniting forces, as opposed to divisive. This philosophy hits close to home, as China's booming economic growth comes with the familiar problem of how to sustain that growth while managing the environment and natural resources effectively.
All in all, the China Project is a unique opportunity for Hanze students to practice a key aspect of their curriculum- intercultural competencies. After all, the best method to understanding other cultures is to be there so you can immerse yourself in it- thereby gaining understanding.