“We’ve had quite a number of partnerships with top universities in China for some time now. We have seen those partnerships go smoothly. In terms of exchange programs, they fit well into each other’s system. At the moment, we are discussing with a number of potential Chinese partners plans to set up in Beijing something similar to the Food Valley here.
Chinese partners are vital. The most important thing is knowledge development. We do not invest in or take shares from any of our activities in China. We collaborate to generate new knowledge. We have no plans to build satellite campuses. We have an office in Beijing to support collaborations with universities, research institutions and businesses that we may want to collaborate with.”
Prof. Arthur Mol, Rector Magnificus and Vice President
Wageningen Environmental Research, Netherlands
“We have a strategic partnership with Beijing University and of course have a lot of other partnerships in China. I am aiming for student mobility. That’s really what I want to enhance, as well as virtual mobility, once the pandemic is over. Those are two things that I am looking forward to for Chinese students and our local students too.”
Hanna Snellman, Vice-Rector – International Affairs
University of Helsinki, Finland
“China still ranks as the 2nd largest group of international students in France. In 2005, we saw the first collaboration between a French engineering school and a Chinese partner, the result of which was the Franco-Chinese Institute (IFC). There are now about ten IFC between French engineering schools and Chinese higher education institutions.
“Last year, before the pandemic, we had a meeting with the Chinese Embassy in France, during which they stated their desire to continue developing the IFC program, focusing specifically on French engineering schools. This is how we remain attractive to Chinese industry. We do not just attract Chinese students to study in France but, importantly, we also allow them to study in a French institution in China. That’s important.”
Prof. Jocelyn Brendle, President of the International and Development Commission
Conference of Deans of French Schools of Engineering (CDEFI), France
“China has become and remains one of our core priorities. The Chinese are now the 2nd largest student community after the French. That was a result of more than 20 years of collaborative efforts to develop prestigious partnerships in China and improve our multidisciplinary science and engineering programs.
“As a global institution, we aim to attract students from around the world. We consistently maintain all our relationships across the globe, especially our long-standing ones with China. While we strive to attract more Chinese students to come study in France, we also strongly encourage French students to study in the stimulating higher education environment in China.”
Eric Labaye, President
“China is becoming a very important market for us. We are trying to enhance our relationship with China and our partner universities. We are exploring double degree programs and also executive education with our partner schools, not just have student exchange programs.
”For now, we currently admit Chinese students; but we are definitely looking to increase our presence in China. We have a representative office in Shanghai, which advises students who want to study in EM Normandie and strengthen our relationships with Chinese universities.”
Hendrik Lohse, DBA, Director of International Affairs
