Chinese Professors Participate in Qualification Programme at ZEW

From 14 to 24 August 2017, members of the supervisory committee of the centrally organised Chinese Master’s programme of International Business visited the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) to pursue a qualification programme. After two weeks of intensive training, ZEW President Professor Achim Wambach wished the participants farewell in a certificate ceremony.

The qualification programme “MIB Faculty Programme”, attended by professors from 14 Chinese universities, relied on four pillars:

1.       The exchange of experience with German researchers;

2.       To strengthen intercultural expertise as well as organisational skills for presentations and seminars;

3.       To deepen the knowledge of European markets and associated institutions;

4.       Current developments in the field of business administration using the example of global companies based in the Rhine-Neckar region.

Diverse programme informed by research and relevant to practice – at ZEW, in Germany’s financial hub Frankfurt and in local companies

In accordance with these four pillars, the programme aimed to provide in-depth knowledge with the help of both ZEW experts and external experts. The programme featured, for instance, a presentation held by Professor Achim Wambach and former ZEW President Professor Wolfgang Franz, who shed light on the role of research in economic policy advising. In his speech, Professor Matthias Beller, vice president of the Leibniz Association, highlighted the importance of research associations. Interactive workshops organised by experts from the ZEW Service Department “Knowledge Transfer and Qualification Programmes” aimed to strengthen soft skills, such as intercultural competence and presentation techniques. The two-week programme also featured visits to the European Central Bank and the Deutsche Bundesbank, as well as company visits, which allowed the participants to gain valuable insights into business practice. One such visits included a presentation on research and innovation activities with a special focus on China, held at the chemical giant BASF. Furthermore, Steffen Rowold, chief financial officer at the plastics processing company Röchling, provided insights into current challenges in international businesses activities.

This was the first time that ZEW has offered the academic qualification programme to the “China National Master of International Business Education Supervisory Committee“, allowing the institute to build on its diverse research collaborations with renowned Chinese institutions, such as the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing as well as the Fudan University in Shanghai. Apart from international qualification programmes, the Service Department also offers seminars and custom-tailored training courses for firms and institutions.