According to the Embassy of Denmark in China, after spending a week in Copenhagen as the prize winners of the SAS Competition, launched by Innovation Centre Denmark, Shanghai in cooperation with SAS – Scandinavian Airlines, Copenhagen Capacity and the Danish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education, the six winning engineering students from Shanghai have taken several steps closer towards choosing Denmark for their future career.
The 22 year old Electronic Engineering student at Fudan University, Bao Weining was especially impressed by the close connection between universities and companies in Denmark.
“I have never seen such close connection between companies and universities in China,” says Bao Weining.
An example of this close connection the students experienced when visiting catalysis company Haldor Topsøe. They have the last two year worked closely with Technical University of Denmark to engage students directly in solving some of the real life problems the company is facing. An arrangement that has led to students hired for their first job in Haldor Topsøe.
“This tight cooperation between universities and companies in Denmark utilizes the transition from study to work which makes the education investment more efficient. Denmark definitely stands out as a desired destination for study and work abroad,” says Bao Weining.
Through a high profiled program visiting Danish universities and companies the students got a real life experience of opportunities and the lifestyle in Denmark. Experiences that kept on impressing the students both in terms of excellence in research, advancement in the engineering field particularly sustainable energy, as well as living and working conditions in Denmark.
In the media’s coverage of the student’s trip to Denmark, Hu Minfei, master student in Energy Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said to the national Danish news media Berlingske Tidende.
“In Denmark working hard is not enough. Here you have to be critical, creative, innovative, willing to discuss, independent, social and ready for teamwork”.
During the week’s visit the six students have each day written a Weibo blog, at the Sino-Danish Network profile. In this way their stories and experiences in Denmark can inspire other students to consider Denmark for their further studies.
“Actually, after sharing my experience in Denmark and exchanging ideas with my friends, I find many of them have already changed their thoughts about Denmark”, says 19 year old Zhang Yue, student at Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University.
“All in all, Denmark is a great place to not only enable students to be exposed to more career opportunities with cutting-edge technology but also provide them with an excellent environment where they could take most advantage of intellectual capabilities,” explained Zhang Yue after returning to China on Sunday 1 April.
Liu Xiaolu, master student in Electrical Engineering at Fudan University agrees with Zhang Yue.
“Before this trip, I only considered Denmark as one possible option of pursuing a PhD degree or working, but after I experienced what life, study and work in Denmark really is, through this competition, I consider Denmark an ideal destination of future planning,” says Liu Xiaolu.
After returning to Shanghai the students will act as Sino-Danish Network agents helping Innovation Centre Denmark, Shanghai in the effort of promoting Danish study and career opportunities to Chinese students.
