The six winning students enjoyed the beautiful scenery in Copenhagen, here by Amalienborg Castle.
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.
Strong connection between Danish universities and companies
22 year old Electronic Engineering student at Fudan University, Bao Weining were 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.”
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. This definitely outstands Denmark 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 Denmark working hard is not enough. Here you have to be critical, creative, innovative, willing to discuss, independent, social and ready for teamwork”, as Hu Minfei, master student in Energy Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said to the national Danish news media Berlingske Business in the media’s coverage of the student’s trip to Denmark.
At Aalborg University Copenhagen the students got a chance to experience lab facilities.
Share the knowledge
During the week’s visit the six students have each day written a Weibo blog, at the Sino-Danish Network profile, to share their experiences. 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,” Zhang Yue explain after returning to China on Sunday 1 April 2012.
And 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.
During the busy week there was time to visit The Little Mermaid.
About the competition
The SAS Competition is arranged and sponsored by Sino-Danish Network by Innovation Centre Denmark, Shanghai, SAS – Scandinavian Airlines, Copenhagen Capacity and Study In Denmark, The Danish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Higher Education. In Denmark, Technical University of Denmark, Aalborg University Copenhagen and Danish companies A.P. Møller-Maersk, Novo Nordisk and Haldor Topsøe invited the students for exclusive visits.