EU-China Winter School 2017

„Understanding Europe and the European integration: fundamentals, principles and issues governing Europe in a global environment“

February 2, 2017 to February 14, 2017

European Academy Otzenhausen (EAO), Germany, Trier, Luxemburg, Brussels

For information concerning the 2017 programme in Chinese please click here.

General information

China and the European Union are two major players in the world of economics and trade. While the EU is the largest trading partner of China, ranked first both with regard to export and import, China is the second largest trading partner of the EU. Nevertheless, problems such as trade and investment barriers as well as the protection of intellectual property rights pose serious challenges to he cooperation between the EU and China.

Therefore, understanding Europe and the European Union, getting familiar with the fundamentals, principles and issues governing the European Union in a global environment and shaping the relationship between Europe and China becomes more and more important and appealing for young Chinese high potentials. In order to promote the mutual understanding between these two major players, the Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE) in cooperation with the European Aademy Otzenhausen (EAO) offer for the first time in 2017 an EU-China Winter School on „Understanding Europe and the European Union“ to Chinese college students from prestigous universities from all over China.

This 12 days Winter Course will be held at the European Academy Otzenhausen – a modern and comfortable conference facility located in the center of the Greater Region SaarLorLux, one of the core regions of the European integration process. The program will be enriched by thrilling field trips to Brussels, Luxemburg, and Trier, oldest German city with a history of more than 2000 years.

During this program the Chinese students will be exposed to intensive lectures on the major political, historical and economic perspectives and issues of the EU. All the courses will be taught in English by internationally renowned faculty from CIFE and other major German universities. Moreover, by visiting the most important EU institutions (European Parliament and/or European Council, European Investment Bank and/or European Court of Justice)  in 2 European capitals Brussels and Luxemburg, Chinese students will be provided with first hand insights into the functioning of the European Union. In Brussels as well as in Luxemburg the students will be brought into direct contact with the decision-makers and the representatives of those institutions. In Tier, the students will have the chance to visit Trier University, one of the most famous universities in the world, and the students will have the lecture in the Trier University.

Finally, the EU-China Winter School will provide Chinese students with a unique cross-cultural experience: during this 12 days program, CIFE and EAO will organize “Joint Events” which will bring together the participants of this Winter Course with students from other Asian countries staying at the EAO at the same time. The purpose of these “Joint Events” is to provide Chinese students with the opportunity to learn in common about specific topics of the European Union and the process of the European integration.

The exposure to the European integration in classroom coupled with field trips to European institutions and cross-cultural learning will make this EU-China Winter School one of the most rewarding experiences of the participant´s university career.

Academic Responsibility

• Dr. Michael Meimeth (CIFE, Director Overseas University Programs)

Topics of the lectures (selection)

• EU Studies and Political Science – what are the basic questions?
• History of the European integration with a special focus on the Franco-German relations
• The institutional architecture of the European Union
• The economic dimension of the European integration
• Europe and the refugee crisis
• Euro crisis
• Brexit and its consequences for Europe

Credits and Certificates

Upon successful completion of this 12 days program, Chinese students may earn up to 3 transferable credits awarded by CIFE. Credits will be granted only to those students who will attend all lectures and successfully complete the courses by a written exam.

Certificates will be provided by CIFE for Chinese students wishing to leverage their educational experience in this Winter School with subsequent pursuit of internships and/or other higher learning opportunities.

Program Logistics

Accommodation

The European Academy Otzenhausen (EAO) will host Chinese students for the most part of this 12-day program. The EAO is a perfect venue for international conference and hosting scholars and students from all over the world. The Chinese students will accommodated in modern comfortable twin and/or triple rooms all equipped with free internet access and free high speed WiFi. All rooms have private modern bathrooms. The EAO´s conference facilities are excellent and meals are legendary! The very friendly staff of the EAO is extremely keen on taking care of their guests.

During the 2-days field trip to Brussels the students will be accommodated in a 3 star hotel in twin rooms with private bathroom.

Catering

During the stay at the EAO the students will enjoy full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner). For the field trips to Trier and Luxemburg, the EAO will provide the students with breakfast, lunch packages for the day and dinner upon return to the EAO.

During the 2-days trip to Brussels, the students will be provided with breakfast and dinner.

Transportation

During the 2017 EU-China Winter School, CIFE provides the Chinese students with the following transportation services:

• Group transfer by bus from Frankfurt International Airport to the EAO and back to Frankfurt International Airport
• Group Transport by bus on all field trips

Staff support

For the 12-day program CIFE will provide a qualified group leader who speaks English and Chinese and who is familiar with the program venues. The group leader will stay with Chinese group during the entire program at the EAO and will accompany the group on the field trips to Luxemburg, Trier and Brussels.