As an annual joint international program co-organized by Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (BiUH) and Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI), the 2026 Spring School centered on intercultural exchange, practical industry insights, and international team collaboration. The program was conducted in two stops: the first in Shanghai from February 22 to 28, and the second in Hainan from March 1 to 11, weaving a Sino-German exchange journey that integrates high-tech industry exploration with cultural and academic collaboration.
Around 40 Chinese and German students participated in the Shanghai stop. HSBI students first took Chinese language and culture courses at the International School of Tongji University; after the courses, they teamed up with outstanding students from BiUH to jointly participate in enterprise visits. The group visited leading enterprises such as German Company Voith Paper in Kunshan, SenseTime, and Baidu Autonomous Driving in Shanghai, gaining an in-depth understanding of the cutting-edge developments in China’s high-tech fields including autonomous driving and artificial intelligence. At the Sino-German industry-academia-research expert roundtable forum, young people from both countries engaged in deep dialogue on technology and industry.
Hainan Phase: Campus Collaboration and Cultural Integration in Yangpu
For the Hainan phase, nearly 90 Chinese and German students gathered on the BiUH Yangpu campus. Working in mixed Sino-German teams, they completed an interdisciplinary engineering practice project. Under the guidance of Prof. Maik Lauterbach from HSBI, they applied theoretical knowledge to solving practical engineering problems, honing their cross-cultural and interdisciplinary communication and teamwork skills.
Beyond the professional project practice, a rich variety of cultural exchange activities added a warm and heartfelt touch to this cross-border collaboration. German students experienced traditional Chinese folk customs like making Tangyuan, and visited Dongpo Academy to explore the cultural heritage of Danzhou. Friendly badminton and football matches between Chinese and German students further deepened their friendship. At the closing ceremony, faculty and students shared their insights, and the lively atmosphere on site ignited the enthusiasm of BiUH students to participate in the 2026 Summer School.
Before leaving Hainan, HSBI students were invited by the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province to a Sino-German Youth Exchange Event in Haikou. They listened to Prof. Zhou Hong from Hainan Medical University share insights into Sino-German joint talent development and employment opportunities in the Hainan Free Trade Port.
A New Milestone for Sino-German Cooperation, Empowering the Development of Hainan Free Trade Port
The Spring and Summer School programs of BiUH are more than just international exchange activities. They embody the deepening strategic partnership between BiUH and HSBI, and represent a key practice of our university in advancing international education rooted in the Hainan Free Trade Port. These programs have promoted the internationalization of teaching, cultivated students’ cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills, built a bridge connecting universities, students and industries, and injected vibrant youth energy into Sino-German economic and technological cooperation.
As a pioneer in Sino-German educational cooperation in the Hainan Free Trade Port, BiUH will continue to take the Spring and Summer School programs as an important platform to deepen educational and cultural exchanges, and cultivate more innovative, practical and interdisciplinary talents with a global vision.
