China Newsletter of Roskilde University, June 2011
RUC and China
- a strong alliance …
It is important for graduates to have a stay abroad on their CV and to emphasize that they have resided in a Chinese University. RUC is in an advantageous position when it comes to having the right relationships in China, we must ensure to fully utilize these relations and build on them!
It looks to be a trend, that foreign actors ensure a strong institutional presence in China. Denmark is not only part of this tendency, but plays a prominent part, in particular through the Danish universities’ undertakings in Beijing, which will be described here in the newsletter.
A number of the concrete projects have a common denominator: they ensure Western actors physical presence in China. It is taken that this strategy is welcomed in China. The West's desire to ensure a visible and permanent platform in China is based on the fact that it will create greater dividends than "ordinary" bilateral forms of cooperation. An institutional presence facilitates cooperation and development of the relationship with the local researchers and businesses and the attraction and recruitment of local students. The fact that these initiatives take place in China can be seen as a concrete expression of the need to become established in the world's growth centre of one of the world's largest education markets with 20 million students, and in what promises to be an upcoming scientific superpower.
The Chinese welcome foreign institutions, as they generally have a positive view on internationalization of education. In 2003 China opened up for foreign universities to provide university education in the country in partnership with Chinese institutions.
Chinese values
If we as a university and researchers want to be successful in China, we need to be aware of an aspect of Chinese leadership, which is much respected, namely ‘guan xi’ – or good relations. It is less about what you know and more about who you know. Business insight, intelligence and knowledge are highly valued qualities, along with the willingness to work hard and make an extra effort to get ahead.
The Confucian system emphasizes hierarchy, piety and respect. Personal relations are crucial in the Chinese culture, regardless of nationality. It is important to keep promises and to build trust in order to move forward in both society and business. These elements are still prevalent in Chinese industry, although, much is changing. RUC has through a lot of years invested time and money in establishing ‘guan xi’ – the good relations are evident from the cooperative relations, which will be described here in the newsletter.
"Of experience I can say that seniority, position and age play an important role when we do business in China. There is a direct link between the number of stars on his shoulders and the way you are perceived by employees and business partners," explains Per Jenster, Professor & Director at China Europe International Business School, Shanghai.
The aim is to raise Danish growth, and this also seems obvious for Danish politicians and business leaders to look to the East, as China in more than a decade has impressed with annual growth rates close to 10 percent. The opposition in Danish politics has even said that if they come to power, they will make a separate policy that is targeted China and cooperation with Denmark.
RUC has a strong foundation to build on; a foundation researchers can utilize and expand on, and a basis for RUC’s students to strategically make themselves even more attractive for Danish and international companies.
Enjoy!
Mette & Wei
International Office