Zukunftsbrücke: Chinese-German Young Professional Campus
Zukunftsbrücke: Chinese-German Young Professional Campus is managed by the Mercator Program Center for International Affairs
In an increasingly globalized world, a stable partnership between China and Germany is of key importance from a political, cultural and economic perspective. In recent decades, economic relations between Germany and China have advanced steadily. However, in the context of global challenges, such as climate change, energy security and finance policy, cooperation and mutual trust that go beyond purely economic interests are of increasing importance. We will only be able to successfully meet these challenges if transnational bridges are expanded in order to create a sustainable basis for cooperation.
Structure and Organization
The “Zukunftsbrücke: Chinese-German Young Professional Campus” is a project by Stiftung Mercator in cooperation with the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF), Peking University and the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi). During the 10-day-programme, 30 young professionals from Germany and China come together to take part in an intensive dialogue, comprising seminar phases, group work and discussions with experts. Subjects of discussion include trends, visions, challenges and case studies of sustainable development in China and Germany as well as general issues of Chinese-German relations. The programme takes place in China and Germany on an annually-alternating basis.
The participants of the “Zukunftsbrücke” occupy key positions in their respective field of work and have high leadership potential. The programme brings together young professionals from the public and private sector, from politics, the economy, culture, media, academia and civil society. They all have a high degree of affinity with the topic of the “Zukunftsbrücke”, as well as the strong interest to contribute to the future of Chinese-German relations.
Zukunftsbrücke 2013
The next “Zukunftsbrücke: Chinese-German Young Professional Campus” takes place in Berlin and Essen, Germany, from May 30 to June 8, 2013 (arrival May 29, departure June 9). The topic of this year’s programme is: “Social Dimensions of Sustainable Development”.
With its thematic orientation the “Zukunftsbrücke 2013” contributes to raising awareness for the often side-lined social aspects of sustainable development. The programme touches upon both theoretical and practical questions of social sustainability and addresses key concepts of social sustainability such as equity, social cohesion, quality of life and well-being. The participants get the chance to identify differences and commonalities, as well as to discuss case studies and strategies of socially sustainable development in Germany and China. Focal point of the discussions will be the question of how Germany and China can learn from each other and in which areas they should strengthen their cooperation in order to realize sustainable development.
Application
The thirty participants of the “Zukunftsbrücke 2013”, 15 from Germany and 15 from China, will be selected through an open application process. Young professionals from China and Germany aged between 28 and 38 years can apply for the programme. The minimum application requirements are two years of work experience as well as excellent English skills. For detailed information on the application requirements as well as the application process please see the Call for Applications and the FAQ document on this website.
The application deadline ended in January 6, 2013.
Objectives
The “Zukunftsbrücke: Chinese-German Young Professional Campus” contributes to building a solid basis for future cooperation between China and Germany. The project aims to establish a long-lasting network of young professionals and to sustainably intensify Chinese-German relations. Besides offering its participants professional and intercultural qualification, the project is designed to foster both personal and professional exchange between both countries and to strengthen mutual understanding and respect.
The “Zukunftsbrücke” and its goals are explicitly supported by the governments of China and Germany. The programme has been mentioned in the final declarations of the Chinese-German intergovernmental consultations in 2011 and 2012 in which both countries honoured the contribution of the project for the development of a network between young professionals from China and Germany.