Nankai is one of the top-10 universities in China. Founder of the Chinese Communist Party Zhou En Lai graduated from this university. Tian jin is a city of 10 million people about 150 kilometres from Beijing. The unique study program –the highlight of the strategic partnership between Nankai and Hanzeuniversity - is sponsored by Dutch companies from the North of the Netherlands. The program culminates in a 2-week study trip to Nankai University. A successful program, this year organized for already the 3rd time! Participating in this study trip: all 30 students of the specialization International Business Communication, together with Trienke Drijfhout and Erik Kostelijk as coaches and organizers of this project, and graduate Wang fei as the intercultural link between both universities.

IC student Saskia Zwiers about her China Experience:
The Lypack group is with 6 members the largest project group this year. The Lypack group worked on a wide variety of tasks during the two weeks. The project was extra interesting for all students, because of the recent melamine scandal. In the first week the group worked hard to prepare for business meetings in the beginning of the second week. Also a questionnaire was translated and adjusted to the Chinese standards. In the second week two groups of Chinese students accompanied each by a student of the Hanzeuniversity, got as many people as possible to complete the questions. The students showed great initiative to collect almost 100 completed questionnaires at different large supermarkets in Tianjin. Focusing on mothers with babies, the questions were created to gain inside in the Chinese mindset towards milk powder. Answers on these questions were also received from doctors at a maternity centre and a hospital in Tianjin.

In the meanwhile a few students of the Lypack were in Beijing to visit several companies. To prepare, Chinese students gave us detailed information on the hidden rules in Chinese business meetings. The timing of this project turned out to be perfect. Due to the recent developments the Chinese market, this is now the best possible time for Lypack to enter the Chinese market.