Cultural Cooperation with China

Goals, Options for Action and Perspectives for Actors in Germany

Exchange and cooperation in the fields of culture and the humanities play an important role in Germany's and other European countries' relations with China. There is a need for better mutual understanding, especially in consideration of China's increased international weight, even outside of conventional areas such as the economy. However, in recent years, exchange and cooperation have faced major challenges, notably in the cultural and academic fields, such as the restrictions on personal encounters as a consequence of the Covid pandemic. Also, difficulties resulted from increasingly challenging domestic and foreign policy conditions.

This event series is organised by ifa - Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen in cooperation with the Mercator Foundation and will offer an overview of the current state of cultural cooperation with China. Experiences will be shared, and realistic goals and preconditions as well as options for action will be explored.

The event series includes three public online lectures given by academics and practitioners:

11.10.22, 10-11:30 (CET)
Cultural Cooperation with China at the Crossroads? - Current status, opportunities, and challenges (German language) with Prof. Dr. Björn Alpermann, University of Würzburg

12.10.22, 10-11:30 (CET)    
Rethinking Cultural Cooperation with China - Goals, Options for Action and Perspectives for Actors in Germany (German language) with Dr. Sigrun Abels, Director, Center for Cultural Studies on Science and Technology in China at the TU Berlin

13.10.22, 11:15-12:45 (CET)
Cultural exchange with China - from patronizing to humility? - Experiences, challenges, and strategies of actors across Europe (English language) with Monique Knapen, The China Connector, Amsterdam

Moderation: Prof. Dr. Sabrina Weithmann, China-expert and founder of CHINALOGUE®

Speakers

Björn Alpermann is Professor and Chair of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Würzburg. After studying Modern Chinese Studies, Economics and Political Science at the University of Cologne and Nankai University, Tianjin (PR China), he completed his PhD in Modern Chinese Studies at the University of Cologne. His current research focuses include political systems of the People's Republic of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, protests and democracy movements, social change and political culture.​

Dr. Sigrun Abels is Director of the Center for Cultural Studies on Science and Technology in China, CCST, China Center, at TU Berlin. She is also the Managing Director of the CDHK Office Berlin (Chinese-German University College of Tongji University, Shanghai) at the Faculty of Economics & Management at TU Berlin. Her areas of responsibility as CDHK coordinator include the coordination of teaching assistants, the joint selection of students for study visits at German universities and at the CDHK, and participation in higher education policy and strategic developments at the CDHK, especially in China studies. In addition, she conducts her annual course "TUB/Tongji Summer School" for German students at the CDHK in Shanghai.

Monique Knapen is an expert in the field of international cultural relations, especially in the art and culture sector between the Netherlands and China. She studied Social History at Erasmus University in Rotterdam and completed a minor in Sinology in Leiden. Monique studied at Beijing University for a year as an exchange student (1990-1991) and started her carrier in Shanghai at the local radio station working for a British company that serviced radio programs in 5 Chinese cities.  After her return to The Netherlands, she worked as Program Director China for nearly 10 years at DutchCulture. She worked on several projects including the Shanghai Expo, bringing a diverse program of Dutch cultural organizations for 6 months (2010). Since 2017 she co-founded her own company, the China Connector.

Moderation

Prof. Dr. Sabrina Weithmann completed her academic career with a doctorate in economics (book: technical standardisation in e-mobility in China) at the Chair of China Business and Economics at the University of Würzburg after working in several international positions. Her professional career took her to a leading global consulting firm, various international organisations and a start-up in the energy industry. Today, she works as a professor for International Management and Corporate Governance at the Technical University in Aschaffenburg.