September 18 Gathering with Swiss Students in Shanghai

swissnex recently brought together Swiss students from SUPSI (Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, one of the seven universities for applied sciences in Switzerland) with Swiss entrepreneurs in Shanghai.

Claudio Boër, an expert in Swiss-Chinese cooperation in applied R&D who joined swissnex Shanghai in July, organized a full day of lectures, meetings, and factory visits for the group which was comprised of students from the Master of Science in Precision Manufacturing Engineering program.

The aim of the gathering was to reinforce student interest in the Chinese market and to provide greater insight into China-based companies while also giving participants an impression of the Chinese job market and its infrastructure. To get a broad overview during their stay, the students also had the opportunity to tour around China.

At the swissnex Shanghai offices the participants listened to a lecture given by Lan Zuo Gillet, executive vice director of swissnex.  Ms Gillet explained the philosophy and mission of swissnex Shanghai and gave the students a deeper understanding of Switzerland’s outpost for science, technology, innovation and culture. She explained how, as a bridging institution, swissnex networks with universities of applied sciences in Switzerland and their counterparts in China. Following the introduction, Consul General of Switzerland Mr. William Frei received the students and updated them on scientific cooperation between Switzerland and China. Finally, in the seminar room of swissnex the students learned from Mr. Nicolas Musy of the Swiss Center about successful quality management in the Chinese market.  The group then left the swissnex offices to visit Lauener China, a Swiss company with a factory in Shanghai, and one of its competitors, Shanghai Long Yi Watch & Clock Co.

In mid-October, the Swiss students will join their Chinese colleagues in Switzerland where they will continue their studies for one and a half years. This is the first full Masters degree offered in a technical field in cooperation between a Swiss university of applied sciences and Chinese universities.

For more information please visit www.mpm.supsi.ch