Group t and Beijing Jiaotong university open International ... - Groep T

to Beijing for a short period. In September, Prof.
Guido Vercammen taught the course Management
and Prof. Paul Hellings the courses on Calculus and
Linear Algebra/Geometry. In December, Stijn De
Jonge will lead a series of seminars on Chemistry,
Biology and Cosmology. In February and March,
Prof. Willy Mariën will teach Physics. Also in March,
Luc Janssens will take care of the Electronic Circuits
course. And at the end of March and beginning of
April, Prof. Raymond Verraedt will teach Calculus.
Prof. Guido Vercammen, who already has quite a bit
of experience in teaching at Chinese universities, is
formal: “It was a unique experience, for me as well
as for the students of the International Class. It was
the first time I had taught first-year students, so
I expected rather timid, expectant students. That was
not the case at all. Quite the contrary, I was immediately
struck by their creativity, their independence
and their interactivity. The way in which they
approached the case studies, dared to ask questions,
really impressed me. That was also the case for the
presentation they gave on the company visit to the
Yanjing Beer Brewery. Particularly instructive was
also the testimony by Lin Xiaoli, BJTU and GROUP T
alumnus and now working as a consultant at Price
Waterhouse Coopers in Beijing.”
Prof. Paul Hellings and Prof. Zhu Hengjun,
Academic Coordinators of the First International
Class of GROUP T and Beijing Jiaotong University.
They were also requested to fill out a questionnaire
on their motivation to enroll in the International
Class, their willingness to go abroad during or after
their studies and their ambitions for the future: do
they see themselves as an engineer or rather as a
scientist? The selection procedure was concluded
with an intake interview which again pays special
attention to English language skills, both speaking
and listening skills.”
“One thing certainly appeared a constant in the
answers to the questionnaire and the intake interviews”,
Prof. Zhu Hengjun continues. “The students’
great enthusiasm to widen their horizons and go out
into the world. They really see the International Class
as a gateway to the world, a leg up to an international
career.”
Homogeneous group
According to Prof. Paul Hellings who coordinates
the new International Class for GROUP T, the selection
procedure has led to a sound and homogeneous
group of students. “In terms of knowledge of the
elementary sciences, intellectual level and motivation
as well as their command of English, we have a
strong student population. Also the Chinese professors
involved in the International Class are not just
anyone. They have all studied abroad and all have an
excellent command of English.”
There was intensive preliminary consultation
between both institutions. “For each of the courses,
tandem professors were appointed from both
GROUP T and BJTU, also for the courses for which
a teacher exchange was not immediately in the
books”, Prof. Hellings continues. “The task of the
Flemish-Chinese tandems is to attune the courses
properly. Our goal is to make the course contents
and the didactic materials as equivalent as possible
so that students can migrate smoothly from BJTU to
GROUP T. In practice, BJTU and GROUP T still have
their own syllabuses and course books, but we have
made sure they are equivalent.”
Unique experience
This academic year, six GROUP T professors will go
Flying start
Prof. Hellings confirms whole-heartedly: “Before
the start of the course I was not sure whether there
would be sufficient mathematical background
knowledge present, but that worry turned out to be
completely unfounded. Everybody was immediately
able to follow me. Mathematics, of course, has the
advantage of being the universal language. But also
the command of English is excellent. BJTU’s selection
procedure worked very well.
The Professors Guido Vercammen, Zhu Hengjun
and Paul Hellings agree. GROUP T and BJTU’s new
International Class has taken a flying start. For the
41 Chinese students that were selected, it means
a dream opportunity for international study and
career. “Indeed, some are already in full preparation”,
Prof. Vercammen remarks. “They asked me
to contact some GROUP T students in order to find
out more about Belgium, Leuven and student life via
email and other channels. When they arrive in Leuven
soon, they will not step onto the ice unprepared.
In any case, we are looking forward to their arrival.
Their presence will – just like that of the other international
students – mean considerable added value
from which the whole of GROUP T will benefit.
Y.P.
GROUP T
2
The students of the First International
Class during the Opening Ceremony at
Beijing Jiaotong University.
jg. 20, nr. 1, 15 december 2010