ICB News

On Saturday, June 29th, 2024, the ICB team at Justus Liebig University Giessen participated in the Open Campus Day. It was an opportunity for the people who were interested in Justus Liebig University to see it from a closer angle, ask questions, and gain in-depth knowledge about the various programs and activities that JLU offers. Numerous activities were planned at each stand, food and beverages were available, and people were encouraged to socialise and explore the vicinity.

Prof. Dr. Xun Luo (the ICB chair) and Daqi Chen (the ICB coordinator) from the ICB team engaged in conversations with people and introduced the ICB program to the ones who were interested in learning about an interdisciplinary approach that connects language, cultural studies, and business. Prospective students were provided with brochures, exchanged ideas and information, and got to learn more about future career opportunities. We were honoured by the presence of former JLU alumna, Ms. Julia Welker, who studied a similar preceding program MFKW (Moderne Fremdsprachen, Kulturen und Wirtschaft). She generously shared her experience with that program, and we would like to give her a special thanks for being there, participating in the event, and supporting the ICB team.

The Open Campus Day was an informative and enjoyable event, that included quizzes, presentations, games, and consultations, and the ICB team hopes it helped people gain insightful knowledge about academic life at JLU.

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On June 12th 2023, a delegation from the School of Journalism and Communication of the Tsinghua University, China visited the School of Language, Literature and Culture of the University of Giessen for talks on academic student and research exchanges. Prof. Dr. Magnus Huber, Head of the English Department, Prof. Dr. Xun Luo, Chair of Intercultural Communication and Business, Research Associates Janna Friedel and Yuhang Wang, as well as Yu Hu, Administrative Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, Qing'an Zhou, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University, and Jingwei Wu, Associate Professor, attended the cooperation ceremony. The Dean of the Academy of Fine Arts & Design of Tsinghua University, Sai Ma and Anying Chen, Head of the Department of Art History and Theory, attended the ceremony online.

Professor Magnus Huber first welcomed the delegation from the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University. In his speech, he recognized that the University of Giessen is a prestigious research institution in Germany and Tsinghua University is a top Chinese institution. According to Prof. Huber, this meeting represents the first time the University of Giessen has started an in-depth cooperation with a Chinese university in the field of humanities and social sciences. He looked forward to making the project a good example of academic interaction between Germany and China, promoting trust through learning and exchange, improving the mutual support of relative disciplinary advantages, and enhancing the mutual understanding between the two universities.

Qing'an Zhou, expressed his gratitude to the University of Giessen for the excellent arrangements of the visit. He said that Tsinghua University has a long tradition and rich history of humanities and social sciences. And the School of Journalism and Communication has developed unique disciplinary advantages and talents over the past 20 years. He believes that by working together with Giessen University, this cooperation will help deepen the exploration and understanding of major academic topics such as China’s communication with Europe, intercultural communication and cultural studies. In the future, the School of Journalism and Communication will actively lead the process of promoting academic visits, joint research and conferences between the two sides on the basis of the MoU between the two parties.

Sai Ma gave a systematic introduction to the nurturing of people through the integration of art and science of the Academy of Fine Arts & Design. He said that in recent years, the Academy has been actively building a talent training system with world standards and Chinese characteristics. In the future, they hope to actively participate in the joint collaboration with the University of Giessen and join hands to promote the integration of disciplines in wider and deeper areas. Through these efforts, the Academy of Fine Arts & Design can better become the shaper of the national image of China, the creator of a better life, the inheritor of excellent culture, the leader of art and science integration, and the cultivator of innovative talents.

Subsequently, formal talks on the cooperation between University of Giessen and Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication and Academy of Fine Arts & Design were held. After the talks, preliminary intentions were reached, with representatives from both sides exchanging gifts. Yu Hu concluded that when facing the current rapid changes in the world and in talent cultivation requirements, it is particularly important to encourage scholars from both countries to better comprehend the world and strengthen academic communication and mutual learning. The School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University will continue to adopt an open-minded, cutting-edge vision and innovative approach to explore a new future of academic development with all partners.

In the afternoon of June 13th, Qing'an Zhou and Jingwei Wu had already presented their research on "How to report conflicts and crises: the construction of peace discourse and crisis language in Chinese media" and "The pursuit of technology: how artificial intelligence is changing journalism", respectively in a special joint research colloquium with teachers and students of the University of Giessen.

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Founded in 1607 in the central German state of Hessen, the University of Giessen is a renowned public comprehensive research university in Germany with strengths in natural sciences, life sciences, social and educational sciences, linguistic and cultural studies. Famous alumni include the discoverer of X-rays, Wilhelm Röntgen, the contributor to the theory of thermal radiation, Wilhelm Rönn, the “father of organic chemistry” Justus von Liebig and six other Nobel Prize winners who have studied or worked here.