Juan Wang from China talks about her studies at Hochschule Niederrhein in an interview with euregio campus. Wang was selected at Tiangong University as one of 14 students to study the double bachelor’s degree programme Textile and Clothing Management at Hochschule Niederrhein.
She was the first student from Tianjin to graduate with an overall grade of 1.5 – within the standard period of study. Juan Wang is now continuing her studies in the master’s programme Management of Textile Trade and Technology and supports new students from all over the world as a tutor to help them get started in Germany.

How did you get to know about the Hochschule Niederrhein?

My university in China takes part in a double degree programme. I studied in China for the first two years of my bachelor and spent the last two years in Mönchengladbach. This double degree programme started 7 years ago and every year some Chinese students come to Mönchengladbach to study here. I have always heard a lot of good things from older students about Hochschule Niederrhein. That is why I decided to study here. Now I’m in my first semester of my master’s degree in Technical Textile.

Is there a difference between studying in China and studying in Germany?

There are many differences. In China you don’t have so many opportunities to work in projects and to work together with other students. The teaching style is different too: In China, the teacher speaks and the students listen. At Hochschule Niederrhein, I have more opportunities to present myself and to present what I have learned about a subject.

What do you think about living in this region?

I really like it here because the people are very friendly and helpful. I really enjoy living here. My German classmates are really nice and I can also be friends with people from Brazil, India, England of Bangladesh. It is great to get to know people from all over the world. The international character of the Hochschule Niederrhein is really terrific.

What is your student life like in Mönchengladbach?

In my first year I lived in a student dormitory with other students. Now I live with a Chinese friend in an appartement, she came to Mönchengladbach one year before me. It’s nice to share our lives in Mönchengladbach. In these times of lockdown and studying from home, it’s definitely nice not having to live alone.

What is the impact of the corona crisis on your study?

At the moment I can’t go to the laboratory to do any experiments. I hope that after this period I can visit the university again to do some experiments. I have lessons via Zoom and I have online meetings with my classmates. That works fine for me.

Are you engaged in a special project or subject in your study?

In my bachelor thesis I conducted research about inforite infrared spectroscopy for fibre identification. It means that you use inforite light to identify the fibres. This semester, I also have lectures like High volume Performance fibres. I’m very interested in technical and smart textiles because I think they will be very useful in our lives.

What about your future? Do you want to stay in Germany or do you want to go back China?

I think I have many options. I would really like to get a PhD and work on research topics. It is difficult to get a PhD, but I am willing to work hard for it. However, I am also thinking about eventually going back to China for work.

Hochschule Niederrhein