211 Check It Hoe N Lse En Chinese Studenten Samenwerken, H. Frencken, F. Rusman

Leiden University to discover

China-Holland Educational Competence and Knowledge

Center on IT

Xiamen, China


Is your only Chinese “tjap tjoy” ?

Not so for a group of Dutch IT students. In China they do their internships and graduation assignments, in couples with Chinese students.

For that purpose, the Dutch and Chinese students and teachers together run the CHECK-IT Knowledge Centre, located in the Software Park of Xiamen in Southern China.

Universities of Applied Science, Leiden, Zuijd, HAN, the Hague and Leiden & Amsterdam University cooperate with Xiamen University.


Structure of this presentation

• Short overview of the history of the CHECK-IT project, by Henk Frencken, ICLON, Leiden University

• How does CHECK-IT work? Current situation, by Frances Rusman, Leiden University of applied science.

• Live from Xiamen: students and teachers about their experiences.

• Questions & Answers, Holland & China


The website of the project…

• For a first impression we go to the website of CHECK-IT.

• The project runs this website to attract assignments and internships from Companies in China and the Netherlands.

• www.checkitcenter.com • In the near future, the website will also facilitate

Knowledge Creation around intercultural IT development and research.


A short history……

• In November 2007 a study trip to China was organized by ICLON, graduate school of teaching, Leiden University in Cooperation with Institute of Education, Xiamen University, China.

• A joint conference took place in Xiamen on ‘Entrepreneurial Higher Education in China and the Netherlands’.

• During an excursion to Xiamen Software Park the idea for CHECK-IT was born.

• In 2008 discussions with partners and program formulation took place. Partners and contributed.

• During two visits in 2008, cooperation with Xiamen University counterpartswas discussed and an MoU signed.

• In 2009 a grant was received from the EVD: http://www.evd.nl/home/financiering projecten/onderwijs/pib/


Current situation……

• In August 2009, the Software School of Xiamen University made the CHECK-IT Centre physically up and running.

• Starting from September, nine Dutch and twenty two Chinese students cooperate in IT development projects at Check IT.

• Supervision by two Chinese and one Dutch staff.• In 2010 the number of students will grow. About fifty

will work in the Center at the same time.


CHECK-IT as a knowledge production centre

• Run by students, monitored by staff.• Students work on their own projects but also for the

Check-IT Center, ‘give and take’:– Check IT website and office– Organizational running of the centre– Organizing knowledge exchange seminars– Organizing ‘China Context’ activities– Introducing new students (and mentors)– Marketing and communication of the centre– Acquisition of new internship projects– Learning Chinese language and culture, etc.


Benefits for the students…

• ‘Embedded internship’ in China.• Support in finding challenging assignments.• Appropriate mentoring on the spot and at a distance.• Learning to work in an international environment.• Developing international and cross-cultural

competencies.• Contacts with Chinese institutes and companies.• Experiencing an exciting cultural environment.


Benefits for educational partners…

• Embedded internships for students.• Close contacts between Chinese and Dutch

institutes and companies.• Exchange of educational experience

– Competency based education– Relation between education and industry– Internship models– study program specific overseas experience.

• Staff and student mobility, international and cross-cultural competency.

• CHECK-IT as an object for educational study and experimentation.


• Mutual contacts through student exchange, building of trust.

• Exploring and understanding markets, demand and supply opportunities, outsourcing, etc.

• Contacts with students as potential employees.• Use of and contribution to knowledge in the

CHECK-IT Center.• Sponsorship benefits.

Benefits forindustry partners…


Presentations from China…

• Live from Xiamen now!


Questions and answers