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| Qingdao's growing role as a melting pot for culture, education and scientific collaboration | |
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 Professor Franz Gadermann presents the biography of German Sinologist Richard Wilhelm at a forum in Qingdao University of Science and Technology, in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, on September 5 (YIN KANG)
When discussing cross-cultural communication, Frances Owen, an American teacher at Ocean University of China, referenced the book The Hero's Journey. "Everyone who embarks on a cross-cultural journey is a hero in their own right," she told Beijing Review. Back in 1998, when Owen decided to leave the U.S. for China alone, her motivation was simple: As the youngest child in her family, she had always been well-protected, and this time, she wanted to prove to herself that she could take on a significant challenge—building a life and career in China. At the time, almost everyone around her thought she was crazy. "They told me I didn't speak Chinese, wouldn't be able to adjust to the food, didn't know a single Chinese person and would never last," she said. Where the heart is Owen initially chose to teach in Yantai, Shandong Province in east China, rather than Beijing or Shanghai because she genuinely wanted to experience how ordinary Chinese people lived outside major metropolitan areas. Her early days in Yantai were indeed tough: She spoke no Chinese but was eager to communicate with people; she struggled with vastly different lifestyle habits and often cried herself to sleep at night. What helped her persevere through those difficult times and ultimately decide to stay were the Chinese friends she met. They warmly offered help, patiently introduced her to Chinese culture; and through their kindness, she developed a deep connection with China. She found close Chinese friends she could confide in and became like family to three Chinese households. After leaving Yantai, Owen worked in Dalian, Liaoning Province, northeast China, and Shanghai. She taught at Dalian Maritime University and later worked as a trainer in Shanghai, guiding foreign teachers who had newly arrived in China. Her journey in China has always followed the coastline. "My mother loves the ocean," she said. "I grew up by the sea in California, and in China I also chose coastal cities—it feels like I've maintained a certain connection with my family this way." Now settled in Qingdao, she feels more at home there than in any previous city. "It's hard to describe—it's more like an inner certainty. No matter where I go, when I return to Qingdao, I truly feel I'm home," she said. Through self-study, she has become fluent in Chinese and plans to live in China long term. She has developed a growing love for traditional Chinese clothing and some other aspects of the culture. A minor frustration is that she is still often mistaken for a tourist. "Many foreigners who have lived long term in China wish to be seen as part of the community here, not as 'outsiders.' I may look Western, but inside, I already have a Chinese heart." Home away from home Like Owen, Professor Franz Gadermann at Qingdao University of Science and Technology (QUST) also moved to China over two decades ago. Now 68, Gadermann has taught at the Sino-German Technical College of the university for 24 years. The college, established in 2001, is a higher education project under the educational cooperation framework between the Chinese and German governments. When the college was founded, Gadermann, then a senior German language expert at Paderborn University in Germany, relocated to China to contribute to its development. Prior to this, he had taught at Paderborn University for over 20 years and had long harbored a dream of teaching abroad. Seizing the opportunity when QUST was recruiting German teachers, he and his family arrived in Qingdao in 2001, where they have remained ever since. Five years ago, his son, Anouar Gadermann, also joined the Sino-German Technical College, teaching alongside his father. Fluent in Chinese, Anouar Gadermann often interprets for his father. "My grandfather and parents were all teachers. Growing up in that environment inspired me, and I'm honored to have become a teacher myself—and finally, a colleague of my father's," he said. Franz Gadermann has authored a book Mein Qingdao (My Qingdao), documenting his experiences and reflections on teaching and living in China since 2001. The manuscript is currently under review by a publisher. "I hope this book can convey Sino-German friendship and show more young Germans the real China," he said.  Professor Naser Golsanami conducts research in a laboratory at Shandong University of Science and Technology in Qingdao, Shandong, in November 2024 (COURTESY PHOTO)
A decade-long bond Also living in Qingdao is Professor Naser Golsanami from Iran, now at Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST), who first arrived in 2014 as part of a major historic opportunity, created by a Belt and Road Initiative cooperation project. He pursued his Ph.D. at China University of Petroleum (East China) and began teaching at SDUST in 2019. Currently, he serves as a professor at the Key Laboratory of Mine Disaster Prevention and Control and the College of Energy and Mining Engineering. In Golsanami's view, Qingdao is not only a famous coastal city but also a thriving hub for technological innovation and exchange. "If your impression of Qingdao is still only sunshine, beaches and seafood, it might be time for an update. The city's rapid development in sci-tech innovation has given it a new identity—one that resonates not just across China, but throughout member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)," he remarked on September 4 after attending the launch ceremony of the China-SCO Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Center in Qingdao. As a significant outcome of the SCO Tianjin Summit 2025, which was held on August 31-September 1, the center in Qingdao aims to serve as a key hub for scientific cooperation among SCO member states, focusing on enhancing exchange, advancing joint research and development, improving technology transfer services, and establishing an international think tank for policy support. Golsanami said he believes that the establishment of the center is a result of long-term and steadfast support for technological innovation by both Shandong and Qingdao, as well as the remarkable achievements already made in this field. He himself is both a witness to and an active participant in international scientific cooperation in this dynamic environment. Golsanami, as an expert in geological resources and geological engineering, has published over 60 papers in high-level journals and has led or participated in seven research projects. He particularly highlighted how China's commitment to technological innovation is reflected in its policy, such as the new K-visa scheduled to be launched on October 1, designed specifically for young scientific talent. This visa offers greater convenience in terms of number of entries, validity period and duration of stay—a move that, in his words, "demonstrates China's sincerity and efficiency in attracting international talent." Golsanami continues to focus on scientific exchange and cooperation. "As a core SCO city, Qingdao is poised to become a vital hub for enhancing collaboration and accelerating the transformation of scientific achievements among member states," he said. BR (Reporting from Qingdao, Shandong Province) (Print Edition Title: Integration and Innovation) Copyedited by G.P. Wilson Comments to yuanyuan@cicgamericas.com |
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