Further research
on the topic
made obvious that
foreign parties
interested in
professional training
in Germany
were always facing
high organizational

barriers.

1998
The beginnings of the DCG trace back until the year 1998 when two of the later foundation members had a business trip to Changchun, the provincial capital of Jilin, in the North of China to meet their later partners first time in China. During the trip they met with the mayor of Changchun, at this time a city of 4.5 million people, had a friendly welcome at the TV Channel Changchun TV, met with the Deputy Manager for Economy of the province Jilin, as well as the General Manager of the special economic zone and the President of the Police College of Jilin.

During these different meetings the Chinese hosts stated their wish to intensify the cooperation with Germany. Especially the need for professional Chinese experts with international accepted degrees was expressed to fulfill the requirements of the Chinese and international companies.

Further research on the topic made obvious that foreign parties interested in professional training in Germany were always facing high organizational barriers.

The high demand for professional training from China and the interest on the German side led to the decision to offer interested Chinese students and trainees a special service that includes everything necessary for an apprenticeship in Germany.

1999
As the fostering of understanding among nations and the education of young people reflects a non-profit purpose, the initiators concluded that a non-profit association, in German language called “eingetragener Verein (e.V.)”, would be the best organizational form. As a result the “Deutsch-Chinesische Gesellschaft Halle e.V.” was founded in November 1999 in the city of Halle (Saale) with the aim to foster the training of young people in common education projects between Germany and China.

A critical success factor was to find the right partner association in China that had the relevant governmental approvals and licenses to organize in China trainings abroad.

Thanks to the good cooperation the DCG already had 100 Chinese study applicants in the first year (2000). On behalf of the Chinese partner the DCG organized German intensive language trainings as preparation for the “Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (DSH)” for all participants. In the second year (2001) the number of language students who were sent by the Chinese partner already doubled. The DCG then send them to facilities in Halle, Leipzig, Dresden, Brandenburg and Hanover.

1  Signature partner programme MEM HSZG/HDU, © Hoang Thi Ha
2  Start partner programme MMT TUBAF/CZU, © Christiane Naumann
3  German-Ghana International Forum, © Christiane Naumann

Short time later, besides the language trainings, the DCG organized professional trainings in wholesale and foreign trade for another 100 participants with training centers from the German Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

In the beginning of the association’s activities language students and trainees were mostly individual applicants who have been sent to Germany by the Chinese partner after their relevant preparation courses. Soon, the DCG and its partner realized the need to develop and realize more sustainable projects in the higher education sector.

1200 bachelor Students & 400 trainees in automobile industry

In the mid of 2000 the president of the DCG was invited from the former principal of the University of Applied Science Merseburg, Mrs. Prof. Dr. Wanka, to talk about a partnership for the internationalization of the university cooperation. As one result the DCG supported the foundation of a university associated institute – the “Institut für internationale Bildungs-kooperation an der Hochschule Merseburg e.V. (IBK e.V.)“.

4  Jiaxing University partner meeting, © Jiaxing University
5  Visit Ministry of Energy with German Delegation, © Christiane Naumann
6  Signature partner programme SEM HSA/NCWU, © Ma Yun

2004
Together with the Chinese partner both associations, the DCG and the IBK, organized the first double degree programme with three Bachelor programmes, which started in the winter semester of 2004/2005. Since then more than 1200 programme students took part to receive in the end a German and Chinese Bachelor double degree.

2008
In 2008 the DCG started a training programme together with the Chamber of Crafts. The programme included a two to three year professional training in which trainees gain a German degree as automobile service technician when they successfully pass their examination. More than 400 trainees have absolved the programme and gained their degrees. The program ended in 2020.

In 2010 the first English-speaking Master courses were commonly developed with the IBK e.v. Since then more than 200 students have successfully received a German Master Degree in the programs of the Master in Structural Engineering offered by the Leipzig Universitiy of Applied Sciences (HTWK) and the MBA International Trade of Anhalt Universitiy of Applied Sciences

2010
Since then more than 200 students have successfully received a German Master Degree in the programmes of the Master in Structural Engineering offered by the Leipzig Universitiy of Applied Sciences (HTWK) and the MBA International Trade of Anhalt Universitiy of Applied Sciences.

While the DCG mainly focused on supporting German-Chinese educational projects in the beginning, it increasingly spread contacts to other countries in Asia like Vietnam, Thailand, India and Pakistan, or to countries in East-Europe like Russia, Ukraine and Georgia as well as to South America and Africa after some years. The number of new contacts ultimately led to the decision of the association members to widen the focus of activities to a more international level. The general meeting of the members in 2010 therefore came to decision to re-name the association to “DCG Halle e.V. – International Institute-“.

Although the major focus of the association’s activities is still in China, the DCG more and more concentrated its efforts on the development of educational projects in Ghana. Based on the projects in Ghana, the DCG plans to contribute to more countries in Africa to empower young people to be an active part and to co-create the development of their own countries. The DCG’s experience in China of developing and supporting educational projects represents a good prerequisite to successfully operate the new projects.

2013/15

Therefore, with the start of the winter semester 2013/ 2014 it was the first time that a German Master degree could be obtained in Ghana. With already 156 program students and more than 80 graduates, it was possible to reach young people that would never have been able to fulfill the requirements under German law to proof their financial capabilities of 8,640 EUR per study year if they want to study in Germany. 

In 2013 the DCG initiated an international education network, which allows Chinese and Ghanaian program students, based on the common German Curriculum, to absolve modules of the Master in Germany, China or Ghana. The relevant principle agreements have been signed between the Chinese and Ghanaian partners in May 2013 through the DCG’s arrangement. 

Since 2015 new partner programs joined the DCG’s educational network:  

The Master of Online Communikation (Digital Business and Online Marketing) of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences was started in the Province of Henan, China and is now also offered in Beijing (China) and Lahore (Pakistan).  

In 2016 a new partner program focused on Metallic Material Technology was then initiated by the DCG together with the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, which is leading edge in Europe in the area of natural resource research.