Student Stenden Jialin Qu maakt boek/blog met beleidsmakers in 21 landen

(tekst: Stenden Hogeschool)

Leeuwarden, 10 June 2010

First Chinese Stenden student on �free around Europe tour�

Just finished his Master study International Service Management and now on an inspirational adventure. Jialin Qu, a former Stenden student arranged a �free around Europe tour� in which he visited 21 European countries in 30 days and interviewed both local and international leaders from various levels and industries. With his book and weblog this young entrepreneur wants to inspire and motivate himself and other fellow Chinese students to create their own chances and to use an international scope.

�This is out of my own creativity, but also because of the entrepreneurship I developed after years of studying at Stenden University Leeuwarden�, Jialin says. Jialin originally came from the poor Heilongjiang province which is in the furthest northeast of China. He was the first Chinese student to plan such a trip. Up until today, less than 1% of the Chinese population have ever lived or traveled outside of China in their whole lives. �I want to change this reality and demonstrate that what I can do, you can do too�, he explains.

Interviews
At this moment he is writing a book to encourage and inspire students and young people like him in China. The book is based on the interviews he has had during his trip with various leaders and achievers; from the best hypnotist and TV star in Sweden to the best life coach in Lithuania and from the best designer in Slovenia to a legend restaurant owner in Brussels.

Step out of China

�From my experience of both living and studying in the Netherlands and living in one of the poorest regions in China, I started to believe that everybody has the necessary resources to make a difference and to be responsible for his or her own life. I want to use my example of this tour to encourage people to open their eyes, step out of China and explore the beauty of the world.�

Read all about the trip on the weblog: : http://tingyistenden.blog.sohu.com

About Stenden University

Stenden has 11.000 students, including 2900 international students, of which 2.300 are studying in the Netherlands and 600 abroad. Stenden has 1000 employees. About 65 different nationalities are represented amongst students and staff.
Stenden has locations in the Netherlands, Leeuwarden (head office), Groningen, Meppel, Assen, Emmen, Doha (Qatar), Port Alfred (South Africa), Bangkok (Thailand) and Bali (Indonesia), which all offer specific study programmes.

The �Grand Tour� offers Stenden students the possibility to study or to do their internship at all locations abroad. This is how Stenden�s �Worldwise Education� concept is characterised. With this concept students are stimulated to be more open-minded concerning international developments and an international environment.

Stenden offers 3 Associate Degrees, 21 Bachelor�s programmes and 6 Master�s programmes within the fields of (Service) Management, Education, Welfare, Economics and Technology. Stenden also has 14 professorships and knowledge networks that provide a connection between theory and practice by carrying out applied research.

Please visit our website www.stenden.com.