Tongji students promote deeper ties between China and Germany

German football club Bayern Munich recently granted scholarships to three students at Tongji University to encourage people-to-people exchanges between China and Germany, the university told Shanghai Daily.

Rouven Kasper, managing director of FC Bayern Munich (Shanghai) Co, presented the scholarships to three students from the Sino-German School of Engineering, School of Automotive Studies and School of Economics and Management respectively.

Besides scholarships of 15,000 yuan (US$2,330), each also received a home shirt worn by the football players of the club during this season.

The recipients will also have the opportunity to take part in a study tour in Munich and Berlin in Germany and visit the headquarters of FC Bayern Munich.

Kasper said football was not only an extremely attractive sport across the world, but also a bridge that can connect people together and deepen friendships.

“We are very happy to support cooperation between Germany and China in football and other cultural forms,“ he said.

The famous football club signed an agreement with Tongji in July 2016 and set up the “Bayern Munich Scholarship" in the same year to award outstanding students — especially those interested in German language and culture — as well as the promotion of people-to-people exchange between China and Germany.

The scholarship was the first of its kind set up in China by the club.