Innovation and Youth Power - 7th China-Caribbean Youth Forum
The 7th ABCF-ZISU Youth Forum dealt with innovation, ethics, and cultural exchange between China and the Caribbean. Youth speakers from China and Barbados presented on topics including ethical innovation, renewable energy, and reframing cultural perceptions. Discussions highlighted both benefits and challenges of technological innovation for youth, emphasizing responsible implementation. Financial constraints were noted as a key barrier to renewable energy adoption in Caribbean countries despite its potential benefits. Cultural exchange through technology enables bridging differences, but requires open dialogue to avoid misunderstandings.
KUANG Yipei highlighted benefits of innovation such as convenience and educational tools, but noted the challenges of distraction and privacy concerns. Khadijah Bakharia emphasized innovation's role in youth creativity and global connectivity, while cautioning about mental health impacts and inequality.
LONG Jina discussed China's AI ethics guidelines and the need for transparency and critical evaluation of AI outputs. Vibert Elliott explored the use of ethical innovation to reframe Caribbean narratives beyond tourism, highlighting examples of digital diplomacy by young people.
YI Yina argued that tradition provides a foundation for innovation, using examples of adapting Chinese cultural elements into modern formats. She emphasized innovation as remixing past ideas in new ways instead of starting from scratch.
Nathaniel Layne explained the disproportionate impact of climate change on small island states. He highlighted renewable energy's potential for energy independence and economic benefits in Caribbean, but noted lack of capital as key barrier to implementation despite intentions
The Q&A Discussion explored challenges of renewable energy adoption in Caribbean countries, discussed balancing tradition and innovation, with examples from Chinese culture, and addressed navigating cultural differences in innovation and exchange.
Shandong Provincial Government Scholarships at the University of Jinan
Founded in 1948, University of Jinan is a key comprehensive university under joint administration by Chinese Ministry of Education and Shandong Provincial Government. The university is named after Jinan, the capital city of Shandong Province. It offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral Degree programs. Currently, the student population is over 38,000.
Shandong Provincial Government provides full scholarship programs for outstanding students from all over the world to study in Shandong. University of Jinan is among the first group of Universities to be authorized to fund international students with this scholarship.
About the Scholarship
(1) Supporting Categories: Non-degree Chinese Language and Culture program, Bachelor’s degree program, Master’s degree program.
(2) Duration: 4 years for Bachelor’s degree programs, 3 years for Master’ s degree programs (2 years for the major of International Chinese Education).
(3) Value of Award: tuition fees, dormitory fee for double-bed room, comprehensive medical insurance, living allowance (Undergraduates / language students, RMB1,000 yuan/month; Master’s students, RMB1,200 yuan/month)
Note: This scholarship does not include travel expenses.
(4) Online Applications at this Website.
Undergraduate Programs ( Chinese-taught) in Engineering, Economics & Management, Humanities, Sciences’
Graduate Programs taught in English: Masters in Computer Science and Technology and Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics.
Graduate Programs taught in Chinese: Masters in Engineering, Economics & Management, Humanities.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must be a non-Chinese citizen, and be in good health both mentally and physically. They should hold a bachelor’s degree holder and be under the age of 35 when applying for Master’s degree programs; or be a High school diploma holder under the age of 30 when applying for Bachelor’s degree programs. They must have acquired the Chinese proficiency of HSK Level 4 when applying for Chinese-taught Bachelor’s degree programs and HSK Level 5 when applying for Chinese-taught Master’s degree programs. Students applying for English taught programs should come from countries where English is the mother tongue or official language, or graduate from English taught major or have English language proficiency of IELTS 6.0/ TOEFL 70/ Duolingo English Test 100 or above.
Required Documents
All documents should be in/translated into Chinese or English. Each applicant should submit his/her application form (please fill all the applicable items); Scanned copy of passport (Passport validity should be more than 12 months for students who apply for programs longer than 6 months); Graduation certificate or study certificate (if not graduated); Physical Examination Report; Non-criminal records certificate; For those who have graduated more than two years: Certification of latest employment (if formally employed).
In addition, students who apply for degree programs must provide the following documents:
Bachelor’s Candidate: Senior high school graduation certificate(notarized), Senior high school academic transcript and Certificate of HSK level 4 or above.
Master’s Candidate: 7Bachelor’s Degree(notarized), Academic Transcript, Study Plan, Two letters of recommendation from two associate professors or higher and Certificate of HSK level 5 or above/English proficiency certificate.
NOTE: If students are currently studying in China, please add the following documents: Graduation Certificate or Study Certificate and Transcript from previous school, Scanned copy of information page of passport and the page with entry stamp, residence permit page or X2 visa page, Transfer Letter or Certificate of Completion and transcript from prior institution.
Students are required to present the original copies of all application materials for the school's review of scholarship eligibility upon registration. Students who fail to pass the review will be disqualified from the scholarship.
Admission&Notification
(1) The university will review the materials of scholarship applicants. (2) Students who have been awarded scholarships are not allowed to change their majors and study periods specified in the admission notice. (3) After admission, the University of Jinan will send the admission notice and JW202 to the email address provided by the applicant in the online application system .
Admitted applicants should apply for a visa to study in China at the Chinese embassy (consulate) with their passports, Admission Notice, JW202 and Foreigner hysical Examination Form, and should enter China with above documents. (5) After enrolling, applicants should finish the procedures for residence in China in Jinan Exit-Entry Administration Bureau within 30 days (Materials required include the passport, Admission Notice, JW202, and Foreigner's Physical Examination Report).
Contact Information
Cindy LIU, April WANG
School of International Education and Exchange
University of Jinan
No.336 Nanxinzhuang West Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250022 People’s Republic of
China
Tel: +86-531- 82765557
E-mail: ujnglobal@qq.com
Peer-to-Peer Lending: China’s Overseas Development Finance Pivots to National and Regional Development Banks | Global Development Policy Center (bu.edu)
In 2024, the China’s Overseas Development Finance (CODF) Database, managed by the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, recorded $6.1 billion in 20 new sovereign and publicly guaranteed loans. This figure is roughly in line with the trend since 2020, of an average of $6.2 billion through an average of 24 loans per year.
Mummies, Roses and Desert Highways: Xinjiang’s Untold Stories (substack.com)
Xinjiang — where scorching deserts bloom with technological marvels and ancient civilizations, forging unity amid breathtaking diversity and economic dynamism.
In this episode of Trending in China. Host Yolanda Lu and reporters Cao Bin/Sylvia Wang bring you on an eye-opening journey through Xinjiang—China’s western frontier where deserts bloom with innovation.
Discover how "desert roses" defy arid landscapes, how ultra-high-voltage grids transmit wind/solar power to eastern cities in milliseconds, and how tech-driven cotton farms merge nature with cutting-edge tech.
This weekly newsletter is put together by DeLisle Worrell, President of the ABCF. Visit us at Association for Barbados China Friendship | (abcf-bb.com).
Thanks to everyone who sent contributions for this week’s Update. Please send items of interest to me via the contact page at ABCF-BB.com or to info@DeLisleWorrell.com
The ABCF mission is to build a deeper understanding between the Chinese people and Barbadians and Caribbean people from all walks of life. The association’s focus is on personal experiences, people-to-people contact, cultural exchanges and exchanges of ideas, and the facilitation of travel, business and study. From the outset we aim to learn from and build on the experiences of the Caribbean and China, and to develop mutual understandings and support that will be to the benefit of both sides.
