(Shenyang) Following the handover of the Third year BMW Excellent University Students Award 2008 at Shanghai Jiaotong University this March, BMW China and BMW Brilliance today officially kick off the Summer Internship Program for representatives of awarded students in Shenyang. From today on, a total of 10 awarded students from China's 10 key science & technology universities will start their 1-month internship at Shenyang Plant of BMW Brilliance.
As always, BMW has not only rendered financial supports to innovative outstanding students, but also placed high value on cultivation of their practice ability. During the 30-day internship, BMW Brilliance will cover all the necessary expenses of the interns, and, above all, will offer a valuable opportunity for them to learn and practice at the plant of the world's first class auto manufacturer. The 10 university students will also have the opportunity to acquire knowledge about the advanced management and operating systems of body shop, and experience personally the entire production process of BMW auto products at the general assembly shop by learning, working and living together with BMW Brilliance employees.
Moreover, in order to diversify this internship and expand students' exposure to BMW culture, BMW Brilliance will also arrange for a series of weekly visits and training activities, the content of which include: BMW History Seminar, BMW Brilliance Product Training, Corporate Social Responsibility Seminar, visit to the BMW authorized Dealership Shenyang Huabao, and face-to-face communication with senior management of human resource and production of BMW Brilliance etc. Through these activities, students are expected to get an insight about the root and the essence of BMW Culture, in addition to practicing their professional knowledge.
The 10 participants of this year's summer internship program have passed rigid selection among 100 Winners of BMW Excellent University Students Award Fund 2008. They came from relevant departments of 10 well-established science & technology universities in China, such as the Department of Vehicle Internal Combustion Engine Engineering of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Energy and Power Engineering of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing and Automation of Xiamen University, Material Science and Engineering of Chongqing University, etc. For most of them, it is their first time to step out the Ivory Tower for some real practice. All of them expressed great enthusiasm and anticipation for the upcoming program.
Liu Yang from the School of Information Safety Engineering of Shanghai Jiaotong University said, "At the handover ceremony in March held in my university, I learned a lot about the content and benefits of the internship from a senior schoolmate. I firmly believe that this internship will help me to obtain first-hand experience and provide guidance to my future career. Ever since then, I've been trying my best to apply for this opportunity and luckily I made my way here! I've been expecting for this summer internship since this May."
At the welcoming ceremony, Mr. Hans Kroepplet, BMW-Brilliance Automotive Senior Vice President Manufacturing said, "Educational support has always been one of the five key areas of BMW's Corporate Social Contribution Activities. We sincerely hope that through the BMW Excellent Student Award Fund, we can build a platform for outstanding students by providing both financial aid and plant experience and, finally, enable them to become polished talent for society and enterprises across the globe."
Covering a period of 5 years, BMW Excellent University Students Award Fund was jointly established by Soong Ching-Ling Foundation, BMW China and BMW Brilliance in January 2006 in an effort to cultivate values of justice, freedom, integrity, inclusiveness, transparency, solidarity and sustainable development among college students. According to the plans, BMW is scheduled to grant RMB 2.5 million in a period of 5 years via honorable Soong Ching-Ling Foundation. A total of 500 outstanding Chinese college students will be selected from engineering-related departments of 10 prestigious Chinese universities, which include Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Northeastern University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Sun Yat-sen University, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chongqing University, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Wuhan University and Xi'an Jiaotong University. In June 2006, May 2007, and March this year, the first, second and third batches of awards were granted at Northeastern University, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics respectively and Shanghai Jiaotong University.
BMW has also launched a spectrum of CSR programs in China to support the development of youngsters, such as:
--Sponsoring the first national golf team for youngsters in China;
--Sponsoring Central Conservatory of Music's symphony orchestra in overseas music festivals;
--Developing BMW Children's Traffic Safety Education programs for kindergarten children;
--Donating to establish the "BMW Warm Heart Library" for elementary schools in Xi'an and Xinjiang since 2006, etc.
