Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program Chinese Government Scholarship (Master's Program in English), established by the Ministry of Education of China, aims to cultivate specialists in public governance with an international vision, outstanding leadership, cross-cultural awareness, and overall competence. Three education programs of CAU, including The China-Africa Science and Technology Backyards (STB) Master Program, China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation “1+1” Master Program, and The International Talent for Innovative Management of Rural Vitalization Master Program have been included in the 2023 Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program Chinese Government Scholarship after the appraisal of the Ministry of Education of China and China Scholarship Council.
1. China Agricultural University Brief
China Agricultural University (CAU), listed in “Double First-Class” (world-class universities and first-class disciplines) university project, is directly subordinated to the Ministry of Education of P. R. China. Evolved from the College of Agriculture founded by the Qing Dynasty in the Jing Shi Da Xue Tang (the former Imperial University of Peking and the present Peking University) established in 1905, CAU is a cradle for higher education of modern agriculture.
Over recent years, agronomy-related subjects of CAU remain among the top 10 in rankings such as QS, US NEWs and ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. Nine subjects, namely Biology, Agricultural Engineering, Food Science and Engineering, Crop Sciences, Agricultural Resources and Environment, Plant Protection, Zootechny, Veterinary Medicine, Agrostology, are classified as National First-class Disciplines by the Ministry of Education of P. R. China. CAU boasts the excellent faculty with over 1700 professors and associate professors. The university enjoys 76 undergraduate majors, 13000 undergraduate students and 12000 postgraduate students. 33 first-level disciplines are authorized to award Master’s degrees and 23 Doctoral degrees.
Over recent years, in an effort to expand opening up with regard to educational resources, CAU has developed friendly cooperation with 242 universities, research institutions, and international organizations in 52 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. CAU, together with Cornell University, Wageningen University, University of California, Davis, and University of Sao Paulo, has established the Agrifood 5 Alliance. Guided by BRI and China-Africa Cooperation Initiative, CAU has established an Agricultural Education, Science and Technology Innovation League, which includes 40 agricultural and forestry universities in China and 35 abroad. Thanks to the League, CAU has set up 11 BRI cooperation centers for agriculture. Besides, CAU carries out policy dialogues, research, and international development projects with major organizations, including Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, World Food Programme, United Nations Development Program, UN Office for South-South Cooperation, World Bank, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.
2. Program Introduction
2.1 The China-Africa Science and Technology Backyards (STB) Master Program
Major: Resource Utilization and Plant Protection
College: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences
Objectives：
This program aims to cultivate professional technicians who can manage and utilize agricultural resources (including soil, crops, water, fertilizers, climate, etc.), promote technologies pertaining the utilization of agricultural resources, and conduct research, teaching, extension, and management in this field.
Postgraduates of this program will have basic knowledge and international horizon concerning agriculture resource utilization and plant protection. They will be familiar with agriculture production problems encountered by smallholders and worldwide research progress on resource utilization and plant protection.
Postgraduates of this program will gain insights into agriculture development in China and Africa. They should have the capacity to identify, analyze, and solve the problems in agriculture production. They can provide systematic,holistic, and universal solutions to the agricultural problems. Their thesis should be pragmatic.
Program Features:
This program lays emphasis on both theory and practice. The curriculum offers practice opportunities in small- and medium-sized enterprises. When students finish the curriculum, they are encouraged to demonstrate and teach the technologies they learnt to rural residents. Most importantly, overseas students can help build new STBs in their homeland with their know-how, and investigation and field trials based on local conditions, so as to promote the green development of African agriculture.
Great social impact has been obtained since the implementation of the program. FAO praised it as one of the best models to empower smallholders in rural area. It was listed by the Ministry of Foreigner Affairs as one of the major achievements in “One Belt and One Road” Initiative and reported by CCTV, Xinhua Net, CGTN, and China Daily.
2.2 China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation “1+1” Master Program
Major: International Development Policies and Governance
College: College of International Development and Global Agriculture
Objectives
Students will apply theories and methodologies of this field to development issues systematically, flexibly, and critically, and participate in the practice of international development policies and governance. As students gain insight into development challenges, international development ideals, and China’s experience in related issues, they can help tackle the problems facing countries experiencing the transition period and developing countries via public governance and effective policies.
Program Features:
This program boasts a team of renowned professors and scholars in Management Studies, Sociology and other fields. The program will establish Teaching Steering Committee and assign staff members to take care of academic affairs and daily management. The program will also invite famous experts from presitigious universities, research institutes, international organizations and other partner institutions to deliver lectures to international students.
In addition to the curriculum, this program will organize high-end forums and seminars, providing a high quality platform for international students to study and exchange with others; the program will also arrange practical education activities, offering abundant chances for students to investigate and study in off-campus teaching bases where they are able to apply what they learn to practice.
2.3 The International Talent for Innovative Management of Rural Vitalization Master Program
Major: Social Management and Social Policy
College: College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD)
Objectives:
This program aims to train students to obtain the basic theories of sociology and related disciplines, to master appropriate social research methods, and to care about social issues arising in the field of social management and social policy in rural areas. At the end of the program, students will be able to grasp the main models of rural governance and management, focus on the welfare and social security of rural populations, and use comparative analysis to explore the effects of different social policies and governance models applied in different rural areas. They will become comprehensive talents in governing the affairs and coordinating the development of rural areas.
Program Features:
In terms of theoretical teaching, the program invites renowned scholars from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Brazil, Japan, South Africa and other countries to participate in the lectures. The teaching contents include core theories and cutting-edge researches in rural studies worldwide, as well as practical experiences and theoretical understandings of China’s rural social management system, which help international students to understand and learn from them. In terms of practical education, the program provides international students with a wealth of field research and cultural exchange activities in the practice bases of rural vitalization throughout China, which helps international students gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and consolidate their theoretical knowledge in practice. In addition, the program also organizes academic forums and expert lectures on a regular basis to provide rich resources and a quality platform for international students to actively participate in international exchanges regarding rural development.
3. Cultivation Highlights
These are two-year program open to African and "the Belt and Road" Countries students. In the first year, students stay in China for theory learning, courses and thesis preparation. In the second year, students conduct field research and promote agricultural technologies in teaching bases in their home countries to solve problems in local agriculture and finish their academic paper and thesis defense.
This program invites professors from A5 Alliance (China Agricultural University, Cornell University, Wageningen University, University of California, Davis, and University of Sao Paulo) to teach courses. It also invites experts from international organizations (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UN Office for South-South Cooperation, World Bank, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, etc.) to join the faculty of COHD to offer lectures and training programs.
Students improve their ability to apply and spread agricultural technologies through field study in Chinese villages. Introduction to China’s experience in development in agriculture and rural areas will help students to solve problems Africa encounters in its agricultural and rural development, and will mould them into professionals who master advanced theoretical and practical know-how in both agricultural technology and rural development.
4. Application Information
4.1 Admission Category：Master
4.2 Teaching Language：English
4.3 Amount of funding: Full scholarship
4.4 Application Deadline: Apr 25, 2023
4.5 Criteria and Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must:
(1) be non-Chinese citizens under the age of 45 and in good mental and physical health;
(2) be an academically excellent holder of a bachelor’s degree with 3-year related working experience (at minimum) ; those with professional study or working background related to the applied program are preferred;
(3) Applicants must fall in one of the following four categories:
① Public officials at the division level (or corresponding level) or above in the government department of the host country;
② Senior managers of institutions, enterprises, or other units;
③ Administrators of universities and research institutions;
④ Persons with relevant experience(s) in international organizations (full-time or internship).
(4) have a bachelor’s degree taught in English, or TOEFL (iBT) score of 90 points at least, or IELTS score 6.0 at least.
4.6 Application Materials:
The applicants should submit the following materials for their application:
(1) Scanned copy of passport (the date of expiration should be later than Sep, 2023);
(2) Notarized final degree certificate；
(3) Official undergraduate transcripts; If it is neither Chinese nor English, notarized Chinese or English version should be provided;
(4) Certification of English proficiency;
(5) Pre-admission notice（issued by the university applicants apply after evaluation of applicants’ academic background）
(6) Study plan in English (no less than 1000 words);
(7) Two reference letters (in Chinese or English) from two professors or associate professors with signatures;
(8) Foreigner Physical Examination Form (photocopy); it should be written in English, only required for applicants planning to stay in China for more than 6 months, can be downloaded from http://www.csc.edu.cn/studyinchina or http://www.campuschina.org; The physical examinations must cover all of the items listed in the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Incomplete forms or forms without the signature of the attending physician, or the official stamp of the hospital, or a sealed photograph of the applicant are considered as invalid;
(9) Certificate of Non-criminal Record
(10) Other documents such as published academic papers, patents obtained, or other research achievements (either photocopy or original).
4.7 Application Procedure
(1) Visit China Agricultural University application system: http://apply.cau.edu.cn/ to log in, choose “Chinese government scholarship” and Major. Then fill in your personal information and submit the materials required.
(2) Applicants should register at the Chinese Government Scholarship Information System (http://www.campuschina.org). Then applicants need to fill in the application information and submit the application materials including the Pre-Admission Letter. Please select "Type A" with the Agency number 1563, then select "Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program Chinese Government Scholarship" for the applied program.
Complete the online application procedure at CGS Information Management System for International Students (Visit CSC application system: http:// studyinchina.csc.edu.cn/#/login and click “Application Online” to log in). Fill in the application information and submit the application materials including the Pre-Admission Letter. Please select "Type A" with the Agency number 1563, then select "Youth of Excellence Scheme of China Program Chinese Government Scholarship" for the applied program.
Download and Submit the scanning copy of Application Form for Chinese Government Scholarship to China Agricultural University application system http://apply.cau.edu.cn;
(3) The university will review the application materials and organize college evaluation. After passing the review, the university will send the pre-admission notice to the applicants. Please keep checking the email and tracking your application status after submission.
5. Contact Information:
International Office,
Ms. ZHAO Xiaohui, 010-62737815, zhaoxh@cau.edu.cn;
The China-Africa Science and Technology Backyards (STB) Master Program,
Ms. QI Xiaojia 010-62733821, xiaojiaqi18@cau.edu.cn;
China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation “1+1” Master Program,
Mr. ZHAO Tianyang, 010-62737590, zhaotianyang@cau.edu.cn;
The International Talent for Innovative Management of Rural Vitalization Master Program,
Ms. ZHENG Yuyang, 010-62738519, zyy89@cau.edu.cn.
