The young scholar Dr. Li Yuan, associate professor and Deputy Director of Institute for German
Studies, SIS, was awarded “2008 Scholarship for Foreign Scientists Research” by the Central Selective
Committee of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in October 2008. With the scholarship as financial
aid, she is invited to The Technical University of Berlin for a 14-month postdoctoral research, and thus
becomes one of China’s few “Humboldt scholars” in the field of humanities and social science.
The scholarship is endowed yearly by the Foundation to foreign scientists (with a Ph D degree and
below 40 years old) for their remarkable performance, offering them an opportunity to do research in
Germany for one or two years. The Central Selective Committee, in the charge of president of German
Research Foundation, consists of 100 German scientists in all fields and nominates those brilliant
applicants that will be awarded. Academic level is the only criterion concerned, and there is no limitation
in nationality or research fields. From 1953 to 2007, 1,445 Chinese scholars, including Lu Yongxiang,
President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yan Yiyun, vice-President of the Chinese Academy of
Sciences and Wei Yu, vice-Minister of Education, have been awarded by the Foundation. Most
Chinese Humboldt scholars specialize in natural science (about 80%), and engineering (about 15%),
only 73 scholars (5%) study humanities and social sciences.
The scholarship is regarded as approval for not only Dr. Li Yuan’s academic achievements but also
ZJU’s capability in German studies. Furthermore, ZJU will enjoy a greater reputation for German studies
and be provided with opportunities for the future development of the department and international
cooperation.
(Translated by GUO Wentao)
