Newsletter 20 - Interview with Minhua Yang, Coordinator of the ParisTech office in Asia

What are your main tasks as coordinator of the ParisTech office in Asia?

My main mission is to recruit students from Asia, and from China in particular, for the ParisTech schools. This involves giving presentations – both online and at universities here – to promote two of the network’s flagship programs: the ParisTech International Admission Program and the ParisTech–CSC PhD Program. I also answer questions we receive from potential candidates. Alongside this, I manage ParisTech’s social media accounts in China and other countries in Asia, to share first-hand stories from students and PhD candidates recruited by the schools. This helps potential candidates get a feel for life at ParisTech and better understand the admissions process. I’m in regular contact with the international relations departments of ParisTech’s partner universities in China. I’m their first point of contact, which facilitates communication between each institution and the ParisTech schools.

How do you assist Chinese candidates who want to join one of the ParisTech schools?

I’m on hand to answer any questions they may have. A key part of my role is to help candidates handle any unforeseen incidents that occur during the selection phases (panel interviews, science tests, etc.). I also help students applying for visas and scholarships, such as the ParisTech – China Scholarship Council “9+9” Program scholarship awarded by the Chinese government. I liaise directly with the China Scholarship Council, which helps ensure the process runs smoothly. Once students have a confirmed place in France, their host school takes over to ensure they receive the best possible welcome. For the ParisTech–CSC PhD Program, which is only open to Chinese students, I take part in events to publicize the program, check students’ applications, and help conduct the personal interviews. To be eligible for the program, candidates must secure a grant from the China Scholarship Council, so I support them throughout the process, which takes several months. I also help students obtain their visa for France.

And how do you assist ParisTech students interested in doing an exchange in China, or elsewhere in Asia?

For the moment, only a few French students have come to China, mainly due to COVID. That’s changing though. Recently, we’ve had five ParisTech students come to China to do an exchange semester or summer school program. If necessary, I help students with questions regarding administrative procedures or scholarship applications. Lastly, because some of the universities in China aren’t used to managing relations with international students and the process can be slow, to facilitate communication, I act as an intermediary between the French students and the Chinese universities.

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