Culture and Education
Bilateral Cultural Relations
Cultural policy is an integral part of the German foreign policy, as it enables people of the most diverse backgrounds to meet. Its task is to build bridges to other cultures, promoting exchange and aiding understanding between people. In Hong Kong, the cultural work of the Consulate General is supported by various organisations. In 2009, the priority of our cultural relations policy is research and academic relations. To understand more, you may visit the following webpages:
In the historical centre of Berlin the "Stadtschloss" (Berlin Palace) will be reconstructed. In July 2011 the financing of the reconstruction was adopted by the Bundestag, after an overwhelming majority of MPs voted in 2002 for reconstruction. In an international competition the design by Italian architect Prof. Franco Stella was selected, which provides for the re-establishment of three historical baroque facades and the Schlüterhof.
Humboldt-Forum
"Berliner Künstlerprogramm" – one of the most renowned international programs offering grants to artists
The "Berliner Künstlerprogramm" is one of the most renowned international programs offering grants to artists in the fields of visual arts, literature, music and film. Since 1963, up to 20 grants per year are awarded to international artists for an approximately one year stay in Berlin. In its almost 50 years of existence, it has made a significant contribution to the international representation of contemporary arts in Berlin.
Artists in the fields of literature, film and music may submit an application to the "Berliner Künstlerprogramm", application forms can be downloaded at www.berliner-kuenstlerprogramm.de under the link "scholarship".
"Berliner Künstlerprogramm"
Germany 2012: four events in a tour of discovery
Frederick the Great’s 300th birthday
Rediscover “Old Fritz”, the great Prussian king. With 2012 marking the 300th anniversary of his birth, the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg is paying tribute to a king with a risk-loving character.
Germany 2012
Enlightened monarch, a lover of culture and a warring general: Frederick the Great (1712-1786) had a multifaceted personality and was one of the most outstanding yet controversial figures in German history. The influence of the Prussian King on the fate of 18th century Europe was matched by only a few of his contemporaries.
The world of “Old Fritz”
Germany is strongly involved in the preservation of cultural monuments around the world. Now Germany has again been elected as a new member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee until 2015.
Fascinating World Heritage
Climate change, biodiversity, energy efficiency, world food supplies and population growth: The Year of Science 2012 is fully focused on sustainable development. The aim is to stimulate public awareness about sustainability research under the motto “Future Project Earth” by making current scientific developments accessible to a broader public. In the coming months numerous events are planned throughout Germany.
Stimulating awareness for sustainability
With the campaign “German – Language of Ideas” Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle aims to promote learning German as a foreign language abroad. Minister of State Pieper introduced the campaign at the Federal Foreign Office. German is the most widely spoken language in Europe. Nearly 15 million people speak and learn German as a foreign language. However, in recent years there has been a decline in the number of people learning German. Pieper called this trend an “alarming sign” that the German Government was determined to counter. After all, language was a foundation for establishing good relations between countries.
German language
Why should you learn German?
If you can speak German, you can
* read works by the great authors of the last centuries such as Goethe, Schiller and Brecht in the original;
* include something on your CV that will catch the eye of prospective employers;
* study at a very low tuition fee at a higher education institution in Germany, Austria or Switzerland;
* visit the Berlinale, go to Munich for the Oktoberfest or join in Karneval in Cologne;
* read the latest academic developments (German is the 2nd most used language in academic publications);
* read many more publications overall (28% of all books published worldwide are written in German);
* apply for jobs on the international stage.
Can I learn German in Hong Kong?
Yes! Every year, there are about 3000 persons learning the German language at the Goethe-Institut in Hong Kong, and about 1000 other people taking German language courses at the universities in Hong Kong. To find out more about the German language courses on offer, please visit the following websites:
City University of Hong Kong
Goethe-Institut Hongkong
Hong Kong Baptist University
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong
Studying in Germany
Germany is an increasingly attractive place in which to study, offering international degrees such as Bachelor's and Master's degrees, courses taught in English and a system which enables credits for attendance and examination passes to be accumulated and transferred.
Studying in Germany
