China Fund offers internship, service opportunities in China

Established in late 2006, the Harvard China Fund (HCF) is Harvard’s “academic venture fund” for China. In service of the entire University, it supports teaching and research on China and promotes Harvard’s presence in China. The University has allocated $15 million in support of the fund, and has made a commitment to raise $50 million over the fund’s first 10 years.

The HCF’s steering committee, composed of faculty across the University’s Schools, has identified three core objectives:

Students: To prepare Harvard students for their lifelong engagement with China, and to support Chinese students coming to Harvard for graduate and professional education.

Partnerships: To promote interdisciplinary teaching and research about and in China, in collaboration with institutions across Greater China.

Presence: To strengthen Harvard’s capacity to address challenges facing China through the Harvard Center Shanghai.

The Harvard China Student Internship Program is a collaborative effort involving Harvard’s Office of Career Services and Office of International Programs, in partnership with Chinese corporations, NGOs/NPOs, and multinational companies in China. Students experience modern China through their internship placements and gain an introduction to Chinese history and culture, all while learning firsthand about life in the workplace. The structure of the program includes a 10-week internship, a weeklong field trip, and numerous cultural events. The program seeks to create transformational experiences for Harvard undergraduates as they prepare for a lifelong engagement with China.

The Harvard China Student Service Program supports students in performing public service in China. Visiting underdeveloped areas enables these volunteers to contribute — and reflect — on the complexities of Chinese society. Harvard undergraduates and Chinese students are paired together to teach English, conduct poverty alleviation research, and visit rural villages. Summer 2012 will feature a collaboration with Tsinghua University’s Summer Service Learning Program, including an introduction to Chinese language, culture, and history.

For more about HCF and a list of this year’s student participants.