Shandong province held the reception of celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at Shandong Hotel in Jinan City on September 29, 2019. A grand awards ceremony was also held. Two German professors, who were recommended by Qingdao University of Science and Technology, were awarded honorary titles.

Birgitt Riegraf, the president of University of Paderborn (UPB)in Germany, recommended by QUST, won the title of "Ambassador of Friendship of Shandong Province". Mr. Riegraf is a senior sociologist with great academic achievements. On the afternoon before the ceremony, president Riegraf, accompanied by Li Qingling, director of Administrative Committee of QUST Sino-German Campus, paid a visit to the University.

Professor Manfred Pahl, one ofthe founders of QUST Sino-German Technology College, was awarded the title"Honorary Citizen of Shandong Province".Pahl is an eminent professor of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at UPB and an active advocate of international exchange and cooperation in higher education.The joint efforts of ProfessorPahl and Professor Li Qingling has won the strong support from the Chinese and German governments, Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (English: The German Academic Exchange Service), the educational circles and the business communities.