This year, the Fuxing Road Campus welcomed 13 new international students from Austria, Russia, the UK, etc. Recently, SBC held 2024 Welcome Party for them. Professor Rupert Ward, Executive Dean of SBC, CAI Hui, Deputy Party Secretary and Associate Dean of SBC, Dr Adrian Chong, Head of School of Engineering and Computing, representatives of lecturers and Chinese students, and all the international freshmen attended the activity together.
Firstly, Professor Rupert Ward delivered the opening speech, warmly welcoming the international students on behalf of the College. He noted that this event, themed around the Mid-Autumn Festival, the traditional Chinese festival, provided a valuable opportunity for them to begin learning about and appreciating the rich heritage of Chinese culture. This aligns with Cultural Empathy, one of the College’s overarching themes. He encouraged the students to actively immerse themselves in SBC’s diversity and creativity and to grow and thrive within its multicultural setting.
Professor Rupert Ward delivered the opening speech
Each international student introduced themselves and briefly shared their experiences since arriving in Shanghai and joining SBC. Luka Kokhanov from Dubai, UAE, remarked, I really like studying at SBC. It’s my first week, but I don’t think I could ever expect such an interesting environment. There are so many new emotions and new things I have never experienced in these few days. If I have to put it into one word, I would say it was amazing.
Self-introduction and sharing by international freshmen
To allow the international students to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture, a series of interactive games were organized, including traditional lacquer fan crafting, a pitch-pot competition, and lantern riddles. The atmosphere reached its peak amid laughter and joy. The lacquer fan crafting session, which was the highlight of the event, was particularly well-received. For many of the international students, this was their first time experiencing this traditional Chinese craft. They marveled at the intricacy and uniqueness of the lacquer fan-making process. As they chose colors, applied lacquer, painted patterns, and brought their creations to life, they seemed to travel back in time and engage in a dialogue with ancient Chinese craftsmanship. This hands-on experience gave them a profound appreciation for the beauty of China's cultural heritage.
Hands-on experience of traditional Chinese culture
This was an unforgettable reunion under full moon here at SBC. The welcome event was not only a celebration of traditional Chinese culture but also a platform for cross-cultural exchange and interaction between Chinese and international students and staff. It is hoped that with the College’s Cultural Empathy, the international students will develop a deeper understanding and love for Chinese culture, becoming bridges that connect and foster cultural exchange between China and the world.
Group photo
