The Road Untaken: Public Lecture and Open Day on Student Exchange Programs Overseas Held

On Nov. 30th, 2012, “A Preview of the Road Untaken: Public Lecture and Open Day on Student Exchange Programs Overseas” was hosted in the USTB’s Academic Report Hall. Representatives from USTB included Prof. Luo Weidong, Chancellor, Prof. Xu Jinwu, President, Prof. Zhang Xinxin, Vice-President, and numerous department heads as well as 200 teachers and students from their faculties.

During the lecture, students who had previously participated in exchanges shared with the audience their experiences. Students from Dundee University, Limerick University and Leuven University also sent video clips to USTB in return, in which they shared with the audience their experiences of studying and living abroad. Later, an international student from Grenada studying at USTB greeted the audience, with a touch of humor, in her not-yet-fluent Chinese and shared with the audience her experiences here.

Following the speeches from the students, school leaders addressed the audience and extended their best wishes to all participants. Prof. Luo and Prof. Xu began their speeches with their personal stories of studying abroad. The two professors discussed how international exchanges have changed, in terms of the experience provided, over the years. Prof. Luo noted in his speech that the opening-up of China has not only enabled Chinese people to walk out, but also welcome foreign friends to come in. He noted that as China has become the second largest economy in the world, its future is closely to the development of every student. Prof. Luo expressed that more students could walk out of China, broaden their horizons and pursue a brighter future.

Prof. Xu mentioned that in order to learn well, one must experience new things and apply the lessons gained. Because how one thinks is vital to how one performs in his or her studies, studying abroad opens great opportunities for one to compare different ways of thinking, different approaches to studying and allows the student to determine the strategy that suits him or her best. Furthermore, studying abroad helps students to become self-reliant and foster a stronger, more independent spirit.

After the lecture, representatives from the International Office briefed the students on the exchange programs available to them.

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