It would be regretful to lack an opportunity to study abroad, yet it would be even more regretful to miss out on one. To promote its student exchange programs and offer more students opportunities to study abroad, Wuhan University (WHU) held the “WHU Students Study Abroad Fair” from September 9 to 13.
With the harmonious melodies covering the Wanlin Square, the opening ceremony of “WHU Students Study Abroad Fair” was held on September 9, attracting many students and passers-by.
“Actually, I didn’t have any plans about studying abroad”, said a freshman, “I was just attracted by the interesting performances. It reminded me that maybe it’s time for me to think about my future. If I am not busy, I might take part in the fair”.
Chinese and foreign students singing songs
Li Fei, Vice-President of WHU, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Li pointed out that WHU has been marching on the pathways of internationalization for many years. With over 200 student exchange programs in schedule, at the present, WHU has established a multilevel and three-dimensional foreign exchange network. He also introduced that, with the aim of becoming one of the world's top universities, WHU is projected to initiate a series of demonstrative and high-end programs, targeted at helping more students experience foreign campuses and fulfilling their dreams of studying in world-class universities and scientific research institutions.
Vice President Li Fei delivering a speech
Cheng Xuemeng, the director of the Office of International Affairs (OIA), introduced that experience-sharing sessions would play a main role during the International Communication Week. WHU would provide more opportunities for students to study abroad by implementing government-funding programs and through the channels of inter-school communication as well as other social resources. At the end of his speech, Cheng pointed out that WHU would establish a special fund of 3 million RMB for subsidizing undergraduate exchange programs from 2016. He firmly believes that these programs will further expand students’ horizons.
Director of OIA Cheng Xuemeng delivering a speech
Xin Linyang, a student from School of Geodesy and Geomatics, shared his experience as an exchange student in partnering universities. He said that such cultural immersion really broadened his horizon and endowed him with a more insightful vision. Xin also encouraged students to participate in the various exchange platforms WHU had created and to seize each opportunity through taking part in teaching and experience-sharing.
Xin Linyang sharing his experience
Ayrton, one of the students singing songs before the ceremony highly recommended the exchange programs. Ayrton comes from Angola and he is now a student of electric engineering at WHU. He thought that overseas study was a good way to learn more about the world and to improve one’s knowledge. Experiencing a new culture was just like an adventure for him. Life is too short to fully experience everything and college was the perfect chance, while one still had a lot of free time, to embark on this adventure.
Students sharing appealing stories, teachers talking about future plans, the ceremony was filled with a pleasant and warm atmosphere when vice-president Li Fei presented the Excellence Awards of Overseas Exchange to excellent students who attended exchange programs.
The awardees
In the next five days, the Study Abroad Fair will present students with two introductory sessions and three experience-sharing sessions. Other lively and vivid events such as campus cruises and orientation are going to be even more exciting.
A photo of the participants
With the theme of “Let’s go see the world”, the Study Abroad Fair aimed at popularizing the university’s overseas education resources, providing a platform for students to share foreign experiences, attracting more exchange students and creating a nice atmosphere of external communication with the outside world.
(Photo by Guo Yutong)
(Edited by Wu Siying, Edmund Wai Man Lai & Hu Sijia)
