University of Chineses Academy of Sciences

Cultural integration

The Spring School has also organized several cultural exchange activities as a bridge for mutual cultural understanding and appreciation.

Professor WANG Ningyuan from the Zhejiang Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology delivered a presentation titled "New Discoveries and Research on the Liangzhu Ancient City." From the perspectives of water conservancy systems, altars and aristocratic tombs, jade civilization, and developed agricultural handicrafts, WANG talked about the connotations of the Liangzhu civilization and elaborated on its significant importance of early world civilizations and Chinese civilization. Professor Fra, an Italian professor at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, made a lecture titled "Chinese Music in a Cross-cultural Context: Reflections and Perspectives in a Transnational World." He shared how immigrants from Wenzhou, China, spread traditional Chinese music in Milan and Amsterdam and integrated Western instruments into the traditional Chinese music form called "Wenzhou Drumming and Chanting." Professor AN Rongquan, a member of the Hangzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government Decision-making Advisory Committee, presented a comprehensive overview of Hangzhou's cultural heritage, innovative capacity, and overall development. He explored the historical significance of Hangzhou as a city, its influence on the process of Chinese civilization, the city's spiritual characteristics, and its impact on the world.

Through these lectures, students learnt more about Chinese culture, especially the unique culture of Hangzhou. In the process of cross-cultural exchange, they gain a deeper appreciation for the importance of different cultures in learning and understanding.

Series of Lectures on Chinese Culture

From left to right: WANG Ningyuan, Fra, AN Rongquan

Cultural experience

In order to provide international students with an immersive experience in Hangzhou's culture and to let them feel the spirit of the 19th Asian Games, the Spring School also planned a series of field trips. Students visited the Liangzhu Museum, which is rich in prehistoric cultural heritage, and closely watched the modern facilities of the Huanglong Sports Center, one of the venues for the 19th Asian Games, and participate in cultural exchange activities related to the event.

Visiting the Liangzhu Museum and Huanglong Sports Center

This spring school is simultaneously conducting a national education study course for administration staffs in CAS institutes, which is designed to expand the knowledge horizons of administration staffs, enhance national education awareness, and improve the management skills and overall quality of administration staffs in CAS institutes. The five-day workshop covers English communication skills enhancement salon, international student education management experience exchange, national education experience exchange, lectures on Hangzhou's local geography and customs, Hangzhou culture practice course and Asian Games theme practice course.

Workshop on the Education of Chinese National Conditions for University Administration Staff

Exchange of views

During the roundtable discussion among Chinese and international students, the international students and volunteers engaged in a retrospective and exploration of the cultural integration and interaction during the activities. Drawing from their diverse cultural backgrounds, they discussed the importance and challenges of cross-cultural learning. When discussing their academic experiences, they highlighted the frequent need to draw upon knowledge from other disciplines to solve problems within their own fields, emphasizing the necessity and value of interdisciplinary research. They also shared how their respective traditional cultures and literary arts provided inspiration and assistance in their scientific research and studies.

Roundtable Discussion and International Student Friendship Salon

The successful organization of this Spring School event is of great significance in promoting the internationalization of HIAS as well as enhancing its influence. ZHENG Chonghui, the Vice Executive President of HIAS, stated that "the Spring School is a vivid manifestation of our educational philosophy and a significant attempt to promote the integration of science and education, expand international perspectives, and strengthen international education. We will continue our efforts to advance the internationalization of HIAS and create a more diversed international academic atmosphere in HIAS."

Closing Ceremony

The Spring School for International Students in Frontier and Interdisciplinary Sciences is an innovative program for international students funded by the International College of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and Alliance of International Science Organizations in the Belt and Road Region (ANSO) Scholarship Program, and is open to all UCAS students. The spring school will focus on the relevance and cross-cutting nature of the program and the deep integration of science and education. The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) is promoting the integration of science and education, the model of integration of institutions, and building a center of excellence in science and education integration together with CAS institutes. The establishment of the International College aims to further take advantage of the scientific and educational resources of CAS, accelerate the pace of international development of UCAS and CAS, create a diversified international academic atmosphere, and promote the development of international student education. The International College will uphold the tenet of "common, shared governance, shared development" and the philosophy of "international, open, comprehensive and forward-looking", and strive to make the International College a unique, integrated and internationally renowned college.

Author: Written by ZHANG Jiahao (Academic Affairs Office，HIAS), Internatioanl College of UCAS (IC-UCAS)

Photographer: Academic Affairs Office，HIAS, IC-UCAS