On September 3rd, a delegation of 7 students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) arrived at our university’s Lin-gang Campus, starting a 10-day visit and exchange program.
The “Connecting to Innovative China” summer exchange program aims to create a platform for students to deepen their understanding of China’s innovation and technology landscape. The program focuses on facilitating exchanges and collaboration between international and Chinese students, fostering stronger ties between participating universities, and promoting academic cooperation and development. Through this initiative, international students can engage with Chinese students, scholars, and professionals, enabling discussions on innovation in various fields, which is to provide valuable insights into China’s science and technology innovation trends, policies, and industrial development.
The inaugural exchange activity took place in room 316 of the Administration Building on September 3rd. The Office of International Cooperation and Exchange (OICE) and International Education School (IES) warmly welcomed the visiting students. Peng Ruirui, OICE Deputy Director, introduced in detail SDJU’s talent cultivation, integration of industry and teaching, and internationalization. She emphasized SDJU’s dedication to delivering high-quality educational resources and nurturing students’ holistic development, highlighting the university’s significant achievements in internationalized education. Shi Ye, IES Deputy Director, presented a detailed overview of the fully English-medium majors offered at SDJU.
In her speech, Wang Meng, the representative of student volunteers, expressed her honor in assisting the UTM students during this summer exchange program. Having been one of the students participated in the exchange to UTM, she highlighted her enthusiasm to establish a strong friendship with Malaysian students soon, and her aspiration to foster a meaning bond and achieve mutual growth in the times ahead.
In his address, Wei Bing Goh, the UTM student representative, expressed heartfelt gratitude to SDJU for the warm reception and thoughtful arrangements. He emphasized that this exchange program presented a rare and valuable opportunity for UTM students of to gain a deep understanding of Chinese culture.
During their visit, the UTM students engaged in a variety of enriching activities and studies. They delved into Chinese history, traditional music, poetry appreciation and various aspects of cultural knowledge, immersing themselves in the captivating charm of Chinese culture. In their spare time, they also had the opportunity to partake in traditional Chinese cultural activities such as dragon dance, paper-cutting and donning Chinese Hanfu. In the dragon dance activity, they learnt and practiced the skills and rhythm of the dance and felt the charm of Chinese folk culture. In the paper-cutting activity, they meticulously crafted various vivid patterns with their own hands and experienced the delicacy and beauty inherent in traditional Chinese culture. In the Hanfu experience, they put on exquisite Hanfu garments, and felt the dignity and elegance of the traditional Chinese dress culture.
Furthermore, the students learnt about business innovation and gained insight into the evolving trend of business models, innovation, and entrepreneurship in China. Guided by SDJU teachers, they visited key facilities at SDJU, including electrical laboratory, industry 4.0 laboratory and 3D printing laboratory and gained knowledge about SDJU’s achievements and strengths in science and technology innovation.
In their free time, the students explored well-known cultural attractions in Shanghai, such as Xinchang Ancient Town, Lin-gang Innovation Centre, and the Maritime Museum. Through these visits, they witnessed the juxtaposition of modern development and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage that defines Shanghai.
During the city sightseeing days, the students visited famous attractions in Shanghai, including Shanghai History Museum, Yu Garden, Shanghai Tower and Haichang Ocean Park. There visits provided them with a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of Shanghai’s cityscape and cultural landscape.
UTM students would return to Malaysia with valuable experiences and newfound friendships. These experiences will not only enrich their personal growth, but will also foster ongoing cultural exchange and strengthen friendship between our two universities.
The successful UTM visit and exchange activities have significantly reinforced the friendship and cooperation between UTM and SDJU. Moreover, it has paved the way for future exchanges and enhanced cooperation between the two universities.