2012 TJU-UQ Summer Program Ends Successfully

The one-month 2012 TJU-UQ Summer Program ended with great success. On July 20, the closing ceremony and program review was held at Tianjin University (TJU).

Professor Yang Fuling, Director of the Office of International Cooperation, delivered a speech to express her appreciation for the efforts and contributions the teachers and students had made during the program. After her speech, Dr. Chen Zhi, Senior Deputy Director of the Confucius Institute at UQ, made a summary of the program and wished to see its better development. Afterwards, the teacher representative of Chinese language course made a conclusive report on the Chinese teaching and teacher-student interaction during the program and hoped all the students could learn more about China and love Chinese culture through the program. During the program review, the students from UQ shared their gains from the program in groups. They said they would be back to China to learn more about the profound Chinese culture.

Twenty-five students from UQ participated in this program. The program included diversified activities, such as learning the Chinese language, Beijing Opera, martial arts, Tai Chi, Chinese etiquette and customs and Confucian principles. In addition to these courses, a variety of outdoor activities in and around Beijing and Tianjin also deepened their understanding of Chinese culture. A most impressive one is climbing the Great Wall. Though from the other side of the world, the UQ students know well about the old Chinese saying that you are not a hero unless you climb to the top of the Great Wall. In spite of the sweltering summer heat and misty rain, they were all ambitious and finally stood on the top of the Great Wall. In their spare time, they wandered through streets and lanes. Bargaining at the street stalls offered them a great opportunity to practice Chinese and learn about Chinese culture. In Beijing and Tianjin, they were able to enjoy the food all over the country. It made their trip of a life time.

This program is a cultural and academic study tour in China specially designed by the Confucius institute at UQ. It aims at facilitating the all-round cooperation between TJU and UQ to promote the Australian students’ understanding of Chinese language and culture as well as joint talent training between the two universities. Since 2010, the program has been held annually. It promoted the cultural exchanges between China and Australia as well as Australian students’ understanding of Chinese culture and Confucianism. The program includes the courses of learning Chinese language and the lectures of Chinese culture. Over the three years, the program has organized the workshops and parties between the students of China and Australia as well as visiting activities to Tianjin and Beijing. So far, nearly 80 Australian students have participated in this program.