With more than 150 teachers and professors from over 20 countries and regions offering courses and lectures, and more than 3300 students from nearly 30 countries and regions participating, 2024 RUC International Summer School officially started on July 1.
Feng Shizheng, Vice President of RUC, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He introduced 2024 RUC International Summer School, saying that it aims to cultivate innovative talents with an international vision, intercultural communication and exchange skills, and the ability to contribute Chinese solutions to global issues. Bringing in high-quality international education resources and outstanding foreign students, the School will provide lectures and courses totally in English, which is open to both students from RUC and other universities at home and abroad. He also stressed that RUC attaches great importance to international exchanges and cooperation, and is always committed to reserving young talents for China to actively participate in global governance, cope with global challenges, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Wu Jian, Director of RUC Academic Affairs Office, presided over the opening ceremony.
Beverly J. Silver, Professor of the Department of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University, spoke as a representative of teachers from overseas universities. She shared her experience and insights gained from her interactions with Chinese scholars and students and her regular trips to China since 1993, hoping that the International Summer School play a more vital role in promoting international education cooperation and exchanges.
Xie Lunyu, Professor of School of Applied Economics, spoke on behalf of the faculty. “Seeing once is better than hearing a thousand times”, she said. Through this exchange opportunity, she hoped that teachers and students could further deepen their understanding of each other.
Jonas Kager, an undergraduate student at University College Dublin, spoke as an representative of overseas students. Out of his love for China’s rich history, fascinating culture, delicious food and Chinese language, he came to China to attend the School. He said that “reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles”, hoping to immerse himself in Chinese culture, and opening the door to a whole new world of studying and experience.
Zhang Yushi shared her feelings and thoughts of attending the International Summer School as a student representative of RUC. The School has greatly improved her English and academic skills, stimulated her passion for English learning and her interest in related disciplines, she said. And the cross-cultural and interdisciplinary learning has broadened her vision, enhanced her understanding of different cultures, and strengthened her conviction to become an international talent.
More than 300 representatives of teachers and students, as well as representatives of colleges and institutional departments attended the opening ceremony.
In 2009, RUC put forward Comprehensive Promotion of International Strategy Plan, and the International Summer School is one of its important measures. Up to now, the School has been held 15 times, and has offered more than 1700 courses. More than 1800 teachers from domestic and abroad, over 42000 students from RUC and over 5200 students from other universities have participated in it.
