The second Shanghai Open University International Student Exchange Program has brought 40 international students from 16 countries to SOU campus for a two-week intensive study and experience on Chinese language and culture between August 17th and 29th. Participating students represented a diverse age group, academic background and professions. 9 Chinese students had taken part in the program as volunteers, both international students and Chinese students increased their cross cultural communication and understanding through this opportunity.

International students not only learnt Chinese culture through attending various lectures, painting, dance and Taichi classes and visiting to historical and cultural sites, they also shared cultures of their own, such as dances of Thailand and Ireland, music of Spain, Romania and Brazil, facts about Netherlands and poems of South Africa etc.. At the closing ceremony, each international student went on the stage and talked about their experiences and thoughts from the SOU International Student Exchange Program, all of them expressed their sincere thanks to the organization of the program, help they received from the wonderful volunteers and instructions of teachers. Prof Liu Wenfu, the dean of Institute of International Exchange presented each student a program certificate at the end of closing ceremony.

The successful closure of the International Student Exchange Program is a highlight of SOU’s strategy of internationalization and also laid rich experiences for university’s future international student educational programs.