Zhejiang universities shine at intl education exhibition
International students pose with someone in a panda costume in front of the Zhejiang booth at the education exhibition in Barcelona, Spain on March 14. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]
A total of 29 universities and colleges from East China's Zhejiang province teamed up to attend an international education exhibition in Barcelona, Spain on March 14.
"So far, 63 students have come to ask for details and we have enrolled one," a teacher from the Admission Office of Hangzhou Dianzi University said with excitement.
"Spanish students are interested in fashion design, and we have high quality textile and clothing programs," said Chen Minzhi, deputy dean of the International Education College of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University.
The university developed an online application platform for overseas students. More than 40 students submitted applications online on the morning of the first day, according to Chen.
In addition to answering questions and conducting admissions interviews, cooperation agreements were also reached behind the scenes.
Spain's Universitat Jaume I and Jinhua Polytechnic signed a framework agreement to cooperate on disciplinary and research projects, as well as exchange teacher and student visits.
Hu Weikang, deputy head of Zhejiang's commerce department, said the development of education is vital to the province's opening-up, talent cultivation and innovation.
This is the third consecutive year that Zhejiang has attended overseas education exhibitions, and the purpose of the province's participation is not only to recruit international students but also to improve the schools' cross-cultural reputation, Hu explained.
Students are the best envoys of civilization between China and other countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, he added.
The Chinese cultural elements displayed by Zhejiang exhibitors, from the clothes they were wearing and the decorative style of their booth to on-the-spot demonstrations of traditional handicrafts, caught the attention of many Spanish visitors.
Chen Jianping, dean of the International College of Ningbo University, said that inter-disciplinary talents who have a good knowledge of foreign languages and business are urgently needed for international mergers and acquisitions, overseas listing, and foreign contracting projects. This exhibition is a major channel for enrolling overseas talents.
According to Chen, Ningbo University ranks second in the province in number of foreign students, and the university has been intensifying its efforts to globalize and promote intercollegiate cooperation.
As of 2017, more than 35,000 overseas students from 175 countries and regions had attended schools in Zhejiang. An increasing number of young people from developed countries in Europe and North America choose to come to Zhejiang to further their education.
Students' interests have expanded from Chinese language and culture to science, engineering, agriculture, and medicine, as well as cross-border e-commerce, said He Xingren, a provincial government official.