On December 11, Tongji University International Exchange and Cooperation Office Director YU Xuemei gave her lecture, entitled: Embrace the World as a Tongji Student to freshmen, taking stock of the international exchange opportunities during their studies, explaining the university's international exchange policies, and offering them advice to plan their future academic development better. A total of 300 students from 9 Freshman College departments attended the lecture.
YU started with the current situation of Tongji's international exchange. From the historical origin of Tongji University's cooperation with Germany to the internationalization strategy entering the fast lane, and from the 12 international cooperation platform colleges to the 16 international alliances that Tongji University has joined to the review of the international exchanges of our teachers and students, various photos were presented throughout the lecture to show the development of Tongji's international reputation and impacts. She introduced that Tongji students went abroad 4,243 times in 2019, and the rates of undergraduate, master's and doctoral students going abroad (overseas) accounted for about 40%, 60% and 80%, respectively.
Director YU Xuemei
YU went on to introduce the international exchange opportunities and paths during the school years in detail by showing the inter-campus exchange programs, application requirements, and application times and processes. By doing so, the students were able to get closer to the international cooperation and exchange programs and understand how to embrace the world as a Tongji student. She urged students to get prepared fully in their majors and languages, plan their academic development, collect a wide range of relevant information, and to eventually make the most suitable choice for themselves. YU also introduced many on-campus international exchange activities, including German Week, German Music Week, German Oktoberfest, French Culture Week, Italian Carnival, Three-Dimensional Reading of Spanish Culture, and others. She encouraged students to participate actively in such activities to lay a foundation for understanding foreign cultures.
The students were enthusiastic and curious during the questioning session. The freshmen actively asked questions in relation to their interests and majors, such as: "Is it necessary to know the local language to apply for a university in a non-English speaking country?" "Are there any restrictions on majors in application of a university?" "Can I apply to universities in different language areas at the same time?" YU answered patiently, one by one, telling the students that language is actually the smallest obstacle in the process of communication and that there would surely be gains if they communicate and experience wholeheartedly.
A freshman is asking his question
After listening to the lecture, the freshmen expressed they benefited a lot and had more expectations for their future university life. Professor YU's lecture opened a window for us, giving us a chance to have a glimpse of the outside world and triggering our desire for international exchange, said DONG Jiarui, an engineering pilot class student of the Freshman College Jimei Hall. A Jiren Hall medical pilot class student XU Borui said: "Professor YU's answers cleared up my confusion about whether medical students are suitable to study abroad."
Group photo of teachers and freshmen
Source: https://news. tongji. edu. cn/info/1002/76113. htm
