SISU students and Harvard visitors post for a photo at a railway station
students attended a lecture titled Why We Need Confucianism in China
The group visited Wu Liqiao sub-district and had a first-hand taste of the cultural life
Students of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) welcomed a student delegation from Harvard University and hosted them for a brief stay in Shanghai late this September.
Visitors from Harvard University and students of SISU’s Honors College on September 25 attended a lecture named Why We Still Need Confucianism in China, presented by Associate Professor Gao Jian, vice director of SISU’s Center for British Studies.
Following the lecture, seniors of SISU’s student union and Harvard’s student delegates hosted a round-table talk on the building of student organizations and other relevant topics. In the afternoon, Associate Professor Jin Jiyong, assistant to the dean of SISU’s School of International Relations and Public Affairs introduced what the Chinese academia thought about the American culture, and he invited Harvard students to share their understanding.
Harvard students also participated in this year’s welcome party for new SISUers, presenting a chorus. Hugo Yen, the ex-President of Harvard Student Union, said, “the delegates were deeply impressed by SISU students’ talent and spiritual outlook, and the performance was excellent beyond words.”
On September 26, Harvard delegates visited the Shanghai Zhangjiang Innopark, accompanied by SISU students. They toured the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Ant HackerSpace and Shanghai International Medical Center. In the afternoon, the group headed to Wu Liqiao sub-district; there they had a first-hand taste of the administration and cultural life in China’s grass-roots unit.
In the following days, the delegation also went to the Shanghai Museum. With the help of the Yangzhou branch of office for overseas Chinese affairs, Harvard students delegation visited the Xiancheng Secondary School, Dongguan Street and the Slender West Lake in Yangzhou City.
Harvard students delegation had completed three survey reports during the six days, focusing on Chinese culture, Sino-U.S. relation and a comparison between SISU’ and Harvard’s student union respectively, and they presented their findings at a report-back meeting on September 29.
Hugo Yen, the ex-President of Harvard student union, said, “I found this trip very illuminating on both personal development and the advance of research. I got the chance to experience and test what I’ve learned in class, discover new perspectives and meet brilliant people.”
“This is a great opportunity for us, and we appreciate that. I’m very glad to form a strong and enduring bond of friendship with Chinese students. And I believe there would be more chances for communication and cooperation,” said Ana Karla, a Harvard junior.
With SISU students having attended the Ivy League Council’s annual meeting on the invitation of Harvard student union early this year, the visit of Harvard delegation was aimed to further communication between SISU and Harvard student union, enhance cooperation and foster friendship.
