On the morning of November 11, the closing ceremony of SSPU short-term cultural experience program for international students was held in Building 16. The program attracted 24 participants including 17 faculty and students from SSPU overseas partner universities and 7 students from SSPU School of Art and Design. The international students came from University of East Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina,University of Missouri-Kansas City in the United States, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, and University of Genoa in Italy.
SSPU Vice President Bai Jianfeng congratulated on the program’s successful conclusion on behalf of the university. He expressed sincere gratitude to the four partner universities for their trust and support for SSPU, particularly in selecting outstanding students to visit Shanghai and experience traditional Chinese culture and technological innovation, and in strengthening communication and cooperation among young talents from home and abroad. He believed that this program would serve as an opportunity to advance future collaboration between SSPU and its overseas partners in areas such as talent cultivation, etc.
On the opening ceremony, team leaders Professor Vesna Petrovic from University of East Sarajevo and Professor Wang Hui from University of Missouri-Kansas City, both remarked that Shanghai is a city full of economic vitality and cultural appeal. They believed this activity would be a meaningful cross-cultural experience and expressed strong anticipation for further deepening university cooperation in the future.
Two international student representatives addressed the ceremony. Ivan Colakovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina expressed that it was his first visit to China, leaving him with a direct and deep impression of traditional Chinese culture. Isabel Marie Harryman from the United States said that this was an unforgettable cross-cultural exchange experience, and the warmth of the teachers and students at SSPU made them feel the purest essence of the Chinese culture.
Faculty representative Li Chunhui and student representative Mao Mengling from the School of Art and Design delivered speeches. Li Chunhui noted that as a teacher, he was deeply heart-warmed to witness Chinese and international students enthusiastically interacting and learning together in courses such as zisha clay making, glass ornament crafting, and traditional painting and calligraphy. Mao Mengling expressed her appreciation for this valuable opportunity to study and experience alongside international students. Through the collaborative process of making zisha teapots with them, she realized that cultural exchange between China and other countries is not merely about sharing and transmitting knowledge, but also about achieving mutual understanding and connection on a deeper level.
Heads of SSPU International Office, Office of International Student Affairs, Student Affairs Department, International Education Center, and School of Art and Design attended the ceremony as well.
The SSPU International Camp is a signature initiative launched by the International Education Center since its founding. Centered on cultural exchanges between Chinese and international students, it leverages the university's disciplinary strengths, specialized resources, and high-quality faculty to design tailored courses and field visits for short-term cultural programs. The initiative emphasizes immersive experiences for international students, utilizing cultural exchange as a bridge to promote further communication and cooperation between SSPU and overseas institutions.
