On March 10,2026, the Gengdan Institute of Beijing University of Technology hosted its spring semester international student orientation in Room Z308 of the Comprehensive Building. Distinguished guests included Professor Wu Tao(Executive Vice President);Tian Ye(Dean of the International Business School); Lin Zijie(Dean of the Gengdan Academy of Design); Professor Henk (Head of the Urban Planning Program); and foreign faculty members Nicola and Nana etc. The event featured eight international students from diverse backgrounds, who shared their experiences and perspectives, marking the start of a new chapter in cross-cultural exchange for the semester.
This academic exchange event was designed to deepen mutual learning between Chinese and international students, enhance campus internationalization, and build bridges for cross-cultural dialogue. Participants included exchange students from partner institutions: BINUS University, École Brassart Nantes, Free University of Brussels and University of Design, Innovation and Technology (UDIT). Their diverse cultural perspectives brought vibrant energy to the event.

The sharing session among international students was relaxed and enjoyable, with students from various countries setting aside professional differences to share based on personal interests, serving as a bridge to connect with Chinese classmates and making the exchange more warm. Indonesian exchange student Carley Clarissa (Lin Shuyao) mentioned that she chose to come to Gengdan Institute for exchange because she was deeply attracted by its international atmosphere and resources, hoping to practice Chinese more and meet more Chinese classmates to experience more culture and cuisine in China. Exchange student Fransisca Claudia Bunari (Wen Yifei) talked about her hobby of exploring different fields and shared the joy of trying new things. Diah Eka Wulansari dressed in traditional Indonesian attire, sharing her interest in Indonesian culture and showcasing her favorite traditional art creations. French students Margot and Izia shared their collaborative creative designs, telling interesting stories about the collision of Chinese and Western inspirations. Spanish student Sergio passionately shared his photography hobby, showing the Chinese life and cityscapes captured through his lens, expressing his love for Chinese culture. Belgian students Mira Malak and Mathilde Yang (Yang Qifan) respectively shared their interests in exploring Beijing and learning languages, recounting the wonderful experiences gained through cross-cultural communication due to shared interests. The sincere sharing brought the atmosphere to a climax. Our students from China and abroad bridged the gap through exchanges, laying a solid foundation for future friendships.

After the international students shared their experiences, deans and program directors from various colleges presented the International Star Award trophies to the participants, encouraging them to continue contributing to the internationalization of Gengdan Institute.
At the end of the event, Professor Wu Tao(Executive Vice President) summarized the activity: Gengdan Institute adheres to the educational characteristics of "openness," "internationalization," and "application-oriented," encouraging Chinese students to go out while welcoming international students to come in, fostering more cross-cultural exchanges through two-way interactions. We look forward to seeing both Chinese and international students participate in academic courses while experiencing diverse campus life and understanding the local cultural environment. Through diversified campus activities, they can expand their social circles, accumulate international friendships, and achieve personal growth as well as the enhancement of cross-cultural communication skills.
The international student meet-up was a warm and harmonious event, successfully creating a networking platform for Chinese and international students. It allowed international students to experience the campus's warmth while fostering the integration of diverse cultures across the university.