Zhejiang University has been committed to cultivating high-quality innovators and future leaders with global vision. In recent years, within the overall reform framework of talent cultivation, the Global Engagement Program (GEP) of the SIS remains dedicated to serving China’s major international strategies and exploring new high-level models of talent cultivation to promote its internationalization.
During the promotion of GEP, School of International Studies (SIS) applied to Zhejiang University for foreign exchange fund and obtained Che Yueqiao International Exchange Fund in 2017. Since August 2017, four students from GEP have been engaged in overseas exchange and internship with the support of the Fund, including two undergraduates going respectively to Paris Institute of Political Studies and Freie Universität Berlin, and two postgraduates to World Health Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, from which they benefited a great deal.
Ma Bofei acquired a deeper understanding of learning during her exchange in Paris Institute of Political Studies. “I still enjoy learning despite its arduousness, because I keep exploring with curiosity. Whenever new things and new knowledge broaden my horizon, I feel motivated and energetic to move on.” While Wei Shenglei, during her half year in Germany, experienced German way of behavior and philosophy of life as well as the similarities and differences between the educational methods of Chinese and German universities. She enhanced her intercultural communication in daily life and an in-depth comprehension of social reality in China and the west.
Cao Xu and He Jiwei are the first sent by GEP for internship in international organizations, with respective three and six months in WTO. Cao Xu believes that “working in international organizations is not only laudable, but requires dedication, persistence, ideal and tolerance. The friendly atmosphere we feel, the tolerance and understanding among colleagues from diversified cultures and each contribution they made in ordinary work are essential for the charm of international organizations.” Faced with tedious daily work, He Jiwei frequently reminded herself to be careful, patient, curious and diligent. Even trivial documents must be taken seriously and doubts should be answered by consultation instead of assumptions so as to accumulate experience bit by bit.
The cultivation of talents for international organizations should not be separated from practices, which requires our students to go abroad and be familar with international rules. Last year, five students from GEP received scholarship for foreign exchange and learned a lot. It is the first time for students from GEP to take an internship in international organizations this year, which marks a great stride towards international organizations.
Translated by Shang Xiaoyi, Liu Liu
Edited by Xu Xueying
