On April 24, 2026, a delegation from the University of Bonn (Universität Bonn), Germany, visited the School of International Studies (SIS), Zhejiang University. Led by Prof. Michael Hoch, Rector of the University of Bonn, the delegation included Dr. Katharina Fuchs-Bodde, Director of the International Office, Prof. Xuewu Gu, Strategic Advisor to the Rector on China Affairs, Mr. Niklas Almasi, Advisor to the Rector, and Dr. Jan-Helge Weidemann, Coordinator of the Competence Hub for China & India. They were warmly received by Prof. TENG Lin, Vice Dean of SIS, Prof. WANG Jun, Dean of the School of Philosophy and an alumnus who studied in Germany, Prof. LI Yuan, Director of the Institute of German Culture; and Associate Prof. XU Xueying, Director of Development & Planning Dept. of the Secretariat of Global Competency Program of Zhejiang University; as well as Prof. LIU Yongqiang, Prof. ZHUANG Wei from the Institute of German Culture and DAAD expert Thorsten Müller. The two sides engaged in the exchange meeting, hosted by the Prof. TENG Lin.
The visit coincided with the Seminar on Development of National German Faculty 2026 held at Zhejiang University. The seminar was hosted by the Center for National German Faculty Development under the German Teaching Guidance Subcommittee of Foreign Languages and Literature Teaching Committee of the Ministry of Education (the German Subcommittee of the MOE). Since its establishment at the Institute of German Culture of SIS, Zhejiang University in 2019, the Center has held these national seminars regularly. The theme for this year’s seminar was “AI-Empowered Intercultural German Teaching and Research”. Rector Michael Hoch visited the seminar in person and engaged in deep exchanges with German teacher representatives from universities nationwide. He expressed his great pleasure in witnessing flourishing German education in China and his appreciation for the profound passion Chinese scholars hold for German language and culture. He emphasized, “Language serves as a bridge for civilization exchange. We hope more Chinese youth will study German, and we also encourage more German students to learn Chinese and visit China for exchanges. Only through a mutual commitment to language and culture can we truly achieve deep understanding and mutual learning between China and Germany, and indeed between China and Europe”.
During the specialized exchange meeting, Prof. WANG Jun detailed the development foundation and achievements of the School of Philosophy in philosophical research and intercultural dialogue. Prof. LI Yuan provided a detailed overview of the latest progress in the German discipline of Zhejiang University, covering faculty development, curriculum optimization, breakthroughs in academic research, and the cultivation of interdisciplinary talents. Associate Prof. XU Xueying shared the practical exploration and results achieved by “Global Engagement Program of Zhejiang University (GEP)” in enhancing students’ global competence and promoting international talent cultivation.
Rector Michael Hoch spoke highly of the presentations made by the three professors. He noted that the University of Bonn has a long-standing tradition and distinctive features in the field of philosophical research, and expressed a willingness to further strengthen academic exchanges and cooperation with the School of Philosophy in Zhejiang University. Besides, he expressed his deep impression of the comprehensive strength demonstrated by German discipline in teaching, research, social service, and international cooperation, as well as its domestic and international influence. He also showed particular interest in international joint double-degree programs. In closing, he expected to expand more practical and efficient cooperation between the University of Bonn and Zhejiang University in fields such as German discipline construction, philosophical academic research, and talent cultivation for international organizations, thereby jointly building a high-level platform for Sino-German cultural exchange.
The visit led by Rector Michael Hoch has further deepened the mutual understanding and trust between the University of Bonn and Zhejiang University in the field of higher education, and injected fresh momentum into the in-depth cooperation between China and Germany in language and cultural dissemination, collaborative academic research, and the cultivation of global governance talents.
Translation: HONG Jiayao
Proofread: XU Xueying
