On June 8, 26 international alumni from 10 countries such as France, South Korea, Japan and Pakistan gathered at Donghua University for the 10th anniversary of International Alumni Association of Donghua University. The alumni proposed to establish an education fund, providing assistance to needy students. Vice President Liu Chunhong, along with Gu Bohong, Dean of International Cultural Exchange school, Wu Xiaojun, Vice Dean of International Cultural Exchange school, and Wu Baogen, Deputy Director of Development Liaison Office, attended the meeting.
Liu Chunhong indicated that the education fund sponsored by international students as well as various alumni activities gathers the alumni from all over the world, which is quite conducive to the mutual assistance and common progress between Chinese and foreign alumni. She said that the international student education will continuously focus on the university’s connotation construction and development based on Chinese culture and the university’s characteristics, endeavoring to improve the quality of student cultivation and setting up the bridge of disseminating Chinese culture while positively highlighting brand construction.
According to the agreed regulation of the international alumni fund, the fund is mainly oriented at hard working students who are temporarily encountered with economic difficulties and applicable for both Chinese and foreign students. The fund will be timely issued upon the student’s application at any time. One week after the student has submitted the application together with relevant proof materials, the secretariat of the International Alumni Association will publish the approval result.
Nepali alumnus Rad, the winner of Magnolia Award and the Head of International Alumni Association, has made tremendous contributions to the economic and cultural exchange between China and Nepal during his work in international trade of textile and costume for more than 20 years. He indicated, “When I was studying at Donghua University, I got a lot of help from teachers and peers so that I could graduate smoothly. I’ve always thought about doing something for my Alma mater to help industrious juniors. We all believe it’s significant for us to establish such a fund.”
It is learnt that Donghua University began to enroll international students early in 1954, and is one of the first universities to recruit international students and establish degree programs taught in English. The philosophy of combining learning Chinese and spreading Chinese culture, and specific teaching and management practices involving “everything goes around students’ comprehensive development and success” and “affection services” of the International Cultural Exchange school have attracted numerous international students. Over the past 60 years, Donghua University has cultivated over 20,000 students from more than 150 countries and its quantity of international students ranks 11th nationwide. The graduates have engaged themselves in areas such as economy, culture, diplomacy and sports around the world, bringing honor for both their homeland and China.
