On January 16th, the International Education College of Liaoning Institute of Science and Technology held a New Year's gathering for international studentsin the second floor of the Yishanyuan Restaurant. The venue was decorated with lanterns and streamers, creating a warm and festive atmosphere. More than 40 international students from Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Tunisia, and other countries gathered with school leaders and Chinese and foreign teachers to immerse themselves in the unique charm of Chinese excellent traditional culture amidst laughter and joy.
At the event, each round table transformed into a lively "cultural workshop" filled with the aroma of cooking. Chinese and foreign teachers and students gathered together, immersing themselves in the cultural experience of making dumplings. Under the detailed demonstration and patient guidance of the teachers, the international students enthusiastically took part, eager to learn. From initially being unfamiliar with the technique and frequently "leaking" the filling, they gradually mastered the skill of pinching the dough to create pleats, successfully making shaped dumplings. Their enthusiasm and confidence grew simultaneously. Some international students even brought their creativity into full play, shaping the dumplings into unique designs like roses and boats. Their distinctive ideas sparked laughter and joy on the scene, showcasing the fun and vitality of cross-cultural exchange. It also fostered a deep bond between Chinese and foreign teachers and students, becoming a vivid carrier of cultural integration.
During the event, interactive games interspersed further narrowed the distance between participants. The international students enthusiastically participated, demonstrating their youthful vitality andthespirit of unity and cooperation. Zhao Yi, the secretary of the Party Committee of the university, stated during the event that the school has always adhered to an open and inclusive international educational philosophy, striving to build a campus cultural ecology of understanding, respect, and sharing. He hoped that the international students would enhance mutual understanding and strengthen mutual appreciation of civilizations through immersive cross-cultural experiences, become messengers of cultural exchange, promote sincere dialogue and mutual enlightenment among different civilizations, and allow diverse civilizations to coexist and develop together through equal dialogue and in-depth communication.
Chen Li, Dean of the International Education College, along with all the faculty members of the department, extended their warm New Year greetings to the students and emphasizedthe importance ofsafety precautions during the winter vacation. She stated that the duty teachers would be on duty throughout the vacation, and students could seek help at any time if they encountered difficulties. The college would do its utmost to provide solid support for everyone's vacation life.
At the end of the event, steaming hot dumplings were served one after another, and the warm reunion dinner made the overseas students present feel extremely warm. Tasting the fruits of their own labor, the overseas students gave a thumbs-up and praised it, saying that this dinner, filled withtheChinese New Year atmosphere, was of great significance. They not only felt the joy of the festival but also experienced the deep friendship of the school and a sense of belonging like "home".
After lunch, the atmosphere at the event site became increasingly lively. International students from different countries brought impromptu ethnic dance performances, with cheerful rhythms intertwined with energetic dance steps, winning rounds of applause and cheers. The scene transformed into a mini "international cultural carnival". At the end of the event, all teachers and students donned red embroidered scarves with the school motto "Ming Dao Ming De, Qiu Xin Qiu Shi" printed on them, and took a group photo filled with smiles. Faces from different cultural backgrounds converged in front of the camera, capturing a vivid epitome of harmonious coexistence, unity, and friendship in the international campusof theLiaoning Institute of Science and Technology.
This event marks the first time that the International Education Collegeatour school has planned and implemented a New Year-themed cultural practice for all international students. The event not only takes food as a starting point, allowing international students to personally participate and experience Chinese Spring Festival customs, but also uses cultural experience as a medium to build an invisible yet solid emotional bridge. It allows students far from their hometowns to find a warm festive ritual in a foreign campus, deeply understand the spiritual connotation of "harmony and integration" in Chinese culture, and further demonstrates the school's "student-centered" educational philosophy and solid steps in promotingtheinternationalization of education.
Moving forward, the school will continue to innovate forms of cultural exchange, enrich the connotation of activities, provide more platforms for international students to perceive China and integrate into the campus, continuously create an inclusive, open, and warm international education environment, cultivate international talents with a global perspective, cross-cultural communication skills, and deep friendship, and make positive contributions to deepening friendship and cooperation between countries.
