UM Choi Kai Yau College jointly organized "Integration and Unity · Educating People with Culture" online forum - Choi Kai Yau College

In order to strengthen the cultural education and promote interaction among colleges, the “Integration and Unity ·Educating People with Culture” online forum was held on November 12. This forum was jointly organized by Choi Kai Yau College of the University of Macao (UM), Fengru College of Beihang University (BUAA), Mengxiancheng College of East China Normal University (ECNU) and Chongshi College of Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU). The professors and students of these four colleges actively engaged in cultural exchange online.

First of all, Prof. Janny Leung, College Master of UM’s Choi Kai Yau College, Prof. Zhang Dan, Head of College Affairs of XJTU’s Chongshi College, Prof. Yang Chao College Master of BUAA’s Fengru College and Prof. Wu Wei, College Master of ECNU’s Mengxiancheng College delivered their opening remarks. The College Masters fully expressed their delight in the successful organization of this forum, and envisioned new modes for the strengthening of the exchange and cooperation among the four Colleges as well as continuing to work together to achieve breakthroughs and developments.

Next, during the thematic report session, the Colleges emphasized on the concept of cultural education, and discussed the experiences and practices of the college system in the present era. Dr. Qi Yaning from UM’s Choi Kai Yau College introduced the history and development of the characteristic culture of UM’s residential college system in her presentation of “The Exploration and Practice of Establishing College Culture”. In addition, Prof. Duan Jichao from XJTU’s Chongshi College, Prof. Liang Hongliang from ECNU’s Mengxiancheng College, and Prof Lee Junliang from Fengru College introduced their own colleges and shared the experiences and practices in their own residential college education system respectively.

The session was followed by thematic sharing by the student representatives of the four colleges in the afternoon. Liu Mengwei and Xia Wenxin from UM’s Choi Kai Yau College spoke on the topic, “Student Leadership System and the Management of Student Associations in Choi Kai Yau College, University of Macau”, discussing the residential college system of UM in terms of leadership training programme; Student representatives from other three colleges also vividly shared the distinctive cultural education systems of different colleges, and brought us into their college life with their real experiences and personal growth.

In the evening, the entertainment session of the forum was held by joining the party hosted by XJTU’s Chongshi College. The students from the four Colleges strengthened the relationship with each other by showcasing the character of their residential colleges and giving wonderful cultural performance, and they also expressed their anticipation to gather together in-person as soon as possible.

This online forum has strengthened the intercultural communication among the four Colleges, and provided a good platform for promoting mutual experience sharing in the development of residential college systems, improved student interaction among the different Colleges, and laid a solid foundation for future exchange programs among the four Colleges.

In October 2018, BUAA’s Fengru College, ECNU’s Mengxiancheng College and UM’s Choi Kai Yau College jointly launched the “City and Cultural Development – Focus on Beijing, Shanghai and Macao” exchange visits. In the spring of 2019, XJTU’s Chongshi College joined this exchange programme, thus forming an alliance of Colleges from four locations. Up to now, the four Colleges have worked hand in hand on visits to Shanghai in the spring, Xi ‘an in the summer, Beijing in the autumn and Macao in the winter. The successful holding of this forum provided a new opportunity for strengthening the cooperation among the four Colleges, and accumulating new experiences in cultivating students under the distinctive college system.

Text: Erinna Tan, Cheong Ka Man