To deepen cooperation in China-US vocational education and broaden students’ international horizons, ten student representatives from Zhejiang Industrial & Trade Vocational College (ZJITC) participated, under the guidance of their teachers, in the International Education Week, an online program hosted by ZJITC’s partner institution, Gateway Technical College in the United States, on November 20 (Beijing Time). The event brought together teachers and students from China, the United States, Ecuador, Brazil, and other countries and regions. Participants engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics such as professional development, campus culture, cross-cultural communication and career planning. Through diverse dialogues, they reached common ground and showcased the positive outcomes of joint growth within the framework of China-US cooperative education.
Chinedu Obowu, Director of International Programs at Gateway Technical College chaired the event. In his opening speech, he described the International Education Week as an important platform for advancing the college’s internationalization efforts. The program aims to enhance understanding and collaboration among students from different cultural backgrounds and build cross-border friendships in the field of vocational education. Teachers and students from ZJITC were actively involved, demonstrating professional competence and cross-cultural communication skills.
During the thematic sharing session, Wang Chengwei, a Robotics Technology major from the School of Optoelectronic Manufacturing, delivered a presentation titled “Mutual Support for International Students on Campus”. Drawing on his first-hand experience as a class assistant for international students, he shared real cases in which he helped them overcome language barriers and adapt to their academic studies. He emphasized that “respect and patience are the keys to cross-cultural communication”, a view which found broad resonance among the participating students.
Zeng Xini, a Business English major from the School of International Business and Trade, and Fang Wanyi, a Tourism Management major from the School of Modern Management, introduced the local food cultures of Wenzhou and Quzhou, both located in southeastern China. Through vivid description paired with images, they brought to life China’s rich and diverse food traditions for students from various countries and regions, eliciting enthusiastic responses from the participants. Many international students expressed their interest in experiencing Chinese culture in person in the future.
Participants remarked that this online exchange broke down geographical boundaries and enabled them to engage directly with peers from different cultural backgrounds. Such interactions, they said, encouraged them to think from multiple perspectives, which not only enhanced their cross-cultural communication competence, but also provided valuable experience for future international cooperation and competition.
As an important practice in deepening cooperation between Gateway and ZJITC, this year’s International Education Week has further strengthened regular exchanges and opened up new opportunities for joint curriculum development and faculty-student interaction. Both colleges will continue working together to promote the internationalization of vocational education and jointly cultivate highly skilled professionals with solid expertise, cultural literacy and a global perspective.
