Wuhan College comes to Jesus College for 2020 visiting programme

From 13-22 January 2020, Jesus College welcomed 15 visitors from Wuhan College, China, for an educational enrichment programme. The students experienced a range of lectures, talks and visits around the University of Cambridge, gaining insight into student life and British higher education.

Students from the prestigious Chinese university were delighted to be welcomed by Master of the College, Sonita Alleyne, and to then have a series of lectures from academics at Jesus College, including Mr Nick Ray, Dr Renaud Morieux, Rev'd James Crockford, Mr Julius Grower, Dr Julian Huppert, Dr Sarah Steele, and Professor Peter Nolan, as well as from Tim Clissold, Dr Jag Srai from the Insitute for Manufacturing, Dr Ed Turner from the Museum of Zoology, and Dr Peter Clarkson of the Scott Polar Research Institute.

Beyond receiving a full programme of lectures, workshops and museum tours, the students greatly enjoyed the opportunity to share a dinner with students from Cambridge Chinese Society and Cam+, as well as having a night out in Cambridge with the Jesus College Student Union, while also venturing out to sight-see London and Oxford.

The students rounded out the programme giving presentations comparing the UK to China, considering such topics as historic building preservation, high education theory and practice, and healthcare systems. Their 20-minute presentations highlighted the opportunities for great future collaboration between China and the UK in the future to engage in cross-directional learning.

Ding Xueying, a third-year student in new media, said of the programme that it was "very exciting, and I learned a lot about the history of Britain, about British culture and about Cambridge, including both the city and University".

The Director of the Intellectual Forum at Jesus College, Dr Julian Huppert, said "it's been a great pleasure to have Wuhan College students here and I, and all the other lecturers, have enjoyed the conversations and discussion. I look forward to this programme continuing for many years to come."

The Programme's Director for 2020, Dr Sarah Steele, reflected "the students greatly benefited from the diverse talks and visits, having the opportunity to hear about everything from art and architecture to zoology and engineering. But the lecturers themselves also benefited hugely from the many thoughtful discussions had, with new and challenging questions coming from some of China's brightest student minds. We are so pleased both Wuhan and Jesus Colleges have been able to coordinate such a wonderful opportunity for all involved."

Wuhan College was founded by Dr Charles Chen Yidan, a core founding member of Tencent. With a vision to become the most respectable private university in China, Wuhan College offers full-time bachelor programmes that follow a distinctive global talent development approach and that strives to nurture high-quality applied talents that will grow with the rapidly growing economic and social development. The 2020 Visiting Programme to Jesus College was fully sponsored by Yidan University Education Foundation.