On the afternoon of April 26, Kaifeng Vocational College (KFVC) celebrated its 5th anniversary through an innovative youth faculty &student international exchange event held simultaneously at the Jingdong Smart Classroom and Tiehong Gymnasium. This event attracted participation from seven international faculty members hailing from the United States, Germany, Ukraine, South Korea, Pakistan, and Cameroon, along with fourteen international students representing Russia, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Algeria, and Morocco. KFVC faculty and student delegates also joined the event, which was chaired by Zhang Qingfang, Director of the International Exchange Center, KFVC.
In the smart classroom, young Chinese and foreign faculty members engaged in in-depth discussions centered around the themes of language teaching and cultural exchange. Foreign teachers shared fun teaching techniques, while faculty from our college explored ways to enhance classroom interactivity, taking into account the unique characteristics of Chinese students. During the cultural exchange session, foreign educators demonstrated keen interest in Kaifeng’s traditional culture. Both sides engaged in interactive discussions centering on traditional Chinese culture and Kaifeng’s local characteristics, with the event maintaining a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere throughout.
Meanwhile, student exchange activities at Tiehong Gymnasium proved equally spectacular. Under the guidance of professional instructors, Chinese and international students experienced traditional martial arts including swordsmanship, Tai Chi, and Baduanjin, discovering the unique charm of Chinese Kung Fu through hands-on practice. In the subsequent Song Dynasty-themed games segment, the traditional Touhu (arrow-throwing game) not only drew enthusiastic participation but also allowed international students to immerse in joyous laughter while gaining firsthand appreciation for the cultural significance of China’s ancient recreational traditions. Finally, international students played table tennis with guidance from coaches. The activity strengthened friendships between Chinese and foreign students and helped international friends better understand the essence of Chinese traditional culture.
Finally, international faculty and students toured the campus, experiencing four ICH items: Bian Embroidery, Zhuxian Town Woodblock New Year Paintings, Northern Song Royal Porcelain, and Weiqi (Go), while learning about the college’s distinctive heritage preservation efforts.
As aimportant part of KFVC 5th anniversary celebrations, this international exchange event showed our global education features, built cross-cultural connections, and boosted the college’s openness and cooperation. The KFVC will continue organizing similar events to promote cultural exchange and help teachers and students broaden their global perspectives.
