‘Living in China’ is a series of activities primarily aimed at international students, sponsored by the University of Nottingham Ningbo China’s (UNNC) Education Foundation, and led by the Department of Campus Life. It is designed and implemented based on the diverse extracurricular activity system at UNNC. The objective is to help international students on campus strengthen their Chinese language skills, understand Chinese culture and local customs, and better adapt to campus life and their academic studies through a series of experiential and immersive activities.
Since its establishment in 2019, the Living in China project has successfully organised over 40 online and offline events, receiving widespread acclaim from international students and staff at our university. The activities enjoys a participation rate of 100%, earning a stellar reputation, and has received attention from multiple prestigious national media outlets. With the accumulation of activities and the increasing influence of the project, the Living in China has gradually shifted its focus to off-campus activities, leading to the construction and development of external venues. Up to now, the project has held classes for an accumulative number of more than 170 hours, hosted more than 40 outings, and reached more than 800 Chinese and international teachers and students.
A recap of highlight events
On 27 January 2021, twenty-five teachers and students from 16 countries and regions from UNNC went to Dayan Town, Fenghua District, to experience a traditional Chinese New Year celebration in the local village. The event was reported through CCTV live, NetEase live and Baidu live, with a total of more than 800,000 views, and the ratings of CCTV13 reports are estimated to reach one million, with 76 media outlets picking it up, such as People’s Daily, Headlines Today, Xinhua News Agency, and Tencent.
This year on 19 January, more than 25 international teachers and students from 15 countries and regions such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Serbia and South Korea came to Tiantong Old Street to experience local traditional Spring Festival customs and the traditions of the Song Dynasty. The event was reported through CCTV.
And this year on on 3 February, more than 20 international teachers and students from UNNC journeyed to Xiepu Town, a thousand-year-old town in Zhenhai District, to experience the traditional Lantern Festival culture found in ancient villages. This event, which was reported by Xinhua News Agency, received 747,000 views.
Participants' experiences
Second year PhD Environmental Engineering
“On the 28 October, 2023, the living in China Program took us to Tianyi Pavilion and Jiulonghu Resort. The activity was great and it provided ample time at each location for experience and taking pictures. The tour guide with us was very knowledgeable, helpful and cheerful. He explained about almost everything in the Tianyi Pavilion. Then we went to the Jiulonghu, which was organised very well. I enjoy the activity very much. I hope there will be more such activities in the future and I also want to visit some other new places as well.”
- Samuel Samudera Susjanto Harno
MSc International Management (2023-2024)
“From my experience as a Master student that’s really busy and full of assignments back then, I feel like the Living in China program held by DCL is really relaxing, stress-relieving, and immersive, which makes me feel that I am still able to balance my academic life with recreation and culture. Previously, I participated in some of the Living in China programs held by DCL inside and outside campus, which was really immersive in experiencing different sides of Chinese culture and society. Starting from the dumplings making as a part of the CNY celebration, journey to FengHua and Ningbo cultural museum in 2022, and others which I found also really relaxing. I even felt like the programme itself is such a valuable and significant one, especially for postgraduate students. ”