To continuously internationalize talent training and allow more students to participate in international exchanges and cooperation, the College of Communication Engineering (CCE), Jilin University (JLU) has set the goal for international cooperation in 2019, building on previous experience and considering the initiative of building a first-level university and first-level discipline. The overall approach was to encourage more students to kindle the idea, set the aspiration, and take the first step of “going global”. We strove to create a campus climate with frequent international exchanges by mobilizing the intentional few to galvanize the rest.
Our work experience tells us that the target institutions and financial support are very important factors in students’ active participation in international exchanges. For this, the following measures have been taken.
1. Develop diversified, high-quality exchange and research programs to meet the needs of different students
Currently, students are still “taking the pulse” of international exchanges. The main goal at present is to broaden students’ international horizon and stimulate their enthusiasm in academic research by providing them with the opportunities to be exposed to the academic atmosphere of world-class universities. Considering that the CCE has a large number of students with relatively weak economic resources, the faculty and staff have taken joint efforts to offer them various exchange options for research and study in the UK, Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Macao, China.
To deepen students’ understanding of the world’s top universities, the College focused on exchange programs in the world’s top 100 universities in the UK. Students had the chance to visit the Cambridge University, Oxford University, University of Birmingham, University of Liverpool and Queen Mary University of London. Despite the limited funding, the College has also organized and implemented domestic research and study exchange programs with Hong Kong and Macao counterparts, which boast a high level of internationalization. Due to their low cost and short period, these programs could satisfies the needs of most students to “go out with minimal spending and disruptions to courses”.
2. Mobilize teachers to lead in short-term exchange groups and international contest teams and encourage students to participate in high-level international academic conferences
Teachers play a vital role in students' international communication. The college fully mobilized teachers who had studied abroad or cooperated with overseas universities to participate in student research and study exchange programs. Their active participation was conducive to the organization and implementation of more in-depth and professional exchange and research projects. Thanks to their efforts, the students had the chance to step into the classrooms, laboratories and research offices of foreign universities, be absorbed in an English teaching and research environment, identify their standing among international peers, and constantly improve their awareness of frontier knowledge in their field.
With the help and guidance of faculty members, students actively participated in international competitions and high-level academic conferences. It not only greatly improved their academic and practical capabilities, but also exposed them to the international platform, from which they could effectively publicize and showcase the strength of JLU.
3. Actively apply for various programs and funding from JLU
Financial support is a crucial factor in students’ international communication. The College took the initiative to apply for various financial support from the “Excellence Initiative”, JLU Office of Global Engagement, the Academic Affairs Office, and the Graduate School, apart from the quota funds of JLU “Plan to Promote Students’ International Competitiveness”. Facts have proved that planning and organizing high-level projects with lofty aspirations and down-to-earth practices underpinned our efforts to obtain funds and resources and to dispatch outstanding students in an organized manner.
4. Strengthen the pre-travel education of visiting students and improve their comprehensive quality
The college attached great importance to the pre-travel education of the students, a number of whom were going abroad for exchange and study for the first time, to help them better adapt to a foreign culture. On the one hand, lectures were carried out covering various safety topics; on the other hand, students were reminded to mind their personal behaviors and encouraged to express their ideas bravely and integrate into the classes of the visited university. We were well aware of the importance of students’ quality, not only to themselves, but also to the long-term cooperation between the College and overseas universities and our international influence.
On the basis of comprehensive planning of short-term exchange and study programs, the College continued to deepen the dual degree program. By vigorously carrying out short-term research and study projects, we provided students with enlightening education up to international standards, as well as a favorable atmosphere for international cooperation targeted at a larger group of students, so as to explore new approaches for future development. First of all, the College has steadily strengthened the publicity of the existing dual degree and joint training programs by inviting students who had participated in previous programs to share their experience and inform the students of the dual degree programs and international exchanges. Special funding for quality projects also effectively stimulated students’ enthusiasm for participation without financial concerns. The existing projects have been further explored to broaden their scope of application and cooperation. Contracts have been renewed to revitalize the years-long excellent projects and build strength for the next step of high-level talent cultivation.
Meanwhile, the College continues to explore new opportunities for collaboration. We fully mobilize teachers with experience in overseas studies and international cooperation to seek opportunities and expand network. Quality international exchange platforms such as international conferences are utilized to cooperate with high-level foreign experts via face-to-face communication and establish a diversified, innovative mode of cooperation. Cooperation with the University of Birmingham proves that the college has gradually formed a virtuous cycle of promoting dual degree and joint training programs through short-term research and study exchanges and optimizing short-term exchanges by long-term projects.
These are some of the experience in promoting students’ international exchange in 2019, and we are grateful to the Office of Global Affairs, Academic Affairs Office and Graduate School for their vigorous support and help. In the future, the College will focus on the goal of the “Double First-Class” initiative, leap from “expanding the scale of international exchanges” to “improving the quality and efficiency of international cooperation”, cultivate more outstanding students, and continuously enhance the academic competence and international influence of the College.
(Source: the College of Communications Engineering)
