n the two-week camp, the students from the College of Architecture & Environment of SCU spent wonderful and unforgettable 14 days with the teachers and students from VIA University College of Denmark, University of Naples Federico II (Italy), Federation University Australia, University of Applied Sciences Trier, Université Paris X, University of Washington, Taiwan University and Cheng Kung University, etc.
Students from SCU: Gain Access to International Professional Knowledge
In the camps like “International Camp on Sustainable Urban Drainage System of China, Denmark and Italy”, “International Camp on Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Development of China, Germany and Australia”, “Cooperate in Rural Area Planning with Wisdom--Urban and Rural Planning Camp”, etc., the teachers and students from China and abroad studied, investigated and discussed together. They gained knowledge, broadened vision, and enjoyed friendship.
The 14 days spent together were precious memory and experience of all participants. As Hu Yang majoring in Water Supply & Drainage Science and Engineering said: “Through study and exchange of 14 days, we realized the importance of being equipped with international horizon to university students. As a Chinese saying goes, “a gentleman gets along with others, but does not necessarily agree with them”. We should be grateful for the world which has different kinds of human with diversified cultures. Thus we can make friends with so many people across the globe, learn different experiences, and subsequently enrich our expertise and knowledge.”
Roshan fromMonashUniversityofAustralialeaves an emotional hand-written letter to his Chinese friends. He wrote in English: “In the class of SCU, I can feel the desire for knowledge and strong learning ability of the students in SCU; while visiting scenic spots and historic sites ofChengdu, I get to know the charm of Chinese culture andSichuanculture in particular. I look forward to more opportunities to come back and learn more. Thank you for all the fantastic memory and I will cherish every moment we’ve spent together in SCU. Saying goodbye is heartbreaking, but we will keep in touch. You have shown me the beauty ofChengdu, and I also want to show you the splendor ofMelbourne. Dear buddies in SCU, I’ll be waiting for you atMelbourne.”
Foreign Teachers: Undergraduate Teaching is A Top Priority
In the international camp, the teachers from foreign higher learning institutions brought brand new educational ideas and methods to the students of SCU.
InItaly, Prof. Fabbricino fromUniversityofNaples Federico II(Italy) had started to discuss course scheme with his teaching assistant, a postgraduate of SCU, a long time ago. He believes that undergraduate education is a top priority. With this belief in mind, he asked the expectation and interest of SCU undergraduates for the course and prepared many interesting videos.
In comparison with the thoughtfulness of Prof. Fabbricino, Teacher Steffen B. Frandsen is called as a “smiling model teacher” by SCU students. Though assigned with 16 hours of classes, teacher Frandsen actually undertook work of 32 class hours, so as to help students know more about sustainable water supply & drainage system design. “SCU invests massive manpower, resources and money in the activities and we fly all the way to SCU, sharing a same purpose that students could participate in international exchange effectively. It’s not a big deal for me to give more lectures and cover a longer distance. Educating students is the most important, because they are the future of the world,” teacher Frandsen said.
In China– Australia Communication Camp, every student regards teacher Wendy fromFederation UniversityAustraliaas a living “encyclopaedia about birds”. In view of young age of the students in the camp, teacher Wendy lectured with stories rather than terminology to facilitate students to understand and memorize. One student said: “The teacher teaches the knowledge related to birds in a lively way, ranging from the shape of beak to feeding and inhabitation of birds. During the lecture, the teacher showed us many beautiful photos and warble. The knowledge learned in this way is really impressive and unforgettable."
In the “Cooperate in Rural Area Planning with Wisdom--Urban and Rural Planning Camp”, Liu Yi, along with other students, was lucky to be instructed by Prof. Richard Haag, a world-renowned master in landscape. “Prof. Haag is 92 years old! He enjoys an extremely high popularity in the industry. I didn’t expect that he would come to SCU and give lectures to us undergraduate students!” At the mention of the course of Prof. Haag, Li Yi was really excited, “He spent all the time with us! When explaining how to measure map sizes with an ancient method, most of us were lost in the terminology. So Prof. Haag demonstrated the method on the map once and again. He also asked a Chinese student studying at theUniversityofWashingtonto interpret for us. During the explanation, white-headed Prof. Haag kept standing and wouldn't sit down before he accomplished it. We are especially touched by his attention to undergraduate education.”
SCU Teachers: Teachers and Students All Benefit from Innovative Idea
The international camp benefits not only the students, but also the teachers ofCollegeofArchitectureand Environment of SCU participated in the activities. If the students harvest language competence enhancement and integration of cultural concepts, then the teachers harvest more open teaching ideas. In the camp, the teachers of all parties influenced each other. They instructed students with green, ecological, organic and environmental ideas, the concept of traditional culture exploration and conservation, self-examination in the face of disasters as well as the research methods combining science, humanity and art. These are not knowledge in the textbook, nor anything that can be taught in classroom, but the theme activities of this kind would give students subtle and enduring influence.
Prof. Xiong Feng, dean of College of Architecture & Environment introduced: "During the development of our college, we realize that oversea exchange experience is essential for teachers of a first-class university. Such experience could equip them with not only good communication and exchange ability during international exchange, but more open educational ideas and stronger innovation consciousness, which are more important. So one of the faculty features of College of Architecture & Environment is to improve the proportion of "oversea returnees". During the UIP, the teaching methods of teachers in the College are changing gradually as a result of cooperation with foreign teachers. The graveness and pragmatism expressed by foreign teachers, as well as their passion for and input in undergraduate teaching infect our teachers profoundly. Many teachers told me: foreign teachers are so serious in teaching. They are better than us."
The two-week international camp is closed successfully. During the closing ceremony, teachers and students from various countries and places gathered and presented their national glamour with distinctive performances. When the videoWe met in Julyedited by students was played, regardless of nationality and major, all young faces looked reluctant to be parted away from their new friends.
While the curtain of the International Camp fell in the beautiful July, the students of the College of Architecture & Environment of SCU just start their journey to the world.
