📍 Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 5–20 July 2025
From 5 to 20 July 2025, the EU–China Higher Education Research Center (ECHE) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) hosted the European Culture and Education International Summer Program, jointly organized with Beijing Normal University (BNU). This two-week program welcomed students from BNU for a rich, immersive learning experience focused on the cultural, historical, and educational landscapes of Europe.
As a key academic platform at VUB, ECHE serves as a bridge between European and Chinese higher education systems, and this summer initiative further embodied its mission: to foster intercultural dialogue, support international mobility, and provide structured exposure to global perspectives in education and society.
Throughout the program, participants explored topics including European languages and cultures, postcolonial thought, intercultural communication, multilingualism, and European institutions. A mix of classroom learning, expert lectures, and site-based education, including visits to Ghent, Bruges, Cologne, Aachen, Paris, and Amsterdam, enabled students to connect theory with context, while developing cross-cultural awareness and reflective thinking.
The program concluded with student group presentations and a formal closing ceremony at VUB, where students also shared performances prepared during the program. The event marked a joyful conclusion to two weeks of academic and cultural exploration.
This summer program is one of several ECHE-led efforts to promote meaningful exchange between Chinese and European institutions and to empower future global-minded learners with skills in intercultural understanding, collaboration, and academic exploration.
