📍 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 Zhejiang University (ZJU). The program welcomed a group of ZJU students to Brussels for an intensive two-week exploration of European culture, education, and society.
As part of VUB’s commitment to international engagement and ECHE’s mission to foster EU–China educational exchange, this program provided a multidisciplinary and experience-based introduction to European values, institutions, and intercultural dialogue.
The ZJU students participated in a wide range of activities, including sessions on:
European educational systems and governance
Multilingualism and language policy
Decolonial research and postcolonial perspectives
Intercultural communication and presentation skills
These classroom-based components were paired with visits to significant sites such as the European Parliament, UNESCO, etc. The program also featured educational and cultural excursions to Bruges, Cologne, Aachen, Paris, and Amsterdam, allowing participants to better appreciate the diversity of European cultures and educational traditions across different cities.
The program concluded with student group presentations and a closing ceremony at VUB, during which students also shared cultural performances. The event marked a cheerful and meaningful conclusion to two weeks of shared academic learning and cultural discovery.
This program reflects ECHE’s broader goal to support international dialogue, promote global academic cooperation, and equip students with comparative insights into European education and society.
