A different kind of academic life

To help Chinese students settle into their new lives in Cardiff, the Confucius Institute ran a number of talks on cultural and academic differences within education.

The presentations, given by Academic Director Associate Professor Lin Lifang, were designed to give the students a better idea of how studying in the UK compared to China. They were centred around teaching approaches and key cultural differences in the two education systems including areas such as grades, engagement, mental health, types of learning and forms of communication.

The talks were held at the opening of the first semester, and were attended by 902 freshers in the Schools of Business, Social Sciences and Modern Languages.

Meeting the University’s new Chinese students also led to the creation of a WeChat group for those who have with special talents such as calligraphy, Tai Chi or playing traditional Chinese instruments. Watch this space for collaboration with these skilled artistes at a later date!