NingboTech University representatives visited Confucius Classroom at BUT

On the 14th of April, we had the great pleasure of hosting NingboTech University (浙大宁波理工学院) representatives at our university. The purpose behind the visit of the guests from China was to meet with the authorities of our university and discuss the further development of our ongoing cooperation aimed at strengthening relations between Poland and China.

We were visited by five delegates representing the Chinese side – University Council Chairman of NingboTech University, Prof. Xu Fang (徐方), Director of Research Office of NingboTech University, Prof. Hu Changxing (胡长兴), Deputy Director of Academic Affairs Office of NingboTech University, prof. Xu Yidong (徐亦冬), Director of Students Affairs Office of NingboTech University, Prof. Ying Zhongyuan (应中元) and Deputy Director of Student Affairs of NingboTech University, Prof. Wu Qiong (吴琼).

The Polish side was represented by the Rector of the Białystok University of Technology, Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng., the Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Assoc. Prof. Dorota Anna Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng., the Head of International Cooperation Units, Agata Dziekońska, MSc, and the Head of the Confucius Classroom, Katarzyna Kuźmicz, PhD.

Both sides’ representatives discussed the matters of double-degree programme and the resumption of the organisation of summer schools for students at our universities, as well as the issue of establishing an ‘Polish-Chinese Cooperation Institute’. It was this topic that was of utmost importance to us, as the Confucius Classroom at BUT.

During the meeting, an agreement was signed that will enable us to become an independent Confucius Classroom under the name ‘Polish-Chinese Cooperation Institute’. The name change will be followed by the further development of the relationship with NingboTech University, which is known for its Polish Studies Center (波兰研究中心, Bōlán yánjiū zhōngxīn). The changes in our unit will involve the continuation of our existing activities, including the organisation of new editions of the Chinese course taught by Chinese teachers and the administration of the HSK and HSKK Chinese proficiency tests.

Afterwards, the delegation from NingboTech University was given a tour of the BUT campus. Representatives of our partner university visited the office and classrooms of the Confucius Classroom at BUT, where they had the opportunity to get to know our Chinese teachers. We talked about the activities we have carried out so far and our plans to develop them in the future. We believe that the cooperation between our universities will contribute to broadening the range of activities we offer, which will certainly facilitate the promotion of Chinese culture in our community.

Alongside the office and classrooms of Confucius Classrooms at BUT, NingboTech University representatives visited the Centre for History of BUT, the Centre for Modern Education and the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences. The campus tour was an opportunity to find out more about the details of our university’s history and to experience first-hand how on a daily basis we strive to provide students and staff of BUT with as many various avenues as possible.

We look forward to the future possibilities of organising even more activities aimed at introducing Chinese culture to the Polish community under the name ‘Polish-Chinese Cooperation Institute’. We are particularly excited about the opportunity of direct cooperation with a Chinese university, which includes the promotion of Polish culture in its efforts. We hope that the formalisation of cooperation between the NingboTech University and Confucius Classroom at BUT will contribute to the internationalisation of our university and bring many benefits to the students and staff of both universities.