On the morning of June 16, the Achievement Report and Closing Ceremony of Australia's New Colombo Plan for Student Exchange was successfully held in Conference Room S306 of the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Teachers and students from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University), an overseas sister university of Chengdu University (CDU), as well as those from the School of Architecture and Civil Engineering at CDU, attended the ceremony. Peng Xiaolin, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of CDU, visited the site for observation and guidance. She provided feedback on the report results and extended congratulations to the Chinese-Australian student team for their outstanding achievements.
Since June 5, a group of 14 students from RMIT University has been awarded funding through the New Colombo Plan to participate in a two-week learning exchange and cultural experience, together with an additional 14 students from our School of Architecture and Civil Engineering of CDU. The New Colombo Plan is an Australian government-funded initiative aimed at strengthening Australia's understanding of the Indo-Pacific region's developments by providing support for Australian university students to pursue studies and internships in the region.
In the past two weeks, students from China and Australia have received valuable lectures from industry experts, undergone training in BIM-related software such as Dynamo and Navisworks, and visited landmark BIM application projects. These experiences have deepened their understanding of the development status of China's building information modeling (BIM) industry while also improving their ability to apply BIM technology. Based on this, the students established a collaborative working group to collectively accomplish tasks and deliver presentations in accordance with project requirements.
In addition to professional exchanges, this activity also included various cultural exchange activities such as Chinese language learning, calligraphy and painting workshops, tea culture experiences, and visits to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Mount Qingcheng in Dujiangyan City. These activities were organized to deepen Australian students' understanding of Chinese culture.
In the achievement exhibition held on June 16, students from both sides delivered presentations in both Chinese and English, effectively showcasing their learning accomplishments. In addition, they reflected on the remarkable moments of their exchange and exchanged insights and experiences regarding each other's culture and lifestyle. While expressing gratitude to China, Australian teachers and students also expressed their eagerness to serve as a bridge for exchanges between Chinese and Australian college students, injecting more vitality into the continuous development and progress of cultural relations between the two countries.
After each group completed their work display, Vice President Peng Xiaolin expressed her appreciation for the achievements made by the students. She also extended congratulations on the successful exchange activity and provided Australian teachers and students with relevant information regarding the 31st FISU Summer World University Games Chengdu 2021. She hopes that the two sides can utilize diverse communication and interaction platforms to enhance mutual understanding and collaboration between educational institutions and scholars in China, while also pursuing broader cooperation and exchange.
This exchange program between Chinese and Australian students has not only elevated the professional knowledge of participants, but also fostered mutual understanding among young people from China and Australia, as well as strengthened the friendship between the two countries. Finally, Vice President Peng Xiaolin expressed her hopes for collaborative efforts between China and Australia to drive more positive progress in the teacher-student exchange programs, consequently promoting friendly relations between both sides.
