2015 UIP & Chemistry College International Exchange Camp Concluded Successfully

On July 5, the Opening Ceremony of 2015 University Immersion Program (UIP) was held at the Jiang’an Campus of Sichuan University. 169 International scholars from 24 countries specializing in various fields attended the ceremony which kicked off a two-week journey of teaching and cultural exchange. Over 400 international students also joined this gathering, giving them their first taste of Chengdu.

This year, upon the invitation of the College of Chemistry, eight international scholars traveled to Chengdu for teaching over the two-week period. The collection of invited faculty members from top universities in the United States and United Kingdom represented a combined expertise throughout the various branches of Chemistry. The seven short lectures (one of the courses was taught jointly by two professors) covered the topics of organic chemistry, green chemistry, polymer synthesis, organometallic chemistry, and chemical biology. These courses enriched our undergraduates with extensive scientific knowledge and an exotic experience of how chemistry is taught in the West. Many Chinese undergraduates gave positive feedback on those courses and expressed their interest in studying abroad. A few students said they still need to work hard on their English to comprehend the course lectures. On the evening of July 10, a welcome reception was hosted by the College for both international scholars and Chinese faculty to meet and exchange academic thoughts. Foreign teachers praised the Chinese students as smart and diligent. They also expressed their appreciation for the excellent organization of the program.

The International Exchange Camp, which served as a second section of University Immersion Program, provided a favorable opportunity for undergraduates from all over the world to meet and be friends with each other. The 2015 summer camp had three American undergraduates from Georgia State University and 17 Chinese students as participants. Various academic andrecreationalactivities were planned and organized. These included water quality investigation, (which involved outdoor water sampling and laboratory work), creative chemistry experiments designed by students, badminton tournaments, and group visits to historical sites. Through these activities, international students mingled well with local students and all of them learned how to prepare for many unfamiliar social interactions with their peers from different cultural settings. One of the American students said that she really enjoyed the program and was very happy to know that the water quality investigation project could help purify water and decrease the risk of cancer. All international students expressed their appreciation for the help from their Chinese friends. Also, they suggested that for the future program, it would be ideal if international students be informed with the schedule earlier so that they can have sufficient time to prepare and adjust their personal plans accordingly.

The 2015 UIP & International Exchange Camp builds on the experience gained from the past three years. With the wide support and helpful suggestions from people who care about this program, gradual improvement will be made for a better UIP which is more efficient, illuminating and interesting.

List of chemistry lectures from July 6-17