Kicking‑off a new chapter at Songshan Lake, promising fruits are about to ripen. To help international new students quickly adapt to campus study and life and build a platform for diverse exchanges, the Opening Ceremony for Chinese Language Students of Autumn Semester 2026 was held at the Songshan Lake Campus of Dongguan University of Technology on the afternoon of September 4.Chen Baiman, Dean of the International College and Deputy Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Department; Yang Danyu, Vice‑Dean of the International College; Zhu Ziqi, Representative of the International Exchange and Cooperation Department; faculty and staff of the college, degree‑student representatives and all Chinese language students attended the ceremony. Han Yu, Police Sergeant of Songshan Lake Public Security Brigade, and Su Dongyang, Police Sergeant of Hongmian Police Station, were also present.

At the ceremony, Dean Chen Baiman extended a warm welcome to Chinese‑language students from various countries. He introduced the international education resources and talent‑training orientation of the university and the college. He encouraged students to maintain a earnest attitude toward study, improve their Chinese proficiency, take an active part in cross‑cultural exchanges, and strive to become goodwill envoys for mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations.

Later, he presented university badges to student representatives. He shared the university motto Learning reveals one’s inadequacies with the new students, hoping that all of them would gain knowledge and achieve progress during their studies at Dongguan University of Technology.

Yang Jing, representative of the teacher, stated in her speech that Chinese is more than just a language; it serves as a bridge linking diverse countries and cultures. Learning Chinese involves not only mastering pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar, but also understanding distinctive ways of thinking and cultures. She hoped students could enjoy the learning process and experience the unique charm of the Chinese language through their studies.

Relying on the Chineselanguage program, the International College has built a development pathway for international students from language training to degreeoriented education. This year, a number of former Chineselanguage students from our college have successfully been admitted to undergraduate or postgraduate programs at the university. At this opening ceremony, three representatives of these students, Mariia and Anna from Russia and Princello from Indonesia, were specially invited to share their learning insights with new students based on their experiences.

The three students looked back on the language‑related difficulties they encountered when they first arrived in China and the whole process of self‑breakthrough in Chinese learning. Mariia confessed that her oral Chinese improved remarkably by persisting in communicating with native speakers. Even when she still made mistakes, she was never afraid to speak up. Princello extended sincere gratitude to the college, teachers and fellow students for their company and support throughout his academic journey. Anna encouraged the new students present to learn Chinese in a down‑to‑earth manner and bravely pursue their dreams of further education. These plain‑spoken yet heartfelt sharing sessions opened new horizons for freshmen present regarding the future possibilities brought by Chinese‑language proficiency.

Talia, a representative of new Chinese‑language students from Spain, also shared her original motivation for learning Chinese and voiced her high expectations for campus life and language studies.

Among the new students of this semester are five students from Tonga. Educational cooperation between our university and Tonga has kept deepening since the visit of the King of Tonga in 2018, evolving from the arrival of the first‑batch students to regular, institutionalized student dispatch. The International College undertakes Chinese‑language teaching and daily management services for Tongan students. While consolidating their language foundation, the college provides guidance for transition to degree programs, helping them make a smooth shift from language training to degree‑oriented education.

During the interactive session, new students took turns introducing themselves and talking about their hometowns, hobbies and study goals. In the relaxed atmosphere, they quickly grew closer to one another. Chen Haidan, student counsellor, delivered an admission‑oriented safety education session for all Chinese‑language students. She elaborated on key matters including visa procedures, foreign‑related administration and campus safety, guiding students to raise their awareness of safety and compliance.

On September 7, all Chinese‑language students attended their first class of the semester with great anticipation. In view of students’ different Chinese proficiency levels, two teaching classes, namely Upper‑Intermediate and Intermediate‑Advanced, are offered this semester to implement stratified teaching. Meanwhile, Chinese cultural skill courses will continue to be available, enabling students to experience Chinese culture from multiple perspectives and integrate into campus life beyond language acquisition.

Up to now, the International College has enrolled a total of 863 international students from 62 countries and regions. Going forward, the college will keep improving its international talent‑training system. It will stand alongside international students in their academic journey and serve as their mentor for personal growth. In support of the university’s internationalization strategy, the college strives to build a Greater Bay Area hub for international scientific‑educational innovation and set a benchmark for cultivating international‑oriented talents.

（撰稿：陈海丹；一审：沈涵；二审：杨丹宇；三审：陈佰满）