On the afternoon of March 5, to help the Spring 2026 Chinese Language Program students gain an in-depth understanding of time-honored history and rich culture of China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) and enhance their cognition and emotional identification with China, the International College of CUMT specially invited Associate Professor Zhai Shilei, Vice Dean of the School of Foreign Languages and Director of the Center for Area and Country Studies, to deliver a special lecture on university history entitled “Xuzhou City and CUMT: Then and Now” at Wenchang Campus. International student counselors of and nearly 100 Spring 2026 Chinese Language Program students attended this time-transcending cultural journey together.
At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Zhai took Xuzhou, a national historical and cultural city, as the introduction, vividly depicted the human and geographical environment and urban development background where the university is located. Afterwards, he systematically sorted out the university’s glorious development course of more than a century since its founding in 1909, and recounted the extraordinary years of CUMT. With the help of a large number of precious historical documents and exclusive video materials, Professor Zhai led the teachers and students present to travel through history and review CUMT’s journey of forging ahead with determination and carrying forward its educational mission unceasingly.
A major highlight of this lecture lies in its detailed historical data support. All the historical pictures displayed were collected and organized by Professor Zhai through on-site investigations in many places at home and abroad over the years. These pictures possess high historical and academic value, fully demonstrating his profound accumulation and dedication to the research of CUMT’s history. The lecture was rich in content with abundant pictures and texts and explained in a simple and easy-to-understand way, making the atmosphere on site warm and applause break out one after another.
Iwani(依万妮), a new student from Cameroon, was deeply touched after the lecture: “I am deeply honored to start my academic journey at CUMT. Mr. Zhai’s lecture made me understand the responsibilities and missions of being a CUMTer. In the future, I will cherish this hard-won learning opportunity, study diligently and forge ahead, and strive to complete my studies with excellent grades. I will not only bring glory to my alma mater, but also aspire to be an envoy of China-Africa friendly exchanges, contributing my youthful strength to promoting the understanding and cooperation between the two peoples.”
As the “first lesson” of the orientation education for Spring 2026 Chinese Language Program students, this special lecture on university history not only enhanced international students’ understanding of the university’ s development process and their sense of belonging, but also promoted cross-cultural communication and understanding, laying a solid ideological foundation for cultivating high-quality international talents who understand, befriend and love China.
