The Opening Ceremony of the 2025 Winter Camp at Beijing Normal University with William & Mary University
Beijing Normal University (BNU) and William & Mary University jointly organized the opening ceremony for the 2025 Winter Camp on January 5, 2025. The event took place at BNU and involved the participation of approximately 20 students and faculty members from William & Mary. The Institute of Chinese Culture at BNU collaborated with the Global Research Center of William & Mary to facilitate this initiative.
Ceremony Highlights
During the ceremony, Xiao Kai, Deputy Director of the Institute of Chinese Culture, welcomed attendees and emphasized the longstanding relationship between the two universities, highlighting over 30 years of academic cooperation. He expressed the expectation that the winter camp would provide participants with an in-depth understanding of China and encourage further collaborations between the institutions. Xiao also referenced BNU’s recent developments, including the establishment of the Institute of Chinese Culture and the introduction of a master’s program centered on global development and governance, which aims to enhance academic exchange and cultural understanding.
Messages from Faculty
Dr. Kyuri Park from William & Mary expressed gratitude for the hospitality received from BNU’s Jingshi Academy. She urged the students to take advantage of the opportunity to gain insights into China’s perspectives and learn from local academics regarding global development challenges.
Keynote Lecture
The event included a keynote lecture by Yang Lichao, an associate professor at BNU’s School of Sociology, who presented “China’s Economic Reforms: A Historical Account during 1978-2005.” In her lecture, she examined key strategies implemented by China to promote economic growth and enhance social equity.
Student Experiences
Student representatives from BNU also shared their experiences related to academic and social life, providing a firsthand perspective to the visiting students. The Institute of Chinese Culture aims to integrate academic resources in the humanities, facilitating cultural exchanges that allow participants from William & Mary to engage with Chinese society and its culture.
Winter Camp Overview
The winter camp will extend over a ten-day period, incorporating lectures, field visits, cultural activities, and group discussions designed to deepen participants’ understanding of contemporary China. Students will also interact with the Belt and Road School at BNU to foster dialogue and exchange between the two groups.
(Source: Beijing Normal University)
