From February 16 to February 19, 2023, Professor CAI Yinghui, the dean of Esther Hall, ZHANG Kui, the General Manager of the Esther Hall’s external mentors, and teachers YAN Yinghong and SHE Linwan, along with 10 STEAM program students, visited Beijing for an exchange study tour. During the visit, the faculty and students of Esther Hall held discussions and exchanges with the faculty and students of the Lanyuan Center of Peking University and China Women’s College on topics related to women’s education. They also attended the“Digital Empower, Scientific Innovation: Women’s Mission and Advantages in the Era” seminar hosted by the China Education Association for International Education.
(On-site coverage of China Annual Conference & Expo International Education)
On the morning of February 17th, the faculty and students from Esther Hall visited Peking University to hold a discussion with theLanyuan Center of Peking University. Established on September 29th, 2021, Lanyuan Center is a women’s academy donated by the Zhou Kaixuan Foundation. During the discussion, ZHENG Ruqing, Vice Minister of International Cooperation at Peking University and Dean of Lanyuan Center, and CAI Yinghui, Dean of Esther Hall, respectively introduced the establishment and development, events organization, and management structure of their respective women’s colleges. Subsequently, the two colleges engaged in a lively discussion on sharing educational resources, college management, and activity experiences. They reached a consensus on future cooperation in project collaboration, student competitions, and activity participation, and agreed to initiate a domestic women’s college alliance.
(Faculty and Students from Lanyuan Center of Peking University)
After the symposium, the students from Shantou Univerity were led by students from Lanyuan Center to visit the beautiful campus of Peking University. As the first formal meeting between the two colleges, this symposium has laid a solid foundation for the close cooperation in the future.
On the afternoon of February 17th, Dean CAI Yinghui led the faculty and students to visit the China Women’s University for an exchange. As the first public full-time undergraduate women’s college directly under the All-China Women’s Federation, China Women’sUniversity boasts education resources with distinctive female characteristics, such as its campus environment, historical museum, and women's library. Accompanied by SHENG Li, the secretary of the university’s Youth League Committee, the faculty and students learned about the establishment and development ofChina Women’s University and accessed a wealth of historical materials related to women’s research.
(Visiting the university history museum of China Women’s University)
Later, the Esther Hall faculty and students conducted exchange activities with the China Women’s University faculty and students. Professor ZHAO Hao, the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee ofChina Women’s University, gave a detailed introduction to the university’s training model, educational characteristics, and educational outcomes. Faculty and students from both sides actively exchanged ideas and discussed various topics related to women’s education and future development, which tentatively determined the intention of future communication and cooperation between the two allied universities. FAN Siping, a member of the STEAM project, said:“The history of China Women’s University is the history of Chinese women’s awakening. This exchange has enabled me to learn about many stories of outstanding Chinese women, which has been very inspiring!”
(On-site coverage of the symposium)
On the morning of February 18th, the faculty and students of Esther Hall went to the venue of the China Annual Conference & Expo International Education to participate in the“Digital Empower, Scientific Innovation: Forum onFemale Epochal Mission and Advantage.” The forum delved into how women in the digital economy era can enhance themselves, tap their potential, and better respond to the challenges and opportunities brought by digitalization.
At the forum, JIANG Hong, the Party Secretary of Shantou University, gave a keynote speech on“Breaking Through Oneself and Achieving Success - On the Growth and Success of Female Intellectual.”
(JIANG Hong, the Party Secretary of Shantou University)
The roundtable discussion on“Cultivating and Enhancing the Hi-tech Innovation Capacity of Women in Higher Education in the New Era” was conducted by CAI Yinghui, the Dean of Esther Hall, SHI Yanlai, the Founder and CEO of Gravitas Group, and ZHANG Kui, the General Manager of Guangdong 21stCentury Cartoon City and an off-campus mentor of Esther Hall. The discussion received a warm response from the audience, and students from the STEAM project actively raised questions on related issues.
(The roundtable discussion)
(Students from the STEAM project actively raised questions on related issues)
The exchange and study tour to Beijing has not only built a bridge for future communication and cooperation between Esther Hall of Shantou University, Lanyuan Center of Peking University, and China Women’s University, but also provided an opportunity for STEAM project members to broaden their horizons and access cutting-edge scientific information. They expressed that the event furthered their understanding of the future development prospects of digital technology, strengthened their confidence, determination, and courage to improve themselves in their future development as women.
(Group photo of faculty and students from Esther Hall)
