A new semester has begun at Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU), bringing with it a vibrant new group of international students and interns. To welcome them to campus, BNBU recently hosted a welcome dinner, offering an opportunity for newcomers to meet fellow students, faculty members, and staff.
BNBU President Prof Chen Zhi delivers a welcome address to the audience
This semester, 69 new international students and interns have joined BNBU from multiple countries including the United States, Spain, Morocco, Singapore. Their arrival further enriched its multicultural learning environment.
A bridge between Brasil and China
“What drew me specifically to BNBU was its educational philosophy,” Julia Braga said when asked for the reason for joining BNBU’s community as an intern.
“BNBU’s educational methods and goals resonate with my life’s goals of living a contributive life and becoming a better person.”
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Braga studied international relations in the US. Before coming to BNBU, she just completed an internship at a non-governmental organisation that aims to inspire youth to champion societal change.
Now, Braga assists with academic events and projects within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
“It has taught me a lot about coordination and teamwork. There are workshops almost every day, and it’s really interesting to see how people here are engaging with new ideas and technologies,” she said.
During her university studies, she chose Chinese as a foreign language and spent a semester in Shanghai in 2024. The experience left a deep impression.
“At first, I was looking at Chinese culture from a Western perspective,” she said. “But my life in China made me realise how much there was to learn. That experience really changed the way I see the world.”
Looking ahead, Braga hopes to contribute to stronger cultural connections between Brazil and China. “I want to help create bridges between cultures, to tell each other’s story, and help people realise how much they have in common,” she said.
After an 18-hour flight, it was worth it
When Keven Mendoza, a third-year student from Augsburg University, arrived at BNBU and began attending classes, he quickly realised that his 18-hour journey from the US paid off for his exchange student life here.
The classes, the campus, the facilities…all have met his expectations. And among all those, what impressed him most was the people here.
“Everybody has been really supportive,” he said. “The professors and my classmates are very approachable, and my student helper has been incredibly helpful in getting everything set up, from opening a bank account to finding places around the city.”
“As the world becomes more connected, I really wanted to accumulate diverse academic experience,” he said, and then decided to follow a recommendation from a friend who had been at BNBU since last semester.
Outside class, he has been exploring Zhuhai’s landscape. “Back home in Minnesota, we don’t really have mountains like this,” he said. “Seeing the mountains and riding a bike along the coast beside the Opera House was an amazing experience.”
In Mendoza’s mind, studying at BNBU is not only about education but also about cultural exchange. “I want to learn everything I can, like the culture, the food, and the way people live,” he said. “When people from different countries learn from each other, that’s when we really grow.”
Hello again, BNBU
For Tanay Kumar, a second-year student from Hong Kong Baptist University, it’s not his first time at BNBU. Back in 2024, he visited the campus as part of a Greater Bay Area study tour.
“My first impression was simply ‘wow’,” he recalled when he first arrived. “The campus looked beautiful and spacious, and that impression stayed with me.”
Now participating in the Extended Study Programme, Kumar will spend a semester studying at BNBU. Besides the campus, he was also amazed by the strong academic support available to students.
“The availability of resources for students is impressive,” he said. “There are plenty of facilities and spaces for studying.”
This semester, Kumar is utilising the University’s interdisciplinary environment by exploring courses beyond his usual field of study, including one on the history of Southeast Asian.
Kumar has found it easy to adapt to life in Zhuhai. Having grown up in Dongguan and Hong Kong, he is fluent in Mandarin and has a Chinese name, Li Jiacheng (李嘉成).
“I’m hoping to meet new people and learn more about the world beyond my own field,” he said. “Every new experience adds something valuable.”
As new members of BNBU’s community start their new life chapters here, their experiences contribute to the University’s global learning environment, where academic exploration and cultural exchange continue, bringing people from different parts of the world together.
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu
Photographer: Hanna He, Cecilia Yu
Video: Owen Li, Cecilia Yu, Juan Rengifo
