OECians made this summer vacation very resourceful and memorable by actively joining in various academic, cultural, entrepreneurial, social and sporting activities. Through these activities and events, OECians achieved personal growth along with placing an impact on the society. This post is a recap on how OECians spent this summer vacation.

Medical Students' Community Outreach Program

Date: July 9th and 16th

Venue: Vinegar culture museum of Zhenjiang and Communities of Xijin ferry street and Huanwang pavilion

Organized By: IMSA

Number of Participants: 10

A community outreach program at JSU featured students touring the Zhenjiang Vinegar Museum and Xijin Ferry Ancient Street. The museum highlighted vinegar production's history and evolution, while Ferry Street showcased ancient Chinese architecture and the city's rich heritage.

Later, volunteers offered free medical consultations at the Huanwang Pavilion community for the elderly, conducting health checks like blood pressure and glucose level assessments. They also included moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medical technique, to enhance the consultations.

Student volunteers excelled in patient care and received certificates from IMSA for their commendable work.

"My Chinese Friend" Essay Competition

Date: July 14th to 25th

Venue: Online

Organized By: HIH

Number of Participants: 41

The Hand-in-Hand Association celebrated the International Day of Friendship with an event titled "My Chinese Friend", which aimed to foster cross-cultural understanding and highlight the importance of friendship across borders.

During the event, students from diverse backgrounds shared heartwarming stories about the bonds they formed with friends from China, showcasing how friendship bridges cultural divides and fosters mutual respect.

Among many heartfelt essays, Augustine Anokye-Wusu won First Prize, with David Debrah and Radhika Goyal taking Second and Third Prizes, respectively. This competition showcased the significance of connecting with others.

OECians Summer Clinical Clerkship

Date: July 15th to August 2nd

Venue: Rehabilitation Hospital

Organized By: IMSA

Number of Participants: 20

IMSA's clerkship program concluded successfully, providing an intensive, hands-on experience that enhanced participants' clinical skills and professional development.

The event brought together medical students and experienced professionals from Emergency Medicine, Cardiology, Orthopedics, and Respiratory Medicine. This interdisciplinary exposure enhanced participants' understanding of the medical field and underscored the importance of collaboration in patient care.

The clerkship program was a transformative experience that left a lasting impact on all involved.

Olive’s Free Photography Workshop

Date: July 16th to 17th

Venue: iConnect Room 1205

Organized By: OLIVE MEDIA

Number of Participants: 18

The Olive Media hosted a two-day photography workshop to enhance student photographers' skills, covering essential topics for enthusiasts.On the first day, students explored photography basics and composition techniques, followed by a group discussion for sharing insights. The second day covered lighting, exposure, and post-processing, concluding with a photo walk to apply their new skills.

The workshop, conducted without teachers, enhanced technical skills and strengthened the community of young photographers at the university, leaving participants with improved skills and new connections.

2024 OECians Beach Volleyball Tournament

Date: July 18th to 20th

Venue: Volleyball court

Organized By: ISSANumber of Participants: 72

The 2024 OECians' Beach Volleyball Tournament took place during the summer vacation, generating excitement and camaraderie along the sunny shores. Each team, consisting of six students, participated in the event, showcasing their skills and teamwork.

The tournament started with group stage matches, progressed to intense quarterfinals, and concluded with semifinals and finals. The captivating matches showcased exceptional athleticism and sportsmanship, creating unforgettable moments for players and spectators.Team 3, a dynamic mix of international and Chinese players, claimed the title in a fierce competition. The event was an unforgettable highlight of the summer holiday.

InnovateX: Engineering Solutions Challenge

Date: July 19th

Venue: Jing 1414

Organized By: AIES

Number of Participants: 35

The event began with an introduction of Association Executives, and an overview of the objectives, followed by presentations of various engineering challenges.

Teams of 3 to 5 members were formed during the event to address problems and develop optimized solutions. They presented their solutions to judges and peers using visual aids, with evaluations based on innovation, feasibility, technical soundness, and presentation quality.

The event ended with closing remarks from the AIES Head of Association, who thanked attendees, speakers, judges, and volunteers for their contributions to its success.

Outdoor HIIT Fitness Training

Date: July 20th to 26th

Venue: Lake behind C8 dormitory

Organized By: JEWELS

Number of Participants: 10+

The JEWELS WOMEN ASSOCIATION hosted a week-long HIIT workout series, energizing mornings with high-intensity exercise and offering a refreshing start to the day.

Participants engaged in a dynamic mix of cardio and strength training exercises to boost energy, improve fitness, and foster community. Under the guidance of Jewels sports coordinator Miss Kase Shabani, the workouts were tailored for all fitness levels, ensuring an inclusive experience for every student.

Summer Practice Activity with the Theme of "Appreciating Chinese Classics and Promoting Chinese Culture"

Date: July 25th

Venue: Wujiang Community

Organizers: Wujiang Community & OEC

Number of Participants: 20

This event promoted traditional Chinese culture, enhances cultural exchange within the community, and promotes international cultural exchange and understanding by reciting classic works of traditional Chinese culture such as "The Disciples' Rules" and "The Three Character Classic", as well as DIY drawing of Peking Opera masks. The atmosphere on site was lively and interactive with over 20 OECians and locals actively experiencing Chinese culture.

Understanding China: Interational Forum

Date: July 25th to July 28th

Venue: Zhuhai, Guangdong Province

Organized By: 21st Century English Education

Number of Participants: 5

This event was held to better promote people to people and cultural exchanges and educational cooperation in countries and regions along the "the Belt and Road" and to build a cooperation and exchange platform between Chinese universities and overseas educational institutions. More than 100 international education leaders from more than 50 universities at home and abroad attended the meeting.

At the "International Student National Education Seminar" held on the 26th, Prof. Wu Peng, Dean of the JSU-OEC delivered a keynote speech. At the "China Foreign Youth Exchange Conference" held on the 27th, five outstanding students from Jiangsu University, including Vietnam, Morocco, Russia, Ecuador, and other countries, shared their insights on studying in China and interacted with Chinese young students on site to discuss language learning experiences and exchange cultural customs between China and foreign countries. The five students' love of Chinese culture, their understanding of Chinese path to modernization and their good expectations for Chinese foreign exchanges were affirmed by the teachers and students attending the meeting.

At the "Global Partner Conference", Jiangsu University was the only highlight recommending universities to give public presentations to attendees. The participating universities held one-on-one negotiations on international education cooperation projects such as educational resource sharing, degree education project cooperation, and short-term learning project cooperation. The Overseas Education College focuses on promoting Jiangsu University's education program for studying abroad in China to representatives of participating universities from countries such as Russia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal, Mongolia, and Indonesia, and actively seeks international partners for talent cultivation through one-on-one cooperation negotiations.

Financial Literacy Forum: Strengthening Your Fiscal Health

Date: July 29th

Venue: Jing 1414

Organized By: IBSA

Number of Participants: 35

Financial Literacy Forum is a one-day event aimed at educating international business and non-business students on financial management. It began with an introduction by Chris Jojo Obi, Vice head of IBSA, who introduced guest speaker Dr. Mary Donkor, a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Jiangsu University’s School of Management.

The guest speaker's presentation taught students effective money-saving techniques, investment strategies, and sound financial decision-making. Afterward, she answered all student questions thoroughly.

Engaging China & Russia Youth "Shared Future with China" International Summer School

Date: July 31st to August 10th

Venue: JSU Campus & Zhenjiang

Organized By: OEC and CCN

Number of Participants: 5

This event was held to better promote education cooperation and cultural exchange between China and Russia, and to help Russian students perceive contemporary China and experience the international education level of Jiangsu University. 119 high school students from Russia will complete all learning and exchange activities at Jiangsu University.

During the two-week study period, the OEC concentrated its advantageous faculty both on and off campus, tailored to the students' needs, and prepared a multi-level, content rich, and practical Chinese language course for Russian students. In class, Russian students actively interact and communicate with Chinese teachers and students, jointly explore academic issues, share viewpoints and experiences, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship. In addition, in a series of Chinese culture experience courses such as Paper Cuttings, martial arts, table tennis, tea art, etc.,

Around 5 JSU Russian students volunteered during this event and helped this event to become a great success.

Thrive in 3: Mental Wellness Challenge

Date: August 1st to 3rd

Venue: Online

Organized By: HeArt

Number of Participants: 43

The HeArt Association of Psychology hosted the ‘Thrive in 3’ virtual event to promote mental wellness and allow individuals to share coping strategies. Participants submitted short videos or snapshots of daily practices on WeChat Moments that support mental well-being.

The event's highlight was the submissions, offering insights into the cultural, social, and academic factors affecting mental health.

The winners of the 'Thrive in 3' event are: Romina (first prize), Aqilah Shepherd (second prize), and Merye (third prize), recognized for their exceptional contributions and set to receive certificates in the future.

The event successfully provided a platform for international students to connect, share experiences, and promote mental wellness.

Embrace Your Pace: Challenge to Normalize

Date: August 8th

Venue: J1208

Organized By: THeArt

Number of Participants: 40

This event was a Mental Health Trivia event, where participants were challenged with intriguing questions related to mental health.The participants gained valuable insights into mental health by the end of the event and will apply this newly acquired knowledge in their daily lives.

Leadership competition- "Leading Africa For A Day"

Date: August 12th

Venue: J1309

Organized By: CART

Number of Participants: 12

The China-Africa Relationship Think Tank (CART) hosted the "Leading Africa For A Day” drawing students from various African countries. The event aimed to develop leadership skills and provide a platform for young leaders to share their visions for the continent's future. Armas, CART’s Vice head, opened with an inspiring speech on empowering future leaders.Participants, including Dr. Timothy Masuni and Dr. Emmanuel Agyenium-Boateng from Ghana, and Mr. Mompati Phole from Botswana, presented on their countries' development. Masuni discussed sustainable economic strategies for Ghana, Phole addressed security and innovation challenges in Botswana, and Agyenim-Boateng highlighted the need for investment in human capital for Ghana's progress.The event ended with an open forum where participants discussed how the competition enhanced their leadership skills and shared ideas for applying their insights in their countries. CART's competition provided a platform for emerging leaders to showcase their ideas and emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing Africa's development.

Youth Power- Empowering the Future: China and Africa's Youth in Action

Date: August 13th

Venue: Beijing

Organized By: China Daily

Number of Participants: 1

Fathiya Mohamed Said, Head of the Jiangsu University China-Africa Relationship Think Tank (CART) Association, participated in the filming of China Daily's TV program Youth Power in Beijing. The special episode, titled Empowering the Future: China and Africa's Youth in Action, highlighted the dynamic role of the youth in shaping the future of China-Africa relations. Chinese and African Youth discussed topics around the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the construction of the China-Africa community with a shared future, and the role of youth in these endeavors. The program was part of a series of events that were leading up to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which took place in Beijing on 4th-6th September, which fosters deeper ties and collaboration between China and Africa. During her participation in the Youth Power episode, Fathiya talked about the long-standing relationship between China and her country Tanzania, emphasized the significance of China-Africa relations, and encouraged youth to take active roles in fostering these relations.

Promoting China-Africa Relations Through Art

Date: August 17th

Venue: Online

Organized By: CART

Number of Participants: 46

CART organized a vibrant online art event which featured numerous talented artists, each presenting their unique artistic perspectives on the increasingly strong ties between China and Africa.The competition recognized three exceptional entries. Ben took 1st place for his depiction of the growing alliance between China and Africa in infrastructure and development. Bitaniya Samuel followed in 2nd place with a portrayal of the cultural exchange and mutual development between China and Ethiopia. Sonia Najam secured 3rd place for her focus on China's educational support in Africa.

The event ended with an insightful Q&A session led by CART executives, providing artists with valuable feedback. It showcased students' talents and deepened understanding of the connections between China and Africa.

"DISCOVER JIANGSU" International Summer Program: Frontier in Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Technology

Date: August 17th - 30th

Venue: JSU Campus, Zhenjiang and Changzhou

Organized By: Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education and JSU

Number of Participants: 50

Around 50 OECians joined this event that involved 62 students from 18 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, Mexico, Belgium, France, Vietnam, and Morocco. This summer camp enhanced their understanding of the development of new energy vehicles and intelligent networking technology in China through rich courses and practical activities.Jiangsu University's OEC and Automotive Engineering Research Institute arranged the 14-day project learning where students visited companies such as Li Auto Changzhou Intelligent Manufacturing Base, China Automotive Research Institute (Changzhou) Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd and BAIC Magna Automobile Co., Ltd to learn advanced manufacturing technologies and processes for intelligent connected new energy vehicles. Students also explored rural revitalization changes, experience excellent traditional Chinese culture, tasted tea culture, and gained first-hand insights into the profoundness of Chinese culture in places such as Shiyezhou, Vinegar Culture Museum, Pearl S. Buck Memorial Hall, and Jiangsu University History Museum.

Students listened to the development status and trend of new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, intelligent vehicle perception decision-making system, vehicle development and culture, auto drive system and other theme reports, learned about the vigorous development of new energy vehicles in China, and learned the latest cutting-edge technologies, development trends and development trends in the field of new energy vehicles.

During this camp, students visited the laboratories of Jiangsu University's Automotive Engineering Research Institute and School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, experienced the scientific research equipment and cutting-edge devices in the new energy vehicle industry, and also participated in battery assembly activities, gaining a more three-dimensional and comprehensive understanding of new energy vehicles.

In the course design of intelligent vehicles and new energy vehicles, students share their learning achievements and experiences through theoretical learning, practical exercises, and course design defence, effectively enhancing academic and cultural exchanges among international youth.

This project is an important measure to promote scientific research and cultural exchanges between Chinese and foreign students, and is also one of the highest level international cooperation and exchange platforms for universities in Jiangsu Province.

Spelling Bee 2.0 Competition

Date: August 19th

Venue: J1414

Organized By: JEWELS

Number of Participants: 12

The Jewels Women Association hosted an exciting Spelling Bee 2.0 session with a unique twist. Participants navigated four levels, analyzing clues to identify and spell words accurately within a time limit.The event aimed to enhance students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As OECians, we must identify problems and find effective solutions for a better world. These skills extend beyond spelling and are broadly applicable.

2024 China-ASEAN Education Exchange Week

Date: August 20th - 25th

Venue: Guiyang, Guizhou Province

Organized By: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the People's Government of Guizhou Province

Number of Participants: 11

OECians participated in sub-events such as the "2024 China ASEAN Digital Education and Health Promotion Exchange Forum", the "2024 China ASEAN Nursing Skills Competition", and the "2024 Knowledge and Action Guizhou Silk Road Youth Exchange Program".

In the nursing skills competition of the 2024 China ASEAN Skills Competition on August 23, our school selected 7 clinical medicine international students from 5 countries including Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and India to participate. This skills competition adopts a single participant mode, focusing on testing the nursing operation ability, communication ability, and written expression ability of young participants.

Our international students remained calm and composed in the competition, demonstrating outstanding performance. Their solid Chinese language expression skills left a deep impression on the expert judges, and they won 3 third prizes and 4 excellent awards. International student representatives also actively participated in the "2024 China ASEAN Digital Education and Health Promotion Exchange Forum", where domestic and foreign experts shared research results and academic experiences, empowering the high-quality development of education.

Enhancing Research Excellence: Mendeley & Zotero Training Seminar

Date: August 21st and 22nd

Venue: Online

Organized By: PG-CLUB

Number of Participants: 55

The Postgraduate Academic Club of Jiangsu University held a 2-day online seminar on Mendeley and Zotero, focusing on enhancing research skills for postgraduate and undergraduate students via Tencent Meetings.

The seminar featured Dr. Augustine Anokye-Wusu and Dr. Michael Ayikwei Quashie, Ph.D. students in Management Science and Engineering. Dr. Anokye-Wusu led Day 1 on Mendeley, highlighting its PDF management, collaboration, and user-friendly interface. Dr. Quashie led Day 2 on Zotero, emphasizing its simplicity, customization, and open-source nature for effective reference management and collaboration.

The event attracted daily participation from international postgraduate students, including Dr. Quashie from Ghana. Moderated by PG Club President Emmanuel Agyenim-Boateng, the seminar was a success, with leadership thanking the speakers and participants.

10th National College Student Basic Medicine lnnovation Forum

Date: August 22nd and 25th

Venue: Sun Yat-sen University

Organized By: Sun Yat-sen University

Number of Participants: 5

The Jiangsu University international student team has achieved excellent results in winning the Gold Award and Best Team Collaboration Award.

The Jiangsu University international student competition team consists of four outstanding medical students from India and Somalia, guided by Su Zhaoliang and Wu Yan. During the preparation process, team members learned from each other and worked closely together. With the careful guidance of the instructor, they repeatedly polished the participating projects, striving for excellence. During the intense competition, our international student medical team focused on the theme of "Exploring the Sources and Effects of Mast Cell Increase after Myocardial Infarction". With solid theoretical knowledge and research foundation, outstanding innovative thinking, and excellent teamwork spirit, they achieved excellent results in the finals, fully demonstrating the solid medical foundation of our international students.

The National Forum on Innovative Research and Experimental Design in Basic Medicine for College Students (Competition) is hosted by the Basic Medicine Group of the Joint Conference of National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Centers of the Ministry of Education. It is held once a year and has been held for ten consecutive years. It is one of the highest level student subject competitions in the field of basic medicine in China. This year's competition lasted for more than November, with 876 teams, 3216 teachers and students, 258 guests and judges from 21 countries and 204 universities attending the finals. The scale of the competition and the number of participants were both the largest in history.

FutureTech Lecture Series

Date: August 23rd

Venue: J1414

Organized By: AIES

Number of Participants: 30

All the enthusiastic students gained insights into advanced engineering research methodologies and the research process, from literature retrieval to paper publication.

The event started with AIES President Christian Mulbah's presentation on literature retrieval. A panel of experts, including Dr. Evans Quaye, Eng. Emmanuel Agyenin-Boateng, and Eng. Looh Augustine Ngiejungbwen, then discussed innovative engineering research methodologies and the research process. The event concluded with attendees receiving G3 stamps and a group photo.

Ding Mao Street Community Fun Games

Date: August 26th

Venue: Yonglong City Plaza Commercial Centre

Organized By: Dingmao Community & ISSA

Number of Participants: 50

The Ding Mao Street Community Fun Games 2024 united local Chinese residents and international students from Jiangsu University through engaging activities like the Three-Legged Race, Rolling Iron King, and Tug of War.

International students excelled, securing second and third places in the Rolling Iron King and second place in the Three-Legged Race. The event fostered camaraderie and cultural exchange, making it a memorable gathering.

（OEC）