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A special cohort of students set foot on ZJU’s International Campus

2020-08-24

On August 21, the International Campus of Zhejiang University welcomed a cohort of incoming Chinese undergraduates and graduates matriculating at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) for enrollment in the fall of 2020.

Many Chinese students admitted to foreign universities were unable to pursue their studies due to COVID-19. Some foreign universities thus introduced a student-friendly policy allowing students to study in other universities in their home country. For example, UIUC had an enrollment of 326 Chinese undergraduates and graduates in the fall of 2020 and it permitted these students to transfer to Zhejiang University for the coming semester.

“I was extremely depressed at the thought of having to stay at home in my freshman year. On hearing that UIUC allowed us to transfer to Zhejiang University for the first semester, I can’t be more delighted,” said KANG Nan from Wuhan. She received her letter of admission from UIUC last December. She was supposed to embark on her brand-new study-abroad journey this fall, but the unexpected coronavirus pandemic disrupted her original plan.

“The environment on the International Campus is really fantastic. It is also very convenient for us to learn remotely in a single dormitory. What a big surprise!” KANG Nan said, smiling broadly.

SUN Jingxiang, a 22-year-old student from Shanxi Province, was immensely relieved at his successful registration. “I spent most of the past year as if taking a ride on the emotional roller-coaster. In the very beginning, I worried that I couldn’t get an offer. Later, my parents were concerned about my safety owing to the outbreak of COVID-19. I am really excited now that I can transfer to Zhejiang University for the coming semester,” said SUN.

“Zhejiang University is one of the first-class universities in China. The International Campus has a full spectrum of facilities. I like playing basketball and working out in the gym. I look forward to my study and life here,” SUN said with his face wreathed in smiles, “Studying at Zhejiang University is a very special experience for me. I can also make a lot of acquaintances.”

In addition to UIUC, Cornell University also launched a program called StudyAway, granting Chinese students permission to live and study in eight universities in China, including Tsinghua University, Peking University and Zhejiang University. A total of 33 Cornell students from China will take part in a residence program on the International Campus of Zhejiang University on September 10.  

Exchange students will take a mix of online and offline classes while sharing co-curricular activities with their UIUC or Cornell peers and having access to local facilities and services. Teachers and teaching assistants from Zhejiang University will also be available for in-person discussions so as to ensure the quality of teaching.