Walk and Talk on Laohe Mountain: International scholars explore life beyond the classroom at ZJU

Laohe Mountain, rising behind Zhejiang University’s Yuquan Campus, holds a familiar place in the lives of generations of ZJU students and faculty. This autumn, 10 international faculty members and postdoctoral researchers from seven countries joined a “Walk and Talk” hike organized by the University’s Human Resources Department, discovering the landscape and getting to know fellow members of the ZJU community.

Participants gathered in front of the Yuquan Campus Library before setting off through the Small West Gate toward Laohe Mountain. Their route took them along mountain trails and through the greenery of Hangzhou Botanical Garden, ending near the campus’s South Gate. With the scent of osmanthus in the air and autumn colors beginning to appear, the walk offered a relaxed setting for conversation.

The group included professors and postdoctoral researchers from departments across the University. Away from their usual meeting rooms and laboratories, they talked about interdisciplinary research, opportunities for collaboration, everyday life in Hangzhou and their different cultural backgrounds.

“This hike marks the start of our ‘Walk and Talk’ series,” said Sun Peijian, deputy director of the Human Resources Department. “We plan to organize more activities like this, giving international scholars opportunities to get to know ZJU and Chinese culture through informal conversations and shared experiences. We hope these gatherings will also help them feel more at home in our community.”

“I’m very glad the University organized this hike, and I look forward to the next event,” said Kurtulus Gemici, a tenured associate professor in the Department of Sociology.

Dr. Mariett from the School of International Studies also welcomed the opportunity to connect with international colleagues and experience another side of life at ZJU.

Through the “Walk and Talk” series, ZJU aims to create more opportunities for international faculty members and postdoctoral researchers to build friendships across departments and become part of campus life, supporting them both in their work and in making a home in Hangzhou.

Source: Human Resources Department, ZJU
Editor: He Jiawen