Teachers and students dance at the Bavarian Cultural Night at Shenzhen Technology University on Sept. 13. Photos courtesy of the university

Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU) in Pingshan was swept up in a German craze as mouthwatering German food and captivating art performances were on display during a cultural night event held Sept. 13. The Bavarian Cultural Night, one of the highlights of SZTU’s International Teaching Week event, which concludes Sept. 15, drew crowds on its campus. Music performances by professors and students from home and abroad brought the event to a climax.

Teachers and students gather at the Bavarian Cultural Night at SZTU. 

Doris Schneider from Germany said that now, SZTU has better teaching environment with more students. This is the second time that Schneider has joined the cultural night event. She said the most interesting part of the event lies in Sino-German cultural exchanges and hoped that in the future, students from SZTU could have the opportunity to visit Germany and immerse themselves in the charm of German culture.

Stefan Platzer from Austria, visiting China for the first time, said he felt at home with the familiar atmosphere of the cultural night event. He said he was particularly impressed by performances featuring traditional Chinese instruments.

Teachers perform at the Bavarian Cultural Night at SZTU.

This year’s International Teaching Week event witnessed the participation of over 50 professors and scholars from higher education institutions in Germany and Switzerland, accompanied by more than 20 international students. The event facilitated comprehensive academic and cultural exchanges with SZTU’s teachers and students through a series of events such as lectures, forums and cultural festivals.

According to SZTU, about 45 international professors and 29 SZTU professors jointly presented 116 international classes during the five-day event. As one of SZTU’s education and cultural brand activities, SZTU International Teaching Week has previously been held in 2018 and 2019.

International professors give classes during SZTU’s International Teaching Week.

Ruan Shuangchen, president of SZTU, said the motivation behind organizing this international event week was to ignite students’ enthusiasm for international learning, instill confidence in them regarding academic exchanges, and cultivate future leaders with an international vision.

Holger Haldenwang, founding dean of SZTU’s School of Business, said that most of the invited professors also have extensive experience in the corporate world or are actively engaged in enterprise collaboration programs. This wealth of practical knowledge enables them to guide students in comprehending the evolving needs of industries and businesses, according to Haldenwang.

Professors exchange ideas during SZTU’s International Teaching Week.

Professor Martin Pillei from the Entrepreneurial School in Austria and three Hochschule Osnabrück students, Philipp Brömmelkamp, Robin Becker and Malte Bieder, expressed their hopes to experience China, including its science and technology development, academic environment, and culture. Pillei brought his Mechanical Engineering course to the SZTU students, hoping they could gain cutting-edge knowledge and information. The three Hochschule Osnabrück students helped and guided SZTU students during the classes. 

Chinese SZTU students, such as Li Xujie and Tong Xi, also expressed that the International Teaching Week is a rare opportunity to exprience German culture, learn cutting-edge knowledge and broaden their vision.

Teachers and students gather at SZTU during its International Teaching Week.