Twelve Griffith University students traveled to Beijing in October 2019 for the Asia Future Fellows program – a Griffith and Peking University annual global exchange initiative designed exclusively for undergraduate students where a select group of Griffith University and Peking University students come together for two, intensive one-week programs held in Brisbane and Beijing.
The Beijing program ran from 20-27 October, comprising of professional, industry, government and cultural activities. The students started the week by presenting papers they wrote collaboratively with Peking University students during the year. They were also able to visit the Australian Embassy in Beijing and meet with Australians studying and working in China to better understand their experiences and the opportunities available.
They also had the chance to visit significant cultural and historical sites in Beijing, including the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, Hutongs, 798 Art District and the Great Wall of China. The trip also included a visit to Bethel China, a not-for-profit organisation that provides foster care, training, and therapy for Chinese orphans who are blind or visually impaired. Prior to visiting Beijing, the students fundraised for Bethel China and were able to learn more about the organisation and spend time with the children during the trip.
It was an intensive week of culturally informed learnings and the program has created many opportunities for building ongoing connections to strengthen the Australia-China relationship.
2019 Asia Future Fellows with Academic Facilitator Dr Jeanne McConachie
Presentation from Professor Liu Shusen, Director of the Peking University Australian Studies Centre
Social Surveyors presenting on: A comprehensive cross cultural comparison: class stratification between Australia and China today
Julia presenting on behalf of her group EYS on: A comparison of Chinese and Australian music education: how can it strengthen the China/Australia relationship?
Fairy Girls presenting on: Investigating current and potential educational collaboration between Australia and China
KKJAM presenting on: A sustainable future for China and Australia?
P-ROC presenting on: The effect of US-China trade frictions on Australia-China relations
Marble Boat, Boya Pagoda and Weiming Lake at Peking University
Visiting the top of Summer Palace
Exploring the Summer Palace
Presentation from Associate Professor Liu Hongzhong, Secretary, Peking University Australian Studies Centre, Peking University
BHP Chair of Australian Studies at Peking University Professor Pookong Kee presenting a talk on People-to-People Ties in Australia-China Relations
Exploring Peking University campus
Meeting with Yaoli Wang, Postdoctoral Researcher at Peking University, previous PhD student at the University of Melbourne
Dinner at a traditional Chinese restaurant
Dinner in the 798 Art District
Mandarin lesson at Peking University
Visiting the Australian Embassy in Beijing
Dinner and talk by Chloe from Beijing’s ACYA and Australian student currently studying in Beijing
Dinner with ACYA members from Beijing
Taichi lesson at Peking University
Hutong tour and Drum Tower visit
Visiting Houhai
Attending the Chaoyang Acrobatics show
Visiting Bethel China. This year the fellows raised over $1000 for Bethel. Bethel China is a not-for-profit organization that provides foster care, training and therapy for Chinese orphans who are blind or visually impaired and outreach services for families and orphanages in China. This is the fifth year that the Asia Fellows have fundraised and volunteered at Bethel. For more information see https://www.bethelchina.org/
