Receiving Visitors from Zhejiang University

On 31st May 2023, the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton (CI UoS) received a delegation led by Professor Yudong Zhou, Associate Dean, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine at Zhejiang University in China, which marked the first Chinese visitors came to the CI since the pandemic.

Professor Ying Zheng and Professor Ruoling Zheng, the Co-Directors of CI, shared common interests in research and teaching with Professor Yudong Zhou and seven other scholars from Zhejiang University. The visitors engaged in a Q&A session, where the Directors addressed inquiries and introduced the ongoing "International Dialogue" series on "International Students' Mental Health." This topic intersects with the research areas of some of the scholars in this visit, such as depression, autism, and other psychological and neurological disorders.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH) also had representatives present during the visit. Ms. Rosalind Davies, Director of International Educational Exchange Affairs, provided an overview of the faculty's research in humanities and health. Professor Hou Ruihua, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, discussed the potential of combining traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine in treating mental illnesses. Ms. Jiang Xiaoyue, International Cooperation and Recruitment Manager of the FAH presented collaboration and exchange opportunities between UoS and relevant departments at Zhejiang University, and showed the guests around in the Digital Humanities space, where they were able to experience the creativity and charm of digital humanities against the backdrop of the universe and stars.

To commemorate the visit, Professor Bryony Whitmarsh, Vice Dean for International Affairs at the FAH, warmly met with the visitors and took a group photo.