International partnerships

Goodbye, Chengdu - Hello, Hainan!

Students from the newly launched Glasgow College UESTC, Hainan successfully relocated from a temporary home at the Qingshuihe campus in Chengdu, to their new home at Hainan Free Trade Port.

The 'Binhai Campus' (as it is informally known) is located in Hainan Lingshui Li'an International Education Pilot Zone, which was approved back in April by the Ministry of Education, becoming the location of a successful trial run with 120 exceptional students this Spring.

In early August, however, when the Covid epidemic broke out, progress became difficult. After much effort, many inspections, and active preparations by project managers and the whole Glasgow College team, it was unanimously agreed that Hainan students could relocate fully, continue their studies, and contribute to the success of Hainan as an 'education innovation island' - which aims to be innovative and open, retaining 'Chinese characteristics' while having worldwide influence.

As the students embarked on their adventure as trailblazers, their itinerary was as follows:

• At 7:10 a.m., all the teachers and students of Hainan College in Glasgow were ready to assemble at the Student Activity Center of Qingshuihe Campus, where they waited to get on the bus.
• At 7:30, under the leadership of several counselors and teachers, each class got on the bus in turn and left for Chengdu Tianfu International Airport.
• At 9 o'clock, the bus arrived at Tianfu International Airport, and the students quickly gathered at the airport gate to complete the baggage check-in, security check and other processes in an orderly manner.
• At 12 o'clock sharp, all the teachers and students took off. Destination: Qionghai Boao Airport!
• At 14 o'clock in the afternoon, teachers and the pick-up team of staff from the Binhai 'pilot zone' came to the airport to welcome more than 120 teachers and students, and expressed a warm welcome to the teachers and students who arrived in Qiongqiong.

On the bus, the students and teachers discussed their trip, full of high-hopes and excitement about starting a new life of study in unfamiliar, tropical surroundings.

At 9 o'clock in the evening, Liu Guanghui, Dean of Hainan College in Glasgow, Zeng Qigang, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office, and others went to the student dormitory to welcome the students face-to-face, communicate with them about details of their occupancy, and advise them to look after their health, maintain a good attitude, and arrange their work and rest time reasonably.

With a poetic sensibility, one staff member described the move from Chendgu into Hainan as a move "hand-in-hand" from "golden" to "deep blue". This is because one key motivation behind the the move to Hainan is the training of a new generation of marine electronic information technology professionals, Hainan being a key port in the South China Sea with a rich heritage in marine technology, and marine biodiversity.

The teachers and students of Glasgow College UESTC, Hainan are expected to adapt quickly to the new environment where they will work and study for the next four years. Integrating into a comfortable high-tech campus, they will pursue their dreams and showcase the unique brilliance belonging to Chengdian people.

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First published: 22 December 2022