VUB–ZJU Summer Classes Program: Engaging with European Culture and Education in a Global Context

📍 Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 5–20 July 2025

From 5 to 20 July 2025, the LEAD Academic Network, together with the EU–China Higher Education Research Center (ECHE) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), co-organized the European Culture and Education International Summer Program with Zhejiang University (ZJU).

The program welcomed ZJU students to Brussels for an intensive two-week learning experience focused on the diversity of European culture, education, and governance. As part of the LEAD Network’s mission to foster academic leadership and cross-regional dialogue, the summer program provided participants with exposure to both institutional structures and cultural dynamics within Europe.

The program featured interactive sessions on topics such as:

• European educational systems and governance

• Multilingualism and language policy

• Decolonial research and postcolonial perspectives

• Intercultural communication and academic presentation skills

  
  

These classroom-based activities were complemented by visits to key institutions such as the European Parliament, UNESCO, and several universities. In addition, the group engaged in cultural excursions to Bruges, Cologne, Aachen, Paris, and Amsterdam, allowing participants to better appreciate the richness and complexity of European societies through direct experience.

The program concluded with student group presentations and a formal closing ceremony at VUB, where participants also shared cultural performances, bringing the two weeks of academic and cultural engagement to a joyful close.

This summer initiative reflects the LEAD Academic Network’s continued efforts to connect universities, support emerging academic talent, and build sustainable international partnerships in education and research.