“The buildings here are beautiful with strong ethnic flavor. It's like my hometown, a big family with many ethnic groups." Suhail Ahmad, a Pakistani student studying in GTVTC, visited the Anthropology Museum Of Guangxi with his classmates during the "March 3 of the Zhuang Nationality" this year. The unique drum tower and wind-rain bridge impressed him deeply, and the multi-ethnic inclusiveness of Guangxi boosted his confidence in studying in Guangxi.
In December 2019, Suhail came from Punjab province of Pakistan to Guangxi, China to study automobile inspection and maintenance. Before long, he was caught in the outbreak of COVID-19, and the strong infectivity of the epidemic made him very scared. "It was winter vacation at that time, but the teachers gave up the Spring Festival vacation and family reunion, and came to school every day to care about our study and life, which gave us great confidence and courage, and helped us get through that special period." He admitted that before leaving, he was worried that he would not adapt to the life in a foreign country, but the warmth from his teachers reassured him.
What makes him more comfortable is that the college canteen has set up a special halal window and a collective kitchen for international students in the dormitory. On weekdays, several fellows often make pancakes, a "home dish" of Pakistan, to relieve the pain of homesickness.
Like Sohail, more and more students from Southeast Asian countries choose Guangxi as their first choice for learning skills, and Guangxi's foreign educational exchanges and cooperation are becoming more mature.
As one of the first vocational schools in Guangxi and even in China to carry out international exchange and cooperation, GTVTC began to explore Sino-foreign cooperation in running schools since 2007, with transportation as the characteristic course, and through "skills + culture" to cultivate a group of compound talents in line with international standards and with international vision. In 2015, the GTVTC was selected as the first batch of Guangxi international (regional) exchange and cooperation reform pilot colleges and universities. It has actively cooperated with 32 universities and enterprises in 17 countries and regions, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar, to carry out technical skills training and services, international student training, cooperative education, cultural exchanges, etc. In addition, GTVTC has been approved as a foreign aid project at national level, a characteristic cooperation project between China and ASEAN higher vocational colleges.Authorized by China Highway Construction Association, it has become the only organization that can issue professional qualification certificates of constructors and budgetary personnel of of the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China to ASEAN countries.
"Over the years, through 'introducing from the West', we have facilitated Sino-foreign joint construction of training centers, carried out cooperative education and innovated the technical specifications of the transportation industry through 'integrating in China', promoted the standards of the transportation industry and vocational education through 'applying in ASEAN', and promoted international exchanges and cooperation in the field of education and the exchange activities between Guangxi and ASEAN." Introduced by Li Wenyong, deputy secretary of the Party committee and principal of GTVTC.
Sohail Ahmad (second from the left) and other Pakistani students are studying the professional knowledge of automobile repair in GTVTC. Liu Zheng / photo
Sohail Ahmad came to Guangxi to study because of this attraction. He has been interested in electrical equipment since he was a child. He has been paying close attention to the electrical industry in Pakistan and the development of the electrical and transportation industries in China. After graduating from high school, he learned that there was an opportunity to study his dream major in China, he immediately submitted his application to study abroad.
The Chinese language was Sohail's biggest challenge when he first arrived. In order to get closer to his dream, he motivated himself to learn Chinese well. He grasped the opportunity of classroom teaching and after-class practice to study hard and gradually got the hang of it. Half a year later, he has been able to use Chinese for daily basic communication, and he passed the Chinese Proficiency Test Level 5 certificate.
Sohail Ahmad, who will graduate this year, applied to the University of Science and Technology Beijing in April to continue his study in China and has been accepted. "Because the construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is getting deeper, more and more Chinese automobile companies have settled in Pakistan, now there is a big market for new energy vehicles in Pakistan. I want to go back to China and work as a translator or technician in automobile enterprises after studying. Suhail is firmly on track with his life plan.
After more than two years in China, Suhail has been deeply taking to the extensive and profound Chinese culture. "Every traditional Chinese festival, the school will organize us to make dumplings, rice dumplings,and moon cakes, write Chinese calligraphy, and introduce the Zhuang culture to us. We will also carry out ethnic sports activities such as throwing embroidery balls. It is very interesting!"
"I won the first prize in today's poetry competition. I sincerely thank all teachers!" "The Spring Festival is coming, thank teacher Lu for sending us lanterns!" "Today I got the results of the HSK. I successfully passed it thank to the effort of the teachers!" On weekdays, Sohail would share his experience of studying and living in Guangxi with his friend circle to convey happiness and affection.
At the 2021 China-ASEAN Transportation Vocational Education Alliance of International Students' Traditional Culture Competition, Sohail told the story that moved him when he studied in Guangxi, with the theme of "If you have a friend afar who knows your heart; distance can't keep you two apart."; He won the second prize of the individual and the third prize of the group in the 2021 Chinese Character Dictation Competition for Guangxi’s universities International Students. Because of love and hard work, he felt that working hard for these honors was the most meaningful experience in Guangxi.
"Only through what you see, hear and experience can you have a more real understanding of a place." Sohail hopes that after returning home from his studies, he can contribute to promoting China-Pakistan exchanges and cooperation, so that more Pakistanis can understand the open, inclusive and hospitable China and Guangxi.
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