Recently, 15 students from 11 schools of Beihang University, including the School of Automation Science and Electrical Engineering and Shen Yuan Honors College, went to the University of Canterbury in New Zealand for a two-week summer school.
During the fortnight, these students fully devoted themselves to learning of theories and carried out various practical researches. Focusing on “Re-Imagining the City”, the summer school’s theme about post-earthquake city reconstruction, the students researched into the reconstruction plans of Christchurch. They finished the project research and brought up innovative plans, some of which were recommended to the Christchurch City Council for further discussion.
Professors from the University of Canterbury taught the relevant theories about the post-earthquake reconstruction of Christchurch to the students, who worked in groups to investigate related topics like urban resilience and community construction through surveys and literature review.
The students also visited landmarkers of Christchurch, including Cathedral damaged in the 2011 earthquake, the Arts Centre and the Canterbury Museum. Besides, they took part in diverse activities like “Green House” club discussion and “Filler of City Blanks”.
Meanwhile, Beihang students brainstormed with Canterbury students, had a taste of the local culture, learned the local language, and received training in innovation and entrepreneurship. Apart from study, they also went to farms in the suburbs of New Zealand and Castle Hill to acquaint themselves with the development of animal and crop husbandry in New Zealand.
Lianne Dalziel, Mayor of Christchurch, and Jimmy Chen, a councillor of the Christchurch City Council, affably received the teachers and students from Beihang University and gave them a brief introduction of the history and culture of Christchurch. There were also exchanges and discussions about post-disaster reconstruction and city development between the two sides.
During the two weeks, the rich and intensive curriculum broadened the horizon of the students and improved their capability of innovation and practice in a multicultural atmosphere. Their wisdom and charisma were also well demonstrated.
Founded in 1873, the University of Canterbury is a celebrated research university, and also the second oldest university in New Zealand. It has five colleges, covering arts, business, education, engineering, science, etc, among which College of Engineering is the first of its kind in New Zealand and has the most comprehensive curriculum of engineering in the country. Its alumni include Ernest Rutherford, the father of nuclear physics and the 1908 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry.
Released by Han Geng
Translated by Li Mingzhu
