On August 2, 2024, a unique cultural exchange activity was held warmly at Zhejiang Art Museum.

Art Has No Borders, Culture Is Inherited Together

On the morning of August 2, foreign friends from all over the world gathered at Zhejiang Art Museum to start an in-depth journey into Chinese culture and art. This activity was carefully planned by GoApply, an overseas study service platform, aiming to provide foreign friends in China with an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture and the development of contemporary art.

As a professional international student service platform, GoApply has always been committed to providing comprehensive study abroad support for overseas students. In addition to professional application services, we pay more attention to students' cultural integration experience, and regularly organize a variety of cultural exchange activities, so that every friend from afar can deeply feel the profoundness and extensiveness of Chinese culture.

Review of Event Highlights

Two Exhibitions in Parallel, an Art Feast

This visit included two important exhibitions:

• "Casting Veins - Zhejiang Sculpture" exhibition: It displays classic works and images in the century - long history of Zhejiang sculpture, as well as the important contributions of sculptors in Zhejiang and those with Zhejiang origin. It presents to the art world and the public the bloodline of Zhejiang's modern sculpture history, the context of modern sculpture education, and all the pulses of sculptors and the objects they shape.

• "Spring Scenery All Over the Land of Zhijiang, a New Picture of Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains" calligraphy and painting exhibition: To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the proposal of the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", it shows the achievements of Zhejiang's ecological civilization construction through calligraphy and painting art.

Unexpected Surprise, Cultural Experience

The most surprising part of the activity was the unexpected gain in the hall on the 2nd floor of the art museum. When our visiting team came to the 2nd floor, they happened to meet several professors majoring in fine arts who were creating figure sketches on the spot. The enthusiastic professors took the initiative to invite our foreign friends to be models and draw their portraits on the spot. This unexpected cultural interaction experience made the participants very excited. They not only deeply felt the charm of painting art, but also gained a precious work of art.

Just as GoApply has always advocated, studying abroad is not only the pursuit of academics, but also an in-depth experience of culture. We believe that such encounters and interactions are the best embodiment of the inclusiveness and affinity of Chinese culture.

Thoughtful Service, Warm Company

At the beginning of the activity, the organizing team carefully prepared small gifts with Chinese cultural characteristics for each participant, making the international friends from afar feel the strong Chinese friendship.

Voices of Participants

In on - site interviews, friends from different countries expressed their appreciation for this activity:

Salma, an international student from Morocco, shared: "This is the most meaningful cultural activity I have participated in since I came to China. Through these works of art, I have a deeper understanding of the Chinese people's love for the natural environment and their pursuit of a better life."

Mohammed, an international student from Zambia, said: "The on - site sketching experience made me feel the enthusiasm and professional quality of Chinese artists. This way of cultural exchange is great!"

Good Times, Forever Cherished

The activity came to a successful end with a group photo of all participants. This photo, carrying the smiles of friends from different cultural backgrounds, has become the most precious memory of this cultural exchange activity.

GoApply's Mission and Commitment

As a professional study abroad service platform, GoApply knows that on the way to study abroad, not only professional application guidance is needed, but also warm cultural companionship. We will continue to plan more activities with rich cultural connotations, and provide each student who chooses GoApply with:

• Professional study abroad platform application services - professional guidance throughout the process from school selection to application.

• Cultural integration experience activities - regularly organize in - depth cultural exchange activities.

• Considerate life service support - to make the journey of studying abroad no longer lonely.

Let art be the link connecting different cultures, and let GoApply be your most reliable partner on the way to study abroad!

Thanks to all participants for their enthusiastic participation and Zhejiang Art Museum for its strong support!

The World First Class University and First Class Academic Discipline Construction together known as Double First Class ( in Chinese: 双一流; pinyin: shuāngyīliú), is a tertiary education development initiative designed by the People’s Republic of China central government in 2015, which aims to comprehensively develop elite Chinese universities into world-class institutions by the end of 2050 through developing and strengthening their individual faculty departments.

History & Importance:

In October 2015, the State Council of China published the ‘Overall Plan for Promoting the Construction of World First Class Universities and First Class Disciplines’ (Double First Class University Plan), which made new arrangements for the development of higher education in China.

In September 2017, the full list of the universities and their disciplines of the Double First Class University Plan was published by the Ministry of Education of China, the Ministry of Finance of China and the National Development and Reform Commission of China. According to the list, 140 universities have been approved as ‘Double First Class Universities’ by the State Council of China. The Double First Class University Plan underlines that driving the overall development of universities by building and strengthening their faculties and departments, and eventually developing the 140 listed elite universities into world-class universities by 2050.

The Double First Class University Plan represents a new way of ranking universities in China. In 2019, the Ministry of Education of China reconfirmed that both Project 211 and Project 985 had been replaced by the Double First Class University Plan. By 2021, the 140 Double First Class Universities accounted for roughly 4.65% of the 3,012 universities and colleges in Mainland China, representing the most elite part of higher education institutions in this country.

985 & 211 project universities in China

Before getting to know about 211 Project it is important to understand the theme of 985 project, which was initially started On May 5, 1998, a project that was first announced by General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Jiang Zemin at the 100th anniversary of Peking University to promote the development and reputation of the Chinese higher education system by founding world-class universities in the 21st century.

985 Project:

Project 985 members are classified as doctoral universities with very high research activities among all Chinese universities and viewed as some of the most prestigious universities of all Chinese universities and consistently ranked among the best in the world.

As of 2022, 32 universities in the Top 300, including 24 Top 200 universities and 8 Top 100 universities according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities, also known as “Shanghai Ranking” and a composite ranking system combing five of the world’s most influential university rankings, namely, ARWU, QS, THE, CWTS Leiden Ranking, and Webometrics Ranking.

211 Project:

Project 211 (Chinese: 211工程; pinyin: 211 Gōngchéng) was initiated in 1995 by the Ministry of Education of China, with the intent of raising the research standards of comprehensive universities. During the first phase of the project, from 1996 to 2000, approximately US$2 billion was distributed. The name for the project comes from an abbreviation of the slogan “In preparation for the 21st century, successfully managing 100 universities” (面向21世纪，办好100所高校).

By 2008, China had some 116 institutions of higher education (approximately 6%) designated as 211 Project institutions for having met the planned scientific, technical, and human resources targets and offering advanced degree programs.

Many Project 211 universities are viewed as prestigious universities of all Chinese universities. They admit students through a competitive process of the National Higher Education Entrance Examination (“Gaokao”) for undergraduate programs.

In June 2016, the Ministry of Education of China Replace the Project 211 by the Double First Class University Initiative. In September 2017, the full list of Double First Class University Plan was formally published by the central government of China.

Published on March 2, 2023 Author: Liu Min Source: China Education News Network - China Education Daily

The report of the 20th CPC National Congress pointed out that "education, science and technology, and talent are the fundamental and strategic support for comprehensively building a modern socialist country. We must adhere to the principle that science and technology is the first productive force, talent is the first resource, and innovation is the first driving force, and deeply implement the strategy of revitalizing the country through science and education and the talent-based strategy." This comprehensive planning fully reflects the Party's profound understanding of historical development laws and the characteristics of the current era, and points the way forward for future science and education work.

Higher education is an important force for advancing the "Three Major Strategies." Since the founding of New China, Chinese higher education, under the leadership of the Party, has sought solutions and struggled hard, going through an extraordinary journey and achieving significant changes and remarkable achievements that have drawn worldwide attention.

At the time of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the gross enrollment rate of higher education was only 0.26%. It increased to 2.7% in 1978 and to 9.8% in 1998, approaching the turn of the century. With the expansion of higher education enrollment in 1999, the gross enrollment rate continued to rise, reaching 51.6% in 2019, achieving a leapfrog development. According to the theory of higher education development stages put forward by American educational sociologist Martin Trow, China's higher education has entered the stage of massification. In 2021, the gross enrollment rate of higher education in China has reached 57.8%.

According to data from UNESCO, the enrollment scale of higher education worldwide was 235 million in 2021, while the 2021 Annual Statistical Bulletin on National Education Development released by the Ministry of Education shows that the total enrollment scale of various forms of higher education is 44.3 million. China has built the world's largest higher education system. The growth data of the enrollment scale of higher education is also worth paying attention to. In 2000, the total enrollment scale of higher education worldwide was 100 million, of which the enrollment scale growth of China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Brazil, and Bangladesh accounted for 61% of the total global enrollment scale growth. Some scholars often say that the development of higher education in the 21st century will be determined by Asia.

Meanwhile, China is the world's largest source country for international students. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted international mobility in higher education globally in recent years, the 2022 edition of the Study in France statistics report published by Campus France shows that by the end of 2019, there were still more than 6 million international students studying abroad. According to the 2022 Report on the Development of Chinese Outbound Students, between 2019 and 2020, nearly 1 million Chinese students studied at overseas higher education institutions. While actively implementing the "Study in China" program to introduce international high-quality educational resources, conducting joint educational programs with foreign institutions, and promoting cultural exchanges between China and other countries, China is pushing forward its education opening up comprehensively and cultivating talents with global competitiveness.

In order to keep pace with the technological revolution and industrial transformation, China's higher education has actively utilized the national advantage in information technology development to promote digital education and build a learning society. The number and scale of MOOCs in China have already ranked first globally, and online learning platforms such as XuetangX and China University MOOC have become familiar to many college students.

In addition to the huge changes in scale, the overall quality of higher education in our country has been constantly improving, the structure has been continuously optimized, and the regional layout has become more rational. The functions of higher education have been fully played out in terms of mechanisms and systems. For example, in terms of scientific research, China's innovative survey system for monitoring and evaluating scientific research has shown that, according to preliminary estimates, China's total R&D (research and development) expenditures reached 309 billion yuan in 2022, which is three times that of 2012 and ranks second in the world in terms of R&D investment. The ability of universities to serve the development of the country through scientific research has also made considerable progress. More than 60% of basic research and over 80% of the National Natural Science Foundation of China projects are undertaken by universities. Universities have won 60% of the first prizes in the National Natural Science Awards over the past ten years and 90% of the first prizes in the National Technological Invention Awards. With the "Double First-Class" construction of universities entering a new stage, the visibility of Chinese universities' comprehensive strength and subject rankings in the world will further improve.

The changes in higher education are in sync with the development of the motherland and respond to the challenges brought about by the unprecedented changes in the world. This change represents a shift from looking up at the world of education to seeing it on an equal level. Although everything changes, the only constant is change itself, but there are still many eternal dialectical issues in higher education itself, such as the original mission of pursuing truth and promoting intellectual progress. Promoting the comprehensive development of people is also one of the unchanging missions of higher education, which can be found in many consensus statements from ancient to modern times around the world.

The National Immigration Administration (NIA) has officially implemented five measures on January 11, aimed at simplifying the process for foreign nationals seeking to visit China. The measures are designed to make business activities, education, and tours in China more accessible for foreign nationals. The measures will further eliminate hurdles related to doing business, studying, and traveling in China and better serve China's high-level opening up and high-quality development.

The first measure has relaxed conditions for foreign nationals applying for port visas. Any individual seeking to visit China for non-diplomatic, official business activities, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, private affairs, or to visit relatives and unable to obtain a visa beforehand due to time constraints may now apply for a port visa at a port visa authority with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents.

The second measure relieves foreign nationals eligible for 24-hour visa-free transit at major hub airports such as Beijing Capital International Airport from the need to undergo inspection procedures. Foreign nationals eligible for the 24-hour visa-free transit policy are exempt from border inspection at nine international airports in China: Beijing Capital International Airport, Beijing Daxing International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, and Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. Individuals with international interline tickets transiting to third countries and regions within 24 hours through any of the aforementioned airports may enjoy visa-free direct transit without border inspection procedures.

The third measure allows foreign nationals already in China to apply for visa extension, renewal, and reissuance at the nearest public security organs. Individuals in China for short-term non-diplomatic, official business activities, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, private matters, tourism, or to visit relatives with legitimate reasons for extending their stays may now submit applications to the nearest exit-entry administrations of the public security organs located in the places where they stay.

The fourth measure allows every foreign national already in China to apply for a multiple-entry visa in cases of need. Each foreigner already in China requiring a multiple-entry visa for legitimate reasons may now apply to an exit-entry administration of a public security organ with an invitation letter and other accompanying documents.

The fifth one minimizes the types of the materials for visa applications for foreign nationals in China. Foreign nationals whose accommodation registration records, business licenses, and other information can be checked through the shared information systems are now exempt from having to present the physical certificates when applying for visas. Also, when applying for a visa for short-term family visits or reunions with relatives in China, a declaration of kinship may be used in place of the formal kinship certificate.

According to an official from NIA, as China's economic development is experiencing continued recovery and growth, and the country embraces greater openness, new demands have been emerging on the part of domestic and overseas enterprises and individuals, and immigration management services will have to keep pace with the changes. NIA is committed to working with the relevant authorities to address the difficulties foreign nationals may encounter when doing business, studying, and traveling in China, and strengthening the reform of the immigration management services and innovation of policies and systems. Currently, NIA is moving forward with the institutional opening-up, contributing to the establishment of a top-notch business environment, and taking the initiative to serve and support the development of a new pattern of growth.

Article 1 These Rules are formulated in accordance with the Provisions on the Administration of Religious Activities of Aliens within the Territory of the People’s Republic of China.

Article 2 Aliens within the territory of the People’s Republic of China are referred to as those who are within Chinese territory without Chinese nationalities pursuant to the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China, including the long-term residing China personnel and the short-term visiting China personnel.

Article 3 Religious activities of aliens within Chinese territory are referred to as the religious ceremonies that aliens conduct or participate according to their own religious belief customs, the contacts with Chinese religious bodies, sites for religious activities and religious personnel in respect of religion, and other relevant activities.

Article 4 The People’s Republic of China respects the freedom of religious belief of aliens within Chinese territory, and protects and administrates the religious activities of aliens within Chinese territory in accordance with law. The People’s Republic of China protects friendly contacts and cultural and academic exchanges of aliens within Chinese territory with Chinese religious circles in respect of religion in accordance with law.

Article 5 Aliens may participate in religious activities at lawfully registered Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, mosques, churches within Chinese territory according to their own religious belief.

Article 6 At the invitation of Chinese religious bodies at or above the level of province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, aliens visiting China as religious personnel may preach and expound the scripture at lawfully registered sites for religious activities.

At the invitation of Chinese religious bodies at or above the level of province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government, and after the approval by the departments of religious affairs of the people’s governments at or above the provincial level, aliens entering China as other status may preach and expound the scripture at lawfully registered sites for religious activities.

Foreign religious personnel who are invited to preach and expound the scripture at the lawfully registered sites for religious activities shall abide by the administrative rules of these sites and respect the belief customs of the personnel of these sites.

Article 7 The collective religious activities of aliens within Chinese territory shall be conducted at the Buddhist monasteries, Taoist temples, churches recognized by the departments of religious affairs of the people’s government at or above the county level, or at the temporary sites appointed by the departments of religious affairs of the people’s governments of province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government.

Where aliens within Chinese territory collectively conduct religious activities at temporary sites, they shall be administrated by the departments of religious affairs of the people’s governments at or above the county level.

Article 8 The friendly contacts and cultural and academic exchanges of aliens with Chinese religious circles shall be conducted via Chinese religious bodies at or above the level of province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government.

Article 9 Foreign religious organizations that have no corresponding legitimate religious organizations within Chinese territory and their members must get the consent from the departments of religious affairs of the people’s governments at provincial level and the approval from the State Administration for Religious Affairs before conducting contacts in the name of these organizations or as religious personnel with relevant departments of Chinese government or Chinese religious circles.

Article 10 Following consent by Chinese religious bodies, aliens within Chinese territory may invite Chinese religious personnel to conduct such religious ceremonies as baptism, wedding, funeral, Taoist or Buddhist rites according to each religious customs. Among these ceremonies, the aliens conducting wedding must be the male and female who have already set up marriage relationship in accordance with law.

Foreign Education Letter (2020) 12

Departments of Education (Education commissions) of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, Education Bureau of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, subordinate institutions of higher learning, and jointly built institutions of higher learning by ministries and provinces:

In accordance with the Education Law of the People's Republic of China, the Higher Education Law of the People's Republic of China and the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, in order to maintain the equity of China's higher education, and in accordance with the requirements of the Administrative Measures for the Recruitment and Training of International Students in Schools, the following supplementary provisions are made for institutions of higher learning to accept international students for admission to the junior college level of our institutions of higher learning:

I. In accordance with Article 5 of the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, a person whose parents are both Chinese citizens and have settled abroad and who has acquired foreign nationality at birth shall not possess Chinese nationality.

Starting from 2021, applicants who apply for admission to our college as international students shall, in addition to meeting the other registration qualifications of the school, hold a valid foreign passport or nationality certificate for more than 4 years (including).

In the last 4 years (before April 30 of the year of enrollment), there is a record of actual residence in a foreign country for more than 2 years (actual residence in a foreign country for more than 9 months in a year can be counted as one year, based on the entry and exit signature).

​II. Institutions of higher learning shall strictly examine the nationality status and application qualifications of international students applying for admission in accordance with the law. If there is any doubt about nationality status, they shall take the initiative to verify and confirm the nationality status of the applicant with the Exit and Entry Administration department of the local public security organ at or above the city divided into districts.

Institutions of higher learning may, on the basis of this notice, formulate their own regulations to make further requirements for the status of international students applying for admission.

The provincial administrative departments of education are requested to forward this notice to all institutions of higher learning that enroll international students in their administrative areas.

III. This Notice shall take effect as of January 1, 2021. On November 16, 2009, the Notice of the Ministry of Education on Regulating the acceptance of foreign Students in our Institutions of higher Learning (Education Foreign [2009] No. 83) was repealed simultaneously.

IV. The final interpretation of this notice shall be vested in the Ministry of Education.

Ministry of Education

May 28, 2020