From June 22 to July 3, 2026, China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) successfully hosted its 12th International Summer School. Co-organized by the International Higher Education Alliance for Mining, Energy and Environment and the Jiangsu-UK World-Class University Consortium, this year’s program welcomed 31 overseas participants from 15 internationally renowned universities across 16 countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Poland. These students traveled from afar to embark on a two-week journey of academic exploration and cross-cultural dialogue in CUMT.
With twelve years of accumulated experience, the CUMT International Summer School has become one of the university’s most iconic international education brands. Building on its longstanding philosophy of integrating science, technology, and the humanities, this year’s program further strengthened the organic unity of theory and practice. The 31 overseas students studied side by side with CUMT students in a curriculum that balanced cutting-edge disciplinary knowledge with deep cultural immersion. Technical modules such as "Modern Mining Technology," "Introduction to Data Mining for Engineers," "Renewable Energy and Cities," and "Advanced Manufacturing Technology" addressed the latest industry trends, while humanities courses including "Chinese History, Culture and Exchange" "Contemporary Chinese Economy" and "Introduction to Traditional and Modern Architecture" guided participants in understanding China from multiple perspectives. The teaching team comprised distinguished scholars from partner institutions—including AGH University of Krakow in Poland and EPF Engineering School in France—alongside CUMT faculty, forming an interdisciplinary group. Instructional formats ranged from academic seminars and hands-on laboratory sessions to corporate site visits, allowing classroom knowledge to be tested and extended in real-world settings. This approach truly embodied the principle of "integrating learning with application," fostering a deeply interactive and practice-oriented international teaching environment.
Beyond the classroom, cultural immersion remained a highlight throughout the program. At CUMT museum, participants traced CUMT’s century-long journey and sensed the deep bond between this industry-focused institution and the nation’s fate. At the Han culture scenic spot, the enduring charm of Han-era stone carvings captivated the overseas students. A visit to Pan'an Lake Wetland Park—once a coal mining subsidence area transformed into a scenic oasis—offered a vivid illustration of Xuzhou’s urban transformation. In addition, a series of hands-on cultural experiences—including Chinese language classes, calligraphy, traditional tea art, incense making, intangible cultural heritage paper-cutting, and classical instrument appreciation—allowed students to touch the aesthetic and philosophical dimensions of Chinese daily life. Ice-breaking activities and multiple intercultural exchange sessions throughout the program helped students move from initial unfamiliarity to genuine friendship, bonding through laughter and heartfelt conversations.
On July 3, the 2026 CUMT International Summer School came to a successful close. At the closing ceremony, Professor Bernhard Müller, representative of the teaching faculty and foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, spoke highly of the program. He noted that the true value of the summer school lies in bringing young people from different cultural backgrounds together under one roof to listen to one another and inspire each other. Participants then shared their personal reflections: Polish student Julia Piestrzyńska expressed that her time at CUMT would become an unforgettable memory and thanked the university for its thoughtful arrangements; Argentine student Chiara Macaione was moved by the genuine warmth she found at CUMT; German student Felix Laing felt that every class offered new insights that would greatly benefit his academic and professional development; and Uzbek student Qutbiddin Boboniyozov regarded the summer school as a starting point for lasting friendships and future cooperation. The closing ceremony was followed by a Jiaozi-making session and a talent show, where students sang in multiple languages, their voices echoing across campus and bringing a joyful conclusion to this cross-cultural journey.
Since its inception in 2014, the CUMT International Summer School has attracted a total of 438 overseas young people to the century-old university, offering them a firsthand experience of CUMT’s rootedness in China and its innovative technological strength, as well as its inclusive, harmonious cultural spirit. In the summer of 2027, CUMT looks forward to continuing to build this bridge that connects East and West, North and South. The university welcomes more young people from around the world to come, gain a deeper understanding of China, and join us in contributing their youthful wisdom and collective efforts toward sustainable human development.
