To deepen educational exchanges and cooperation between China and the Netherlands, and to establish a cross-cultural learning and practice platform for youth, 13 teachers and students from the Albeda College of Commerce in the Netherlands traveled across continents to participate in theChina-Dutch Youth Exchange Camp themed "Experiencing Intangible Cultural Heritage to Learn Chinese, Enhancing Skills through Corporate Practice" from May 7 to 14.
This exchange camp closely followed the "Language & Culture + Vocational Skills" model, integrating Chinese language immersion, traditional intangible cultural heritage (ICH) experiences, cross-border enterprise study tours, and on-campus digital intelligence training. It provided Dutch youth an in-depth appreciation of the unique charm of China's excellent traditional culture and the profoundness of the Chinese language, while offering a direct understanding of the development trends and innovative opportunities within China's digital commerce industry. The program effectively enabled a two-way empowerment of both cultural exchange and professional enhancement. The rich curriculum and practical activities ensured a rewarding experience for the Dutch delegation.
Faculty from the School of International Education conducted a Chinese experience class titled "Traveling in Hangzhou", focusing on two distinctive themes: "Food in Hangzhou" and "Fun in Hangzhou". The class vividly introduced Hangzhou's unique culinary culture, tourism resources, and urban charm. Through this immersive Chinese language teaching, the Dutch participants gained initial insights into Hangzhou's local customs and genuinely felt the unique flavor of the Chinese language and the deep cultural heritage of China.
Beyond the classroom, the study tour group traveled to Hangzhou and Shanghai for market research. They visited sites such as the Alibaba Global Cross-Border Industry Base to gain a close-up understanding of the current state, cutting-edge formats, and innovative models of China's cross-border e-commerce industry, effectively broadening their professional perspective in commerce and connecting with industry frontiers. During the trip, the group visited landmarks including the West Lake (Xizi Lake) and the He Fang Street Historical Block, and participated in an ICH experience session on "Bamboo Weaving and Fan Making", appreciating the craftsmanship and cultural appeal of intangible cultural heritage.
In September 2025, guided by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) of the Ministry of Education, ZJIET and the Albeda College of Commerce initiated the co-construction of the "International Chinese Language Network Classroom" project. Most participants of this exchange camp are students from this Sino-Dutch online program. Building on this project, ZJIET's International Chinese Language teaching team has been providing systematic online Chinese language instruction to nearly 100 teachers and students from Albeda College for five months. This online teaching has systematically helped Dutch students consolidate their language foundation and understand China's national conditions and cultural development, laying a solid groundwork for the smooth implementation of this offline exchange camp and building a bridge for Dutch youth to pursue studies and employment in China.
Looking ahead, ZJIET will continue to advance cross-border exchange and cooperation, deepen regular collaboration with the Albeda College of Commerce, enrich the connotation of the "Chinese Language plus Vocational Skills" project, and continuously diversify the platforms for cross-border talent cultivation initiatives. The institute aims to inject the "ZJIET Strength" into the mutual learning, exchange, growth, and success of youth from both China and the Netherlands.
