From 18 June to 2 July 2025, the Green Technology Confucius Institute (GTCI) at the University of Venda led a 15-day educational and cultural exchange programme in China, themed “Song of the Yangtze River: China-South Africa Civilisation Mutual Learning Exploration.” Eleven students from UNIVEN participated in the “Chinese Bridge” initiative, hosted by Hubei University of Technology (HBUT), immersing themselves in Chinese language, culture, and technology.
The programme featured intensive language training through a Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) preparation course and deep dives into traditional culture, calligraphy, tea ceremonies, and historical furniture at the Muyan Hall Museum. Students engaged in intercultural dialogue with Chinese peers at the Sino-SA Youth Civilisation Dialogue Forum, sharing Venda traditions and South African urban life.
On the technology front, they toured innovation hubs, 3D printing labs, and pho-tovoltaic training bases, gaining exposure to China’s renewable energy and smart technologies, including autonomous vehicles and e-agriculture systems.
Cultural exploration included visits to historic sites along the Yangtze Riv-er in Wuhan and Yichang, including the Yellow Crane Tower and the monumen-tal Three Gorges Dam. The exchange deepened mutual understanding and symbol-ised a lasting bond between the civilisations nurtured by the Yangtze and Limpopo Rivers.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
