Peking University, July 10, 2022: Don't know what to do during summer holidays? Come join the Peking University International Summer e-Festival, where many interesting activities await!

PKU International Summer Institute


The International Summer Institute is an essential platform for Peking University to cultivate international talents. It was established in 2020 under the context of COVID-19, jointly formed by the Office of International Relations, the Department of Academic Affairs, School of Chinese as a Second Language, School of Economics, School of Engineering, and other units.

It is a brand new integrated platform that covers ten years of PKU flagship summer schools, including Peking University Summer School International, Peking University Chinese Language Summer School, Peking University-UChicago International Policy Action Lab, and the Peking University School of Engineering-Globex Julmester Program which operates at a department/school level.

The PKU International Summer Institute  invites students from all over the world to join our two-month Summer e-Festival! Here, you can interact with professionals from various fields and gain a comprehensive understanding of campus life at PKU. What are you waiting for? Scroll to see all the activities available!

High-level Talk Series：Walking into UNICEF, Working with UNICEF; Clémence Ingabire

7.5 Tuesday


At PKU, expand your horizons and walk into the world. The first stop of the festival is at UNICEF. UNICEF is committed to addressing the long-term needs of women and children in all developing countries. Join this talk, and let us walk into UNICEF with HR manager Ms Clémence Ingabire in China, focus on children's education and explore how the ability of education can affect human development.

High-level Talk Series: Implementation Challenges and Solutions for Development Project; Dr. Lee Ming Tai

7.6 Wednesday


Next is a lecture by Mr. Lee Ming Tai from the Asian Development Bank (ADB)! The ADB envisions a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in the region. Mr. Tai is an expert in rural and social development. During his tenure, Mr. Tai faced many huge challenges and accumulated valuable experience at the same time. Join this lecture to learn about how Mr. Tai overcame these challenges.

Sino-German Development Cooperation; Dr. Jochen Werkert

7.7 Thursday


Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation and professional training for sustainable development. As the co-head of GIZ Cluster "China in the World", Dr. Jochen Werkert focuses on issues of global governance, inter-company collaboration and industrial development standards with a regional focus on Asia. At this stop, you will adopt an international perspective, to learn how international cooperation can improve ourselves and illuminate each other, and look into the future of Sino-German Development Cooperation.
Dialogue with Experts：

Chinese Popular Songs 赵昀晖 Zhao Yun Hui

7.8 Friday


"Music is the universal language of mankind", the fourth station of the festival is themed "music", igniting the enthusiasm of international students to better understand China. History has changed, and the diversity and tolerance of Chinese culture has always been reflected in it. Some people sing softly, some people sing indulgently, but you always find a Chinese voice that you love.

Discover PKU

7.9 Saturday


"Isn't it a pleasure to have friends from afar?" This July, students from all over the world will come together at PKU for the International Summer Institute where they will be able to bond with new classmates. During this social event, you will learn about different stories of Yanyuan through relaxed and entertaining games, make friends with like-minded people in interesting interactive discussions, and add bright colors to the busy summertime.

High-level Talk Series: Overview of UNDP China: Leave No One Behind；Violante di Canossa

7.10 Sunday


As the world's largest multilateral agency responsible for technical assistance, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) provides technical advice, training, and equipment to developing countries. In this lecture, students will listen to the story of UNDP in China and learn how UNDP works with China to help people create a better life and promote the sustainable development of human society without leaving anyone behind.

Dialogue with Experts: Peking University, Culture and Tradition 赵杨 Zhao Yang

7.15 Friday


Ancient trees, carved beams, colorful columns, and every tree and grass in PKU have all been a part of its history. In this lecture, students will lift the veil on the historical plaque of Peking University. They will not only touch on the past but also gradually learn how the buildings with peeling paint on the campus have gone through the years. They will also learn about how the towering ancient trees have ushered in a new era and what kind of people have walked through this campus. These historic stories will help students steadily approach not only Peking University's current story but also the culture of Peking University brought about by the accumulation of traditions.

Online Concert

7.16 Saturday


This Saturday, everyone is invited to join us in a joyous musical fest. On this day, the student communities and some of the top ten singers of Peking University will come together, make friends through art, and play the sonata of dreams and youth. We hope that in addition to the exchange of ideas in the classroom, everyone can feel the true feelings of the students through the sound of stage art in this grand event, and experience the joy of revelry in the color of stage art. "If music is the food of emotion, then keep playing!"

Dialogue with Experts: Different Choice: Can We Understand Traditional Taijiquan Today?  朱效民  Zhu Xiaomin

7.22 Friday


Tai Chi is both a Chinese tradition and a physical education class at PKU. In this physical education class with Chinese characteristics, the arms are retracted and released, and the footsteps are advanced and retreated. Every movement that is as slow as running water is not only a physical exercise for the students but also a cultivation of the mind. In this lecture, you will feel the "Tao" and "Xing" in this form of body art, and realize the deep meaning behind each movement.

High-level Talk Series: Chinese Industrial and Innovation Policy；Prof. Alessandro Golombiewski Teixeira

7.24 Sunday


Striving for innovation is one of the common characteristics of PKU students. Behind this is China's system of encouraging and supporting innovation. In today's lecture, the students will conduct an in-depth exploration of China's industrial and innovation policy, and discover the splendid stage of the times behind the students' innovation dreams.

Dialogue with Experts: China and World from the Perspective of Loanwords 赵杨 Zhao Yang

7.29 Friday


In this lecture, Professor Zhao Yang will use "loanwords" as a window to lead us to explore China and the world. The mystery of the Chinese language will be revealed in the collision with different languages. The inseparable connection between countries is also contained in various loan words.

Dialogue with Experts: Master Pieces of Chinese Ancient Painting 刘晓雨 Liu Xiaoyu

8.5 Friday


A Chinese painting is the elegance of "a plum tree by my family's inkstone washing pond, blossoming flowers bloom with light pale ink", the ethereal spirit of "looking at the mountains from a distance is colorful, listening to the water close up is silent", it is "the flowing water in the light of the backlight, the wind blowing the river and the silver clouds". During this part, we will follow in the footsteps of Professor Liu Xiaoyu to explore the treasures of ancient Chinese paintings.

Dialogue with Experts: Chinese Personal Names 张文贤 Zhang Wenxian

8.12 Friday


There is an old Chinese saying: "It is better to give a child a skill than to give a child a lot of money, and it is better to give a child a name before a skill". Names are very important to Chinese people. The name contains the expectations of parents and elders for the child, which accompanies the child's life. Compared with names in other cultures or languages, Chinese names are very concise, but they can convey all kinds of thoughts and sentiments. In this lecture, Professor Zhang Wenxian will begin with the concept of names to introduce the Chinese people's preferred names and their meanings in different eras.

Dialogue with Experts: China: The Road to Market Economy 姚骏 Yao Jun

8.19 Friday


Culture and economy have always been inseparable. In order to understand China accurately, one must understand China's economy. Professor Yao Jun will introduce to us the process of China's transition from a planned economy to a market economy, and discuss the practical problems that have arisen in the process of economic transformation. Not being afraid of challenges and not evading skepticism, this is the confidence and firmness that China's economy has built up step by step.

Dialogue with Experts: Eating in China 黄立 Huang Li

8.26 Friday


The documentary "A Bite of China" has brought forth a wave of attention to Chinese food, and alongside the development of social media, Chinese food has spread to every corner of the world. A country's cuisine is the culmination of its natural geographical environment, its agricultural conditions, and its people's attitude towards life. At this last stop, Professor Huang Li will narrate the story of China and its food.

During this special period, global interaction has been slowed down, but distance will not hinder the connection between PKU and you. From history to culture, from communication to commonality, let's gather together to listen to the masters' witty words, develop a unique attitude, and embellish our summer life with cultural philosophy and laughter. This summer, join the Summer e-Festival to create your own colorful memories of Peking University.

Writed by: Song Yee Ting, Wang Jinlan, Ding Shutong, Chen Yutao
Edited by: Chan Zi Qing
Poster Designer: International Students Division, Office of International Relations, PKU, Chao Ranran
Designed by: Chin Xiao Yun Pauline
Source: International Students Division, Office of International Relations, PKU