XMU alumna Ai Wei shares her experiences. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]
The Xiamen University Global Alumni Forum for the 70th Anniversary of Overseas Education and International Chinese Education was held on Oct 3 at Xiamen University's Xiang'an Campus to mark the 70th anniversary of its overseas education and international Chinese education programs. Alumni and former faculty shared their experiences and offered suggestions for the programs' future development.
Ai Wei, a prominent Malaysian writer and a member of the class of 1962, recalled beginning her studies through the university's overseas correspondence program before interrupting them for personal reasons. Despite her extensive literary output, she later returned to complete coursework in Chinese language and literature at the university, earning her degree at 63 — four decades later than originally expected.
XMU alumnus Huang Huansong shares his work promoting traditional Chinese medicine in Australia. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]
Huang Huansong, a member of the class of 1980 and honorary president of the Xiamen University Alumni Association of Australia, studied traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture through the university's former correspondence college. After moving to Australia, he worked to expand the reach of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, supported educational institution development, and helped advance legislation and secure professional recognition for practitioners.
A Xiamen University alumnus from Sri Lanka, Thelikada Kankanamge Asela Prabath Kumara, who enrolled in 2017, earned a master's degree in 2020, worked as a Chinese language teacher and later pursued postdoctoral research in Chinese studies. He recommended linking emerging research topics with sustainable talent development through curriculum design, collaboration among supervisors, and project-based learning.
