Beijing International Studies University unveils the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program on Oct 25. The leaders and guests have their photo taken with the participants. [Photo provided by bisu.edu.cn]

A screenshot of online participants at the opening ceremony of the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program The leaders and guests have their photo taken with the participants. [Photo provided by bisu.edu.cn]

The launch of the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program and the first award ceremony of the Magnolia Medal were held by Beijing International Studies University (BISU) both online and on site on Oct 25.

Senior university officials and foreign teachers attend the inaugural ceremony of the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program. The leaders and guests have their photo taken with the participants. [Photo provided by bisu.edu.cn]

Ji Jinbiao, deputy secretary of the CPC BISU committee and president of the university; Zheng Chengjun, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BISU committee and vice-president of the university; and foreign teachers pressed the start buttons to launch the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program.

Ji Jinbiao, deputy secretary of the CPC BISU committee and president of the university, addresses the opening ceremony of the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program. [Photo provided by bisu.edu.cn]

Ji conveyed thanks to foreign teachers for their contributions to fostering the university's development, hailed their fulfillment of teaching obligations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and called on them to become the ambassadors of cultural exchanges between China and other countries.

Zheng Chengjun, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BISU committee and vice-president of the university, gives a speech at the opening of the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program. [Photo provided by bisu.edu.cn]

Zheng said the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program was designed to further enrich the extracurricular activities of foreign teachers and help them better assimilate into campus culture and imbibe a sense of belonging at the university.

He said the magnolia flower is a symbol of virtues and represents beautiful image of teachers in the eyes of students in traditional Chinese culture. He explained that the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program mainly covers four aspects, namely the building of a joint community, the organization of cultural exchange activities, the implementation of joint development initiatives and the induction of high-quality group members, all of which will be integrated with traditional Chinese culture, festivals, arts, sports and cuisine.

Senior officials of BISU present the Magnolia Medal awards to foreign teachers. [Photo provided by bisu.edu.cn]

Thirty foreign teachers were given the Magnolia Medal for having worked at BISU for at least three years. The medal consists of three-star, four-star, five-star and six-star categories in accordance with the length of the recipients’ work tenure.

Lee Yu Seung from South Korea, Khaled Abdelrahim from Egypt, and Liz Agrazal from Panama were winners of the Six-Star Magnolia Medal in recognition of their work for at least 10 years.

Foreign teachers said that the launch of the BISU Magnolia Joint Community Program and the awarding of the Magnolia Medal have shown the university's support for and care about them. The program will encourage them to make greater contributions to cultural exchanges between China and other countries.

Lee Yu Seung from South Korea and Madelein Carolina Gonzalez from Venezuela deliver speeches at the award ceremony of the Magnolia Medal. [Photo provided by bisu.edu.cn]

Lee said that BISU has become his second hometown and that the honor belongs to all colleagues who have dedicated themselves to the cause of education. He added that he will make utmost efforts to create a brighter future for the university.

Madelein Carolina Gonzalez, a teacher from Venezuela and honoree of the Magnolia Medal, said that she had developed a close bond with BISU and was looking forward to making greater contributions. She came to the university to continue her education in 2012 and later became a teacher at the school of interpreting and translation. In addition, she was also invited to attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics early this year.

A photo taken on Oct 25 shows participants at the ceremony. [Photo provided by bisu.edu.cn]

A group photo of participants and honorees of the Magnolia Medal [Photo provided by bisu.edu.cn]