Over the past decade, Professor Zhang Xihua has been dedicated to introducing quality international cooperation resources and promoting student exchanges and academic development. The first Asian woman to win an honorary doctorate in the 540-year-history of the University of Copenhagen, Zhang is the secretary of the Party Committee  and president of the School of English Language, Literature and Culture of the Beijing International Studies University (BISU). She is also the director of the Center for Denmark Studies and holds a number of professional titles for English studies. Zhang hopes to educate more foreign language students with an international view and patriotism through the Research of Center for Denmark Studies. “Allowing more students to have the opportunity to become more intentional and a messenger for cross-cultural exchanges has always been a passion and faith of mine,” Zhang added.

Professor Zhang Xihua

Journalist: What has motivated you to introduce quality international cooperation resources for so many years?

Zhang: In 2007, I finished my doctoral thesis at the University of Copenhagen, where I had also completed the main task of the research for the National Social Science Fund Project of China in 2011. The completion of these two major tasks was financed by the national fund and won the support of professors, academicians and assistants at the University of Copenhagen. During that time, I also made profound friendships there. In my experience of international exchanges, my country has always had my back. Therefore, I feel that it is my responsibility to perform public diplomacy well, which is in a sense a mission and responsibility that encourages me to carry out international cooperation work. I must extend the benefits I received to my students and my school.

Zhang Xihua and Danish scholars jointly revise a cooperative agreement

Journalist: You have said that international and regional studies should give equal attention to academic research, cultural exchanges and talent training. So far, what achievements have been made at the Center for Denmark Studies?

Zhang: From 2015 until the outbreak of COVID, the Center for Denmark Studies had held an annual academic conference. Chinese and Danish scholars held academic dialogues and exchanges, as well as academic conferences on the China-Denmark Joint Work Programme issued by the Chinese and Danish Ministries of Foreign Affairs, which had generated a series of research achievements.

 Professor Zhang introduces China to Danish students

In terms of cultural exchanges, a number of Danish students came to BISU, deepened their understanding of China and proactively spread Chinese culture when returning to Denmark. Many Danish secondary school delegations visited BISU and its affiliated high school. Our university was the first university to be visited by the new Danish ambassador.

In the terms of talent training, many of those young Danish people who can speak Chinese studied at BISU. Cao Ruge, a BISU student, published dozens of articles about Denmark when she studied in the country.   

BISU Students study at the University of Copenhagen

Journalist: When considering talent training, how does BISU innovate international and regional research through the use of language as a research tool? What are the future plans of international and regional research ? 

Zhang: Strengthening and increasing the capacity of international communication is the call of the times, which brings many opportunities for BISU to develop talent training, scientific research and international cooperation. BISU will effectively integrate the three fields.

Professors of the University of Copenhagen introduce the university to students at BISU

Journalist: In the post-pandemic era, as a foreign language university, what are the new plans in further promoting higher education cooperation and international exchanges? 

BISU Students study at the University of Copenhagen

Zhang: Currently, all we can do is maintain close contact with cooperative universities and scholars. In the post-pandemic era, we hope that foreign language universities can further strengthen international cooperation and communication and provide more support for units and scholars involved in relevant affairs, in order to boost the fast and high-quality development of internationalization and highlight the distinctive characteristics of foreign language universities.