The 2026 Action Plan Meeting for International Student Volunteer Service in China, along with the inaugural International Student Volunteer Service Forum, was recently held at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). Under the theme “Study in China, Volunteer Together,” the event was guided by the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education (MOE), hosted by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), and co-organized by BLCU and Beijing Foreign Studies University. The event was attended by Yang Dan, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the MOE; Wang Daquan, Director-General of the CSCSE; and Qu Zhaowei, Party Secretary of BLCU.
Director-General Yang Dan emphasized that volunteer service is a vital practical setting for international students to understand and integrate into Chinese society. He encouraged universities to leverage their disciplinary strengths and respond to the needs of international students, promoting a “One School, One Brand” approach to cultivate signature projects that enable international students to step out of the classroom, engage with society, and gain a comprehensive view of China.
Director-General Wang Daquan noted that the “Study in China” brand bears the mission of serving national diplomatic strategies and fostering people-to-people connections. The CSCSE will continue integrating resources to promote the standardization, institutionalization, and normalization of volunteer service projects, developing them into a signature element of the "Study in China" brand system.
Party Secretary Qu Zhaowei remarked that volunteer service is a language that transcends borders and connects hearts. The Action Plan opens a window for international students to integrate into Chinese society and experience Chinese modernization, elevating volunteer service from a “spontaneous act of kindness” to a “systematic educational practice.” He highlighted BLCU’s pioneering role in international student volunteer service, citing examples ranging from the Olympic Games to live-streaming e-commerce in western rural areas, through which BLCU international students have consistently demonstrated the spirit of volunteerism. He expressed BLCU's willingness to work with other universities to promote mutual understanding and build closer bonds of friendship between Chinese and international youth.
During the event, the CSCSE released the “Operational Mechanism for the Action Plan for International Student Volunteer Service in China,” showcased key projects covering cultural exchange, community service, educational support, rural revitalization, and other areas, and presented flags to the first cohort of member universities. The conference also featured a roundtable forum titled “Gathering Sparks of Light: Youth Volunteers Across Borders,” along with group discussion sessions.
（Editor: Wang Ziyun）
