Professor Xinsheng Zhang Visits UWC for Academic Exchange

14–16 October 2025, Bellville — The University of the Western Cape (UWC) welcomed Professor Xinsheng Zhang from Enlighten University, United Kingdom, for a series of academic exchange activities aimed at strengthening international cooperation and advancing foreign language education.

During the visit, Professor Zhang met with the Vice-Chancellor and Rector, Professor Balfour, Director of International Relations Dr. Bawa, and both Chinese and South African directors of the Confucius Institute. The parties held in-depth discussions on topics such as international cooperation in higher education, language education development, and teacher training. Both sides agreed that academic ties should be further strengthened on the basis of existing cooperation, promoting pragmatic collaboration in the fields of foreign language education and international Chinese education.

As part of the exchange programme, Professor Zhang delivered two public lectures titled “University Foreign Language Learning and Teaching in the Era of Artificial Intelligence” to staff and students from the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. His presentations provided an insightful analysis of how emerging technologies are reshaping higher education, particularly in foreign language teaching, and explored innovative directions for future educational development. The lectures drew a large and engaged audience and were warmly received by participants.

In addition, Professor Zhang joined a roundtable discussion with teachers from the Confucius Institute at UWC, offering hands-on guidance on teaching practices and research approaches. The session fostered constructive dialogue and inspired new ideas to enhance pedagogy and curriculum development.

Professor Zhang’s visit not only deepened UWC’s academic engagement with international partners but also contributed valuable perspectives to the ongoing dialogue on educational innovation in the digital era.