Students from the University of Kent attended a reception at the Chinese Embassy in London on 30 September 2026, highlighting how overseas study experiences can broaden students’ perspectives and enrich their education.
They were joined at the event by students from the University of Greenwich and staff from across the LASE University Group.
The reception celebrated the new Study Tour China Programme, which took place for the first time this summer, providing an opportunity for participants to reconnect and reflect on their experiences. 70 students from across Greenwich and Kent took part in the programme this year.
Professor James Hopker, LASE University Group Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education, attended the reception alongside Nick Hand, Director of International Affairs at Greenwich Business School, Dr Zheyuan Hu, Academic Portfolio Lead at Greenwich Business School, and students who had participated in the programme.
The event brought together Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang, Lord Jo Johnson and representatives from 14 UK universities. Three UK student speakers shared their experiences of learning alongside Chinese students, exploring Chinese culture and seeing the country’s infrastructure and technology industries first-hand.
Their reflections illustrated how international exchange can bring learning beyond the classroom, introduce students to different perspectives and build connections across cultures. Kent’s participation provided an opportunity to celebrate these benefits and show how university partnerships can create meaningful experiences for students.
The Study Tour China Programme was organised by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, with High Achiever Programme as facilitator and co-organiser. LASE acknowledges their support in making these opportunities possible.