To enhance international students’ understanding of China’s social governance model and to promote cross-cultural exchange and learning, our university’s international master’s students from the classes of 2023 and 2024 embarked on a social work field study in Shunyi District on December 15, 2024. The activity provided a valuable opportunity for international students to get a close look at China’s grassroots community governance and its women and children’s service system, while also deepening academic and practical exchange and cooperation between China and other countries.
In Niulushan Town, Shunyi District, the international master’s students observed the “Caring Family, ‘Shunyi·Her Infinity’” Children and Youth Growth and Integration Action, which is part of the “Shunyi·Her Infinity” women’s volunteer service brand by the Shunyi District Women’s Federation. Themed around child care, the event used fun and educational formats like interactive games and brainstorming sessions to foster integration and communication between women volunteers and children. The activities aimed to listen to children’s voices, understand their needs, discover their potential, and guide them toward positive development, thereby creating a positive, child-friendly social atmosphere. Through this observation, students gained a deep understanding of how the Women’s Federation leverages its strengths in mass organizations to play a positive role in promoting social integration, with a focus on the three levels of “hometown, family, and family members.”
The international master’s students also toured the various functional areas of the Shunyi District Women and Children’s Activity Center, including sections for children’s educational support, family conflict mediation, and women’s rights protection services. They learned about the center’s daily operational model and service system. The students gained a firsthand appreciation for the center’s unique advantages in resource integration, policy implementation, and service diversification, as well as its distinctive role in enhancing community well-being and safeguarding the rights and interests of women and children.
Following the field study, many international master’s students expressed that the event was highly meaningful. Christine Chama from Zambia stated, “This event was very significant. The design of the games and the involvement of the volunteers helped the children build self-confidence and a strong character.” Ngohide Scholastica Gbayange from Nigeria remarked, “I am honored to have had the opportunity to observe an event focused on family relationships. It is a very important part of daily family life for parents to accompany their children and participate in games with them.”
This field study not only deepened our university’s international master’s students’ understanding of China’s social governance model but also built a bridge for dialogue and cooperation in the field of social work education and practice. The International Master’s Program will continue to deepen university-local government collaboration, encouraging more international students to participate in community-based field studies in China, and jointly explore new ideas and measures for cultivating international students in the field of social work.
