Wang Jingli

wangjingli0715@163.com

A MORNING shower didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Spanish students and their teachers for exploring diverse cultures at the Splendid China • China Folk Culture Villages theme park in Nanshan District on Sunday.

The group, consisting of around 40 students and faculty members from the Euncet Business School of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, is taking part in a two-week summer school program organized by Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU).

Running until July 8, the program includes academic lectures, visits to leading companies like BYD, and cultural tours to landmarks such as Gankeng Hakka Town.

For many of the students, this marks their first visit to both Shenzhen and China.

Arnau Claret and Alex Serrano didn’t hesitate when they learned about the opportunity. “We’ve always wanted to explore China, and when this chance came up, we jumped at it,” said Claret.

Both were particularly impressed by Shenzhen’s driverless cars, its cleanliness, and the expansive SZTU campus.

Paula Vaquerizo Cruces said that before her visit to Shenzhen and China, she only knew them from movies. But upon arrival, she saw that everything is real and truly impressive.

Rita de Cássia Baptista Pereira, a third-year university student, was amazed by the driverless cars and food delivery drones. “These are new to me. I have never seen anything like it before,” she said. “The city strikes a perfect balance between technology and culture.”

Antonio Llop Padilla, president of Euncet Business School, said his impression of Shenzhen exceeded expectations. “The city is highly developed in terms of technology, sustainability, and urban mobility,” he remarked.

In March 2024, SZTU signed a cooperation agreement with Euncet Business School, marking its first partnership with a Spanish higher education institution.

Padilla emphasized the value of this collaboration. “Bilateral cooperation enhances the learning experience for students from both Barcelona and Shenzhen. Given the high quality of SZTU’s faculty, we truly appreciate this alliance, which helps our students grow and achieve more,” said Padilla.