Ren Jingge is a student ambassador from Jinan, China, studying in the Master’s degree in Visual Art History.
Published on 03 August 2023 | Asia
Hi everyone! My name is Ren Jingge, I am studying Visual Art History at the University of Bologna and I come from Jinan, Shandong Province, China. I wanted to study art in depth in Italy, a country with a long cultural history, a world-recognised art paradise and a cultural heritage “open museum”. The good news? I was lucky enough to enrol at the University of Bologna!
Half the city of Bologna is home to Alma Mater, offering a great academic environment with all the services you need. You can meet scholars from all over the world and discuss academic issues while enjoying the authentic Italian lifestyle. Bologna has also an inclusive and friendly ambience, historical cultures and attractive scenic spots, where you can understand the respect for history and culture of the local people. It is also a university city with a strong academic atmosphere and close links with other neighbouring cities allowing easy access to the major cultural sites in the north and south of Italy.
There are many Italian students who also study Chinese and love Chinese culture and cuisine, which is a good opportunity for mutual exchange and friendship building.
Italy arouses a constant curiosity; it is like a deep reservoir of culture and ideas. Once you open the door, it is hard to stop praising it. The Italian personality is so distinctive and spontaneous that their natural love of life and innate ability to read people's minds strongly enticed me to look further. For example, unlike the Chinese style I know, which is introverted, subtle or straightforward, the Italian way is often more like a hot wind that blows in your face with a variety of different fragrances that give you a fresh feeling every time. The unique Italian cultural temperament also deeply influenced the way I look at myself: through the appreciation and respect of the Italians for their own culture, I was inspired to become more aware of and interested in my own culture, and I also began to appreciate Chinese culture even more, creating a deeper understanding of both cultures through this cultural collision.
For Non-European Union students, applying to an Italian university is never an easy task, with countless documents to submit and numerous notarial procedures to go through. Fortunately, the Chinese-Italian government's educational cooperation programme makes it easier for students from both countries. No matter how difficult the journey is, everything about this experience is invaluable, whether it is academic progress or personal growth within the cross-cultural context, it is all worth it in retrospect. Bologna's airport is also "China Welcome" certificated, with Chinese language services and direct flights to China. This facilitates academic exchanges. Chinese students are increasingly willing to come and study Italian culture rather than the popular British and American culture that is already known around the world.