Recently, the Ministry of Education announced the results of the Third Round of National First-Class Undergraduate Course Recognition (No. 9 [2025] of the Department of Higher Education). The online course “A Stroll Through Hangzhou's History and Culture”, led by Professor Shi Hong from the International College, Zhejiang University, has been recognized as a National First-Class Online Undergraduate Course. This marks the International College's first national first-class undergraduate course, representing a significant milestone in the development of courses for international students.

Course Information

Course Title: A Stroll Through Hangzhou's History and Culture

Course Leader: Shi Hong

Course Team: Shen Jie, Chen Min, Zhao Yinji, and Guo Chanli

(Online Course Cover)

As Zhejiang University's first regional culture course designed specifically for international students, the course adopts a place-based educational approach that highlights the unique historical and cultural heritage of Hangzhou. It explores the connections between traditional Chinese culture, advanced socialist culture of China, and diverse world cultures, while encouraging international students to become active communicators of contemporary China.

The course is delivered through national educational resource platforms and leading online learning platforms, while also extending its reach through overseas universities, overseas Chinese schools, and other international educational networks. By broadening global access to high-quality regional cultural resources, it has created an important platform for international cultural exchange and contributed to enhancing the global communication and influence of Chinese culture.

(Professor Shi Hong with Students)

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), the International College will continue to prioritize curriculum development as a key driver of educational excellence. Guided by its student-centered philosophy, the College will further leverage the demonstration and leading role of first-class courses, encourage innovation in teaching concepts and curriculum design, deepen the integration of modern information technologies with teaching and learning, and continuously improve both the quality of course development and the effectiveness of their implementation.

The College is committed to developing more high-quality "golden courses" characterized by advanced academic standards, innovation, and appropriate intellectual challenge, while building an integrated curriculum system that integrates value guidance, competency development, and knowledge acquisition, thereby promoting the high-quality and sustainable development of its educational programs.

（Course Team and Students）