Bridging Skills, Connecting Cultures: Indonesian Delegation’s Immersive Learning Experience in Ningbo

Ningbo, China. A group of 22 students and faculty from Universitas Mercu Buana (UMB), Indonesia, recently concluded a transformative three-week immersive visiting program at Zhejiang Business Technology Institute. This marks the third cohort participating in the innovative “Chinese Culture + Live-Streaming Skills” exchange program.

The program blended hands-on digital training with deep cultural and community engagement. In the classroom, students dove into China’s dynamic e-commerce ecosystem. They mastered AI-generated art, transforming Ningbo’s landmarks into digital paintings, and stepped into the roles of live-streamers in TikTok simulations, promoting products like Deli Group’s stationery. “I used to think live-streaming was just about talking,” shared student Alia, “but now I see the professional strategies behind it.”

Beyond campus, the visit was a revelation of China’s industrial and social development. At the Ningbo (Qianyang) Live-Streaming Center, they saw how local brands leverage AI and cross-border platforms. “If we could develop live-streaming like this in Indonesia, it could really help our local products,” remarked faculty leader Anindita. Tours to Moorgen Smart Home Exhibition Hall and Deli Group showcased the leap from “Made in China” to “Intelligent Manufacturing in China,” with gesture-controlled lighting and culturally customized products earning awe and instant appeal.

Cultural threads were woven throughout, from practicing calligraphy and traditional paper-cutting to learning herbal medicine and pottery. “Culture has no borders; beauty always resonates,” one participant reflected after writing her first “福” (fú, fortune) character.

The journey also offered a ground-level view of Chinese society. Visits to a government service center demonstrated digital efficiency, while a vibrant village-turned-cultural hub and an ecological community highlighted nuanced approaches to rural revitalization and green governance.

“This program is not just a classroom, but a direct train to China’s digital economy and cultural soul,” said student Calista. The exchange program has planted seeds for future collaboration, with Indonesian students offering localized insights for Chinese brands eyeing the Southeast Asian market and carrying home not just skills, but a renewed perspective for their role as future bridges between the two nations.