This paper explores the experiences of early Chinese students who travelled to Germany, France, and the UK between 1870 and 1930, situating their journeys within the broader framework of global citizenship and education for peace. Drawing from extensive archival research across three countries, including primary sources from the UK’s National Archives at Kew, the Berlin State Library, and the Lyon Municipal Library, this study highlights the role of these students in fostering early Sino-European educational collaboration and how already historically education was used as a pathway for a globalized community.

While originally sent abroad as part of China’s modernisation efforts, their experiences transcended national development goals, reflecting on how education can promote cross-cultural understanding, international cooperation, and peaceful engagement. By navigating diverse educational and social environments, students became agents of global learning, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and ideas between China and Europe. Their contributions extended beyond technical expertise, reinforcing the role of education as a bridge for diplomacy, dialogue, and mutual respect among nations.

This research underscores how historical and educational cross-cultural interaction can serve as models for contemporary efforts to advance global citizenship and intercultural dialogue. It does so through a series of vignettes where the students’ experience and impact upon their return home, showing how their overseas education shaped China’s intellectual, diplomatic, and social transformations, leaving a lasting legacy on both national development and global engagement.

Authors:
Charlotte Steffen, Limassol Patticheion Municipal Museum, Historical Archive and Research Centre, Cyprus

About the Presenter(s)
Charlotte Steffen, Affiliated Researcher at Limassol Patticheion Municipal Museum, holds a PhD in History (Portsmouth) and an MA in Art & Heritage (Maastricht). She currenlty researches marginalized groups in maritime history.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Friday Schedule

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