With the Bournemouth University Student Union Oriental Culture Multi-cultural Learning Society completing its third year we are pleased to thank current and past members [ethnic Chinese and other / Western] for their considerable input and enthusiasm in promoting greater knowledge on and off campus about many facets of Chinese and East Asian culture. 

Please Note: We are a Multicultural Learning university society: You do not have to be an ethnic Chinese or East Asian student or BU staff member to join us.   Our current officers and members include English, Nepalese, and Singaporean students.  All that is required for you to join us is an enthusiastic interest in East Asian and Chinese culture!

Some images from the 2010 Freshers fair and international orientation event at the university

Right to left Above. First image: Alan and Andrew. Second: Alan and Kripesh. Third: Society Vice-President Jessica with Meili (of the CSSA - Chinese Scholars and Students Association).   Final image: Meili and Alan

 BU Chinese-English Language and Culture exchange programme

At the university our society is very pleased to co-host with the BU Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) a Chinese-English language and culture exchange initiative -- this programme is open to All UK, international and ethnic Chinese university students.  This project is backed and supported by the BU Language Centre: to join or learn more please view the following link. Below are three images from the first informal language exchange meeting:

Regular meetings of the society take place at the Learn Higher Centre (next to the university library) on Thursdays, starting at 5:30pm.  You can join the society through the BU Student Union Clubs and Societies page: for further information on joining please contact Annabelle or Debbie at the Student Union. 

Your ideas and support for developing the multicultural learning activities that we are planning in the year ahead will be very welcome!  Please invite your friends to join our Facebook group (Oriental Culture Learning Society).

Through the careful guidance and hard work of senior officers (Wei [pictured left], Andrew, Jessica Dowdall [society co-founder], Alan Mercel-Sanca [society co-founder] and others), past and present, this educational work is planned to expand further with the start of the new academic year in October 2010.  An enduring aspect of the Society is and has been since its inception, the ability to break down cultural barriers and establish connections and friendships that endure beyond the period at which international members complete their studies and leave the UK. 

The BU society also wishes to thank Chun [Lisa] and Huiwen [Julia] for their much valued involvement and guidance in the Spring of 2010regarding aspects of the society's development, especially concerning our contribution to the BU Global Cinema programme for 2010 - 2011: Huiwen proposing and providing a description for the internationally acclaimed film Hero to be included in the Global Cinema programme.  In the Summer of 2010 BU post-graduate students Kripesh and Bijay also joined our team as secretary and deputy-secretary of the society: we are very appreciative of their valuable input to the important cross-cultural learning dimension to the society's educational work. 

For more about the BU society click please view a supportive dedication message from Kripesh, its secretary.

Our planned activities at the university include regular meetings to share ideas and learn about aspects of Chinese culture such as Feng Shui, Chinese Arts, Chinese Cuisine, and many more.  Meetings are scheduled to take place every week or fortnight at the Learn Higher Centre (next to the Talbot Campus library), and our planned activities include a Chinese and East Asian cinema club.  We are also planning a once-a-term exhibition to be held  which will highlight a specific aspect of Chinese / East Asian culture to the broader BU student community.  

We also are fortunate in being able to work with important Dorset and Bournemouth-Poole public service organisations though our related charitable organisation, the Oriental Culture Educational Society, which offers great opportunities for new and existing members to help contribute to multicultural learning and multicultural learning in the local Dorset community.  Once a term we also have a popular social event meal; this takes place at one of the authentic [traditional / non-Western] Chinese restaurants in Bournemouth, such as the Ocean City (very close to Bournemouth House at the BU Lansdowne Campus).

We offer a very warm welcome to all new BU students (especially international students with an interest in East Asian culture) starting their studies in Autumn 2010, and provide volunteer opportunities regarding our in the community and exhibition work, and also some available society officer positions.

To join us please visit the Clubs and Societies page of the Bournemouth University Student Union website:

For volunteering opportunities with our BU society please visit The Hub website:  

To join our BU Society Facebook group (you don't have to attend our meetings or be directly involved with our activities to support us!):