200 Shades of Green from Hainan
This St Patricks Day, Hainan University came alive in more than 200 shades of green as students and staff gathered with colleagues from the joint BSc in Event Management. The celebration recognised the students’ contribution to THRIC, Irish culture, international partnership, and featured a ceremonial cake cutting to mark the launch of the new HNU–TU Dublin International Collaborative Education Program logo.
The Dean of HAITC, Professor Wang Lin, Professor Geng, and their team warmly welcomed the opportunity to co‑create the celebration and to join with Dr Emma O’Brien, Dr Ziene Mottiar, and Dr Aíne Conaghan, highlighting the importance of shared celebrations in building strong cross‑cultural relationships and further enhancing the partnership.
Guest speaker Dr Ziene Mottiar, THRIC 2026 Conference Chair, honoured the contribution of the third‑year students to the Irish conference through their Postcards from Hainan. She emphasised the significance of students expressing their voice, vision, and values through a range of creative media in a rapidly changing world. Her acknowledgement left students feeling energised and more confident, while also deepening their sense of belonging to the school.
A series of short videos showcased Ireland’s landscapes, cultural traditions, parades, music, and global celebrations of the day. Students brought fun and energy to the room with bilingual cultural facts and an interactive dance performance. The event showcased the strong teamwork demonstrated by the students as they hosted the experience which became a meaningful learning opportunity in event management, creativity, and collaboration.