Culture shock to community: one man’s vision to help international students find belonging

Beginning university is laden with stressors: enrolling in courses, settling into life in student residences, finding your classroom.

Adapting to a foreign academic and social environment while starting uni life may appear more fraught than exciting. It is the reality for some international students, who must navigate uncertainty, loneliness and finding a sense of belonging.

This was a feeling ANU College of Business and Economics (CBE) student Guoqing (Bruce) Pan was all too familiar with, having waded through his own culture shock.

From his experience, he saw an opportunity and founded the ANU Chinese Network Association (CNA) in 2024.

Originally created with a focus on new Chinese students, the CNA now provides a safe space for new international students to build community through organised events and social gatherings.

“I wanted it to be a community where students could find a sense of belonging. It was my way of giving back,” he says.

For international students, the CNA gives them a space to share advice on academic expectations, course planning, study habits, internships, accommodation and everyday life in Canberra.

One of the hardest things for them to overcome, explains Bruce, is a hesitancy to speak up.

“As an association, we try to listen carefully, understand the common challenges students are facing, and help communicate those needs more clearly and constructively,” says Bruce.

For me, advocacy is not about confrontation. It is about helping students feel heard, respected and more confident in participating in the wider ANU community.

Feelings of isolation are only exacerbated by the academic shift when they leave China and an environment that’s a lot more hands-on with students’ learning.

“At ANU, students are expected to manage their own learning, participate actively in discussion, ask questions and think critically.”

The focus is on a positive approach, fostering individual thinking and varying perspectives.

“For students coming from educational environments that are more structured or more teacher-directed, that shift can feel unfamiliar at first,” explains Bruce.

“Over time, many students become more comfortable speaking up, planning their work independently and making use of university resources. It’s not easy, but it becomes one of the most valuable parts of studying in a different country.”

“At its core, the CNA is about belonging.”

It comes as no surprise that Bruce decided to put himself forward for the ANU Council.

“Through working closely with students, I came to understand that many of the issues that shape student life are not always dramatic from the outside, but they matter deeply in everyday experience,” he says.

As the elected postgraduate student member, Bruce is determined to replicate his vision with the CNA in his work with the Council.

“Leadership, in my view, begins with listening. I hope to support a more inclusive environment where student perspectives are taken seriously, and that students feel they are a part of the University’s future,” he says.

Sometimes what students need most is simply to know that their concerns matter.

Reflecting on the demands of his Association, Council and study loads, Bruce sees it only as something that’s enriched his time at ANU.

“They have helped me to grow in communication, leadership, problem solving and working with diverse groups of people. I have a strong sense of purpose and connection because of them,” he says.

“ANU has been a place to grow, contribute and give back to a community that has shaped me meaningfully.”

Student bio

Bruce is a postgraduate student at The Australian National University, studying a Master of Business Information Systems. His undergraduate studies in finance and English first shaped his interest in communication, organisation and cross-cultural understanding. Since coming to ANU, that interest has grown into a strong commitment to student leadership, representation and community building. In 2024 he founded the Chinese Network Association (CNA) to support Chinese students as they adjust to university life in Australia. In 2026, he was elected to the ANU Council as the postgraduate student member, representing ANU students in matters that impact them. Bruce’s journey so far has been shaped by both education and service, but at the centre of it is a simple belief: before students can truly thrive, they need to feel that they belong.

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