A ceremony is held for the volunteers' training course for the 3rd World Internet Conference in Wuzhen. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Over 1,000 students from 17 different colleges and universities in East China's Zhejiang province will participate in a voluntary service program during next month's World Internet Conference (WIC) due to be held in the town of Wuzhen.

After several rounds of tests and interviews, the conference organizers selected volunteers from a pool of more than 6,700 applicants based on the quality of their eligibility.

The volunteers will undergo a broad and thorough training program in order to set expectations and provide the university students with the skills necessary for working at the high-profile event.

Bao Song, an associate professor from Zhejiang University, gave a speech about etiquette and presentation on Oct 16. The speech aimed to give volunteers an understanding of how best to be useful and show respect to the guests.

Additionally, Liao Chao, a member of the Party committee in Wuzhen, introduced the town's history, traditional folk customs, and the ancient water town's natural and cultural sights.

Following the completion of a comprehensive training program, the volunteers will be assigned a range of differing duties so as to ensure a successful event.

He Liyao, a junior student from Zhejiang Gongshang University, was excited about the being selected and said that in order to adequately prepare for the application she brushed up her English and took advice from other students with previous volunteering experience.

The official nickname for these lucky volunteers is xiao wutong, meaning little phoenix trees or Chinese parasol trees, on account of it being Tongxiang's symbolic tree. The tree is also a homophone for "intercommunication" in Chinese and represents both the expectation and enthusiasm that surrounds the WIC.

The 3rd World Internet Conference (WIC) is due to be held in Wuzhen, an ancient town in the eastern province of Zhejiang from Nov 16 to 18. The theme of the Conference is "Innovation-Driven Internet Development for the Benefit of All — Building a Community of Common Future in Cyberspace". Internet officials, experts and activists from China and abroad will attend the annual world Internet conference in Wuzhen, the permanent home of the event.