Tsinghua SIGS Global Summer School opens

The Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) Global Summer School opened its doors yesterday, welcoming nearly 150 international students for a week of immersive and intellectually stimulating academic experiences.

Faculty members and students pose for a group photo during the opening of Tsinghua SIGS’s Global Summer School in Shenzhen yesterday. Photos courtesy of Tsinghua SIGS 

During the opening ceremony, Zuo Jian'e, associate dean of Tsinghua SIGS, welcomed the international students. He provided an overview of the school's international collaborations and the program. Zuo encouraged participants to actively engage in activities to enhance their professional skills and broaden their horizons. He also expressed hope that they would use the opportunity to learn about Chinese culture and make international friends.

International students cheer during the opening ceremony of the Tsinghua SIGS Global Summer School yesterday in Shenzhen.

Throughout the week, Tsinghua SIGS teachers will deliver cutting-edge lectures and lead workshops, group discussions, and hands-on projects designed to spark creativity. Participants will also visit Tsinghua SIGS labs and leading companies in Shenzhen to gain firsthand experience with the city’s technological innovation and industrial development.

Additionally, Tsinghua SIGS will organize various cultural exchange activities and a field trip to Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, to give students a glimpse into Cantonese culture and broader Chinese culture.

Summer school attendees pose for selfies after the opening ceremony of the Tsinghua SIGS Global Summer School yesterday.

Aigerim Baimukhanbetova, a computer science graduate from Astana IT University in Kazakhstan, said she applied for the summer school because Tsinghua University is "a great university" known for its academic excellence. Baimukhanbetova, who is joining the Open Faculty for Innovation, Education, Science, Technology, and Art (Open FIESTA), also sees it as a unique opportunity for travel and study, as she has never been abroad before.

"I expect to visit new places to see something new and interesting," the 20-year-old said. "I know that Tsinghua SIGS has very smart and cool teachers, so I believe that they will teach me something great."

Baimukhanbetova noted that she was deeply impressed by the sheer size of Shenzhen the minute she landed. "The Shenzhen airport is so big," she recalled. "It was quite challenging to find my taxi and use applications, but I was lucky because a Chinese girl helped me figure that out."

Aigerim Baimukhanbetova of Kazakhstan says the summer school offers a rare opportunity to travel and study abroad.

Juan David Salazar Rodriguez, a Colombian Ph.D. candidate in architecture at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, and Abigail Gumpo, a Zimbabwean master’s degree student in engineering at the University of Leeds in the U.K., are both attending the Institute of Future Human Habitats at Tsinghua SIGS for the summer school program.

It is their first time visiting Shenzhen and China, and the two were particularly impressed by Shenzhen’s modern infrastructure.

“The infrastructure is fascinating. I was in awe even when we were still up in the air flying into the country,” Gumpo said. “You see in the news and in social media about how developed China is, but when you actually experience it firsthand, it’s quite impressive.”

As an engineer, Gumpo said she applied for the program because she is eager to experience China’s development firsthand and meet students from around the world. “China is famous for its rapid development, so I wanted to come and experience it firsthand. And also, it’s a great platform to interact with people from all over.”

International students enjoy the afternoon sunshine at Shenzhen Talent Park during the Tsinghua SIGS summer school.

Salazar Rodriguez shares similar motivations. “I’m very curious about how China is like. And Shenzhen is one of the most developed cities in China, so I was wondering how people are living here and how things are going,” he said.

He added that he looks forward to the university’s lectures and is excited to exchange ideas with his peers. Salazar Rodriguez also expressed interest in Chinese culture, especially the food. "I love Chinese food. I'd like to try more Cantonese food like dim sum."

Gumpo is also eager to gain new insights from the Institute of Future Human Habitats. "It's interesting to see how architecture is going to be taught and presented in the context of the changing world."

She looks forward to field trips to learn about local history. "I also want to experience Chinese cuisine because I've never had it before back home in Zimbabwe. I hope after the program is finished, I’ll be able to use chopsticks," she said.

Participants of the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) Global Summer School visit Nantou Ancient Town in Nanshan District yesterday.

In the afternoon, the participants began their tour of the city by visiting Nantou Ancient Town, the Civic Center, and Shenzhen Talent Park, experiencing Shenzhen's history and urban development.

According to Tsinghua SIGS, the Global Summer School has drawn 148 international students from 44 countries and 101 universities. Forty-seven of these students hail from 17 institutions with established partnerships with the university, including Harvard University, Technical University of Munich, Kyoto University, National University of Singapore, University of Malaya, Kanazawa University, University of Buenos Aires, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, and Asian Institute of Technology.

The summer school aims to broaden students' international perspectives and foster the exchange of ideas and experiences among global youth scholars.

Some of the summer school participants gather for a group photo at Shenzhen’s Civic Center yesterday.