October 16, 2024

On September 13-14, 2024, School of Management, Fudan University, organized a two-day Mobile Class for over 30 international exchange students from renowned business schools around the world. The Mobile Class integrates in-depth lectures with on-site visits to cutting-edge companies, aiming to create an immersive learning environment. It allowed students to experience a close and comprehensive understanding of the latest practices and achievements in sci-tech innovation of Chinese enterprises.

During the pre-trip session, Professor Wang Xiaozu, the academic advisor for Mobile Class, delivered an in-depth analysis on the theme of Understanding China’s Economic Growth & Innovation. He focused on the macro trends of China’s economic development, particularly highlighting the overall economic trajectory and key areas such as high-tech manufacturing.

After that, an engaging Mobile Class company visit session unfolded. Firstly, the students visited the Siemens Digital Enterprise Experience Center in Yangpu District, Shanghai, where they experienced the digital charm of the Industry 4.0 era. They then traveled to Trina Solar Co., Ltd. in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, a leading company in the global photovoltaic sector. Through on-site visits to these two world-class enterprises spanning different industries and direct dialogues with senior managers, the international exchange students not only witnessed how sci-tech innovation acts as a powerful engine driving enterprises' leapfrog development but also gained a profound understanding of the invaluable role of sci-tech innovation in the economic transformation and upgrading of the national economy.

The international exchange students, led by Professor Wang, engaged in a discussion on corporate sci-tech innovation. The students were divided into groups to summarize their observations and insights from the visits, sharing and discussing their respective industry research and visit experiences. Through group presentations, the students showcased their latest thoughts on corporate sci-tech innovation. After the group presentations, the students visited representative landmarks in Changzhou, including the Tianning Temple, which built in Tang Dynasty, and the Qingguo Lane, where they experienced the unique local history and culture.

Niklas Robert Tyler from Germany remarked, “The development of China regarding digitization is outstanding and it's something we can learn.” Arturo Martínez Bellot from Spain believed that the visit was enlightening and shared, “It was impacting how in Trina Solar, at one moment, we could see live the energy that had been produced in all of Mainland China, which was billions of kWh, as well as live videos of the fully automated production facilities.” The students agreed that this highly interactive Mobile Class, combining company visits and real-time discussions, allowed them to deeply experience the driving force and vitality that technological innovation brings to enterprise development.

As a leading business school in China, the School of Management focuses on providing international experiences for students. Through various initiatives, the School enriches the learning experiences of international students in China. The School believes that business education should not be confined to the classroom and campus. Since 2011, the School has organized the Mobile Class for international students, showcasing the development of Chinese enterprises through company visits and field studies. This helps international students gain a deeper understanding of Chinese business practices. By participating in the Mobile Class, international students not only enhance their understanding of Chinese enterprise development but also gain a platform for personal growth and career development within the Chinese business environment. With the advancement of the School of Management's innovation strategy and the growing importance of innovative enterprises in China's economic development, the Mobile Class will increasingly focus on technology-driven companies. This provides international students with opportunities to understand the most authentic and cutting-edge developments in Chinese enterprises, enriching their learning experience and enhancing their understanding of China's business policies.