Quality education and international cooperation
for global challenges and social development

More than 300 students, parents and teachers participated in the event offline or online. The event attracted undergraduates from Nanjing University, Southeast University, Zhejiang University, Fudan University and other leading universities in China. Besides, some Chinese-foreign cooperatively-run universities also joined in such as Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, and Duke Kunshan University. Many overseas students from University College London, University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London and other universities were interested in the event as well.

Two admission officers from the UK—Roshan Walkerley, Deputy Head of Student Recruitment (International), and Olivia Matthewson, Regional Manager East Asia, with the invited Cambridge alumni, attended the event in person and interpret directly the key aspects in the application process. Daping Chu, tenured chair professor of the University of Cambridge and the Academic Director of the Cambridge University—Nanjing Centre, delivered a speech.

Why do young people choose Cambridge? Indeed, the University of Cambridge has numerous and brilliant academic achievements in the fields of natural sciences, engineering technology and humanities and social sciences. The Cambridge Laboratories, represented by the Cavendish Laboratory and the Molecular Biology Laboratory, have nurtured many Nobel Laureates who have changed the world. “But studying in Cambridge means more than access to the world's first-class education and research resources,” Prof. Chu stressed, “it also means the opportunity to deeply understand the society, as well as the Cambridge spiritual core of ‘contributing to society through the pursuit of education learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence’, so as to actively addressing the serious challenges faced by all mankind.”

We cannot solve global challenges without global cooperation. As the only science and technology innovation centre of Cambridge overseas so far, the establishment of the Centre reflects the enthusiasm of Cambridge for international innovation collaboration. "The Centre is a vehicle for active cooperation between the UK and China, and between the University of Cambridge and Chinese universities and industrial partners. It aims to deepen the concept of applied innovation, promote the technological industrialisation and localisation of research achievements, and serve the needs of local development," Prof. Chu said.

As the admission manager in East Asia of the Cambridge, Ms. Matthewson gave students a comprehensive picture of Cambridge from the perspective of world-leading academic resources, over 300 courses for postgraduates, career guidance for graduates both inside and outside academia, a unique collegiate operation system, and a colourful campus life.

“At Cambridge, students have a dual identity as members of a department in a particular professional field, as well as members of a college,” Ms. Matthewson shared about Cambridge’s collegiate tradition, which is different from most universities. “Colleges are mixed communities of undergraduates, postgraduates and faculty members from different majors, who carry out daily life, socialise and work together.” Focusing on the basic overview of postgraduate study in Cambridge University, she also explained in detail the materials required for postgraduate application, the specific process, the cost of study and living, and the coverage of scholarships.

What are the core characteristics of students who are more likely to be favoured by Cambridge University and better able to adapt to the study abroad life in Cambridge? “Boundless curiosity about academics,” replied Mr. Walkerley, Deputy Head of Student Recruitment (International). “A Cambridge student wants to learn and explore more than their chosen field of study. When they have completed a given study, they are always looking for the next field and the next question, thinking about how the discipline can progress in the future and where it needs to be strengthened to address major global challenges and critical moments.”

Alumni answered questions 
covering various subjects to help with offers

Certainly, the firsthand experiences of Cambridge alumni are the most realistic guide to studying abroad. During story sharing and Q&A sessions, alumni shared their study experiences in Cambridge. They are Qinying Gu with a MPhil (2017) and PhD (2018) in Physics from Clare College, Lucy Wang with a MPhil (2012) and PhD (2013) in Education from Hughes Hall, Lin Shan with a MPhil (2014) in Advanced Chemical Engineering from Lucy Cavendish College, Ying Peng with a MPhil (2012) in Heritage Studies from Emmanuel College, Dora Lu with a MPhil (2019) in Land Economy from Murray Edwards College, and Ximing Wang with a MPhil (2018) in Economics from Queens' College. The alumni, majoring in science, engineering, arts and business, are studying for a PhD in Cambridge, or have returned to work in well-known universities and research institutes, or are active in the front line of innovation and entrepreneurship.

 Graduating from Cavendish Laboratory, Dr. Qinying Gu is now a young researcher at the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Her primary research areas lie in the realms of brain-inspired computing and the application of artificial intelligence in next-generation electronic devices. She believes that the biggest difference between conducting research at the University of Cambridge and at other universities lies in the fact that supervisors at Cambridge encourage students’ innovative ideas without limitation, enabling them to freely explore their research interests with the support of top scientists and advanced equipment. Additionally, Cambridge places a strong emphasis on the integration of research and application, empowering students' entrepreneurial projects and facilitating the implementation of their research through mentoring from the Business School and other models. 

Dr. Lucy Wang inherited the spirit of contributing to society by academic knowledge. After returning to China, she applied the research direction of “drama in education” in the postgraduate period of Cambridge to academic research and entrepreneurial practice. As an assistant researcher in East China Normal University, she actively promotes this concept among teachers. She said that many years of studying abroad in Cambridge has brought her rich life experience and a truth-seeking attitude towards life, and provided a platform for realising her ideal life.

To Lin Shan, studying in Cambridge means more professional opportunities in addition to advanced academic study. She shared that advanced chemical engineering is an interdisciplinary major that integrates engineering and engineering management. It is the business management consulting experience accumulated in the Cambridge innovation projects that has laid a solid foundation for her follow-up multinational consulting work. By joining the Future Leaders Program as a Cambridge student, she won the opportunity to work in a variety of industries and found a real interest in healthcare eventually.

Ying Peng focuses on the application for majors in the field of humanities and social sciences. She believes that a solid and clear research plan and a strong research interest are the cornerstones for succeeding in the application. She referred to her own experience and the unique cultural traditions of Cambridge such as River Cam Punting, formal dinners and May balls. Then she shared that language scores, university interviews and reference letters are crucial to application.

Dora Lu is studying for a PhD in Cambridge. She said that the long history of the university, the dynamic academic environment and the innovative alumni community inspire her every day of studying in Cambridge. She further introduced that graduates of land economy have rosy job prospects as land economy is an interdisciplinary major integrating economics, law, environmental studies, urban planning and real estate.

"It was like living in a magical world when walking across the Mathematical Bridge every day," recalled Xinming Wang, a graduate of Queen's College located on the main campus of Cambridge. He said that finance-related internships and academic achievements were key to his application for postgraduate study in economics. He is now active at the entrepreneurial forefront of “artificial intelligence + medical health”. His startup has engaged in the international technology roadshow held by the center.
The Centre arranged focus group discussion on physics, education, engineering, land economy and economics, and social sciences, inviting former seniors to answer questions on language scores, major selection, personal statements, tutor contact, teaching model and accommodation conditions, etc.. The students interacted with the alumni actively in a warm atmosphere.

The spirit of sci-tech advance and innovation starts from high-quality education, and the inexhaustible power of sci-tech innovation depends on the talent cultivation. In the past two years, as a support platform for cooperation and development of the Cambridge University of in China, the Centre and the Cambridge Admissions Office have jointly held relevant activities, playing a pivotal role in promoting communication between the university and domestic students during the epidemic period. In the future, the Centre will continue to support and assist the university's educational work and promote the exchange and training of international talents.