On the morning of June 7, the opening ceremony of the 4^th SHOU Shanghai Summer School & the 6^th SHOU International Summer School was successfully held at Conference Room 109, Marine Science and Technology Building. Vice President Jiang Min and heads of the Office of International Student Affairs and the College of Engineering Science and Technology attended the opening ceremony. Also present at the ceremony were more than 30 students from eight countries. Wang Fang, Deputy Dean of the College of Engineering Science and Technology, presided over the ceremony.

Jiang Min emphasized that this was the first time SHOU held the Shanghai Summer School Program offline, and she welcomed international students for exchange and study. In particular, she expressed the hope that, by participating in a rich variety of class lectures, field visits, and hands-on practice during the three-week program, the trainees would have a better idea of our scientific research in the field of marine engineering, gain a better understanding of SHOU, Lingang, Shanghai, and China at large, and produce a rich harvest in knowledge learning, cultural exploration, and mutual learning. In the end, she encouraged international students to continue to study at SHOU in the future.

Yan Ping, Secretary of the Party Committee of the College of Engineering Science and Technology (the college undertaking the program), extended a warm welcome to international students on behalf of the college and introduced the educational advantages of the college in the field of marine engineering. She encouraged students to actively participate in academic exchanges, experience cultural integration, and enjoy academic explorations while gaining a more profound perception of the rich connotations of Chinese culture.

Shen Chunyun, teacher representative of the College of Engineering Science and Technology and head teacher of the program, extended a warm welcome to students from all over the world, hoping that, by taking part in the program, they would have a deeper understanding of China’s marine culture, explore in greater depths the mysteries of the ocean, and create a more promising future based on science and technology.

In his speech, Phunsin Kantha, a trainee representative from Kasetsart University, expressed his expectations for the summer program, especially the lectures on ocean engineering. He believed that the program would increase his knowledge, broaden his horizons, and stimulate his innovative thinking. He was also excited about marine cultural events, believing that it would deepen his understanding of China’s marine historical relationships and help him appreciate the cultural dimension behind marine science. He also added that he looked forward to in-depth exchanges with new friends around the world.

As an important part of the summer program, guest lectures and cultural activities would be organized around topics related to marine engineering. Guided by experts and professors, the trainees would have the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge about marine engineering and aquaculture engineering. In addition, the trainees would visit cultural attractions such as the China Marine Museum to gain knowledge about the ocean. Specialty teachers would guide students to carry out diverse cultural activities, such as Chinese calligraphy, dragon boat races, Chinese paintings, and Chinese zither music, in order to explore the mysterious Chinese culture. The opening ceremony of the summer program not only raised students’ expectations for the three-week learning experience, but also started an international academic and cultural exchange event, offering an unforgettable academic and cultural journey for all participants.

Shanghai Summer School (3S), sponsored by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, has become an important window of international education cooperation and exchange in Shanghai since its first launch in 2008. It aims to build a global platform for cultural and educational exchanges between different languages and cultures, and to attract more outstanding international students to Shanghai. This year is the fourth time SHOU holds the Shanghai Summer School Program. SHOU focuses on the theme of marine culture exchanges under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), aiming to create opportunities for international students to not only learn knowledge about marine science, but also have a deeper understanding of SHOU and Shanghai and the charms of Chinese marine culture and Chinese civilization.