Between July 4 and August 1, over 830 students from more than 20 countries around the world gathered on Fudan campus for Fudan International Summer Session (FISS) 2023. The 4-week Summer Session was intensive, with discussion and practical modules of both indoor and outdoor activities, providing students the opportunity to learn about China, experience Shanghai, and connect with Fudan University students to be part of the Fudan community.
“I really like my life here. The first week was a bit stressful because there were so many things to adjust to. But since then I've had a really great time here. I like the mix of the ancient and the modern. The city has so many different things to offer, and I guess even if I stay for a whole year I can’t see everything,” said Lena Maria Scheufen, a participant from Germany.
She attended FISS this year to get a taste of her upcoming study-abroad experience in the autumn next year. This is the first time she traveled alone outside of Europe and also the first time she came to China.
This year, FISS offers Chinese language courses of three levels, two PE courses and 24 specialized courses covering politics, history, economics, technology, law, etc.
The Chinese language courses came at three levels, tailored for students at different levels of Chinese language proficiency. Lena was in the beginner class. She said, the rehearsal of Chinese tones was very helpful as she struggled with the tones a lot when studying Chinese in her home university back in Germany.
Besides the language course, she took a course on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
A Culture Exploration Tour: Miraculous Traditional Chinese Medicine
Taught by Prof. ZHANG Tiansong,
from Jing'an Central Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University
This course began with some of the most widely known myths in China such as “Pan Gu separating heaven and earth” and “Shen Nong tasting hundreds of herbs and plants”, before giving the students an idea of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its basic concepts such as Yin-yang, and its basic procedures and therapies such as tongue diagnosis, acupuncture, moxibustion and manipulation. The students also went to museums, hospitals and herbal gardens to better understand how TCM actually work on patients. They even tried doing Yijin Jing exercises, a ancient series of exercises developed based on TCM theory aimed at enhancing body strength and flexibility.
“I like the content of the TCM class most, because I find the subject very interesting and it is a very new topic to me,” said Lena.
Law, finance and China’s BRI were some of the most popular topics that interested these young students most.
“Chinese Legal Culture”
Taught by Prof. SHI Daxiao,
from the School of Law, Fudan University
Through detailed interpretation with legal precedents and laws promulgated in history, “Chinese Legal Culture” explained the spirits of Chinese law from a historical perspective. The students learned about China's history of law and were given examples of how legal codes play their roles in the life of Chinese people in ancient times. Additionally, the course gave some interesting facts on the origins and bases of Chinese laws and regulations. The students were glad to find that a legal expressed that the teacher's lectures were interactive and interesting, and through the course, they gained a deeper understanding of the Chinese legal culture.
“Movie and Finance”
Taught by Prof. GAO Huasheng,
from Fanhai International School of Finance, Fudan University
“Movie and Finance” was an innovative, interdisciplinary course that combines art and finance. It allows students to learn more about finance through watching and analyzing finance-themed movies. The students watched movies including Big Short, Barbarian at the Gate and Margin Call, to understand the cause and effect of hostile takeovers, financial derivatives and financial crises. The students were able to see things from the perspectives of different market actors depicted in the movies. By looking into how financial transactions are conducted in the real world, the students naturally gained a deeper understanding of the theories and mechanisms behind financial activities.
“China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Its Impact in the Developing World”
Taught by Prof. ZHAO Minghao,
from the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University
“China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Its Impact in the Developing World” explored the historical background of the BRI and its current policy objectives and progress to explain why the BRI is an important pillar in China's domestic and foreign policies, and why the BRI shows China's pursuance of peace and development. From looking into the historical background to analyzing the current situation, and to proposing countermeasures, the students were given specific cases to study in order to understand how the BRI has promoted connectivity in trade, infrastructure, currency, finance and other areas and the importance of having multi-level collaborations among relevant countries and international organizations.
During the Summer Session, the students went on a trip to Suzhou, a beautiful city famous for its history and traditional southeastern Chinese architecture, took a city tour around Shanghai, watched an acrobatic show, visited world-renowned Chinese companies, tried Chinese calligraphy, Chinese painting and Chinese ceramic art by themselves.
Feedback from other FISS participants
“I really appreciated the professor’s engaging teaching style, which made the material more accessible and enjoyable.”
“The course on social media and social networking has many interesting and diverse forms of learning, and students can get more engaged in the course.”
“I have to say that I do appreciate the professor's ability to make complex concepts easier for students with diverse academic backgrounds.”
“I’m an economics student with hardly any knowledge in law. I recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about the decision-making of politicians, how it is influenced by international relations, and what is the effect of those agreements and treaties on our society.”
“The professor provided multiple perspectives on the main topic and gradually delved deeper into each subject. Concepts, principles, historical trends, classic cases, current events, and the latest research were intricately woven together in each lecture, which enhanced my understanding of the subject matter.”
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Presented by Fudan University Media Center
Source: School of Economics of Fudan University
Writer: Li Yijie, Wang Mengqi
Designer: Huang Ziling
