“It has been so great getting to see the authentic China, meeting authentic people, and having these conversations that I think are so important to the future of both countries,” said Anne Dillon, a rising sophomore at Duke University, of the immersion program she participated in in Jiangsu, China in early August.
Joining Dillion were over 70 students from eight prestigious US universities who traveled to Jiangsu and Shanghai in eastern China to participate in a week-long series of cultural activities with their Chinese counterparts.
Those students, mainly from Duke University and the remainder from institutions such as Columbia University and the University of Michigan, visited Kunshan, Suzhou, Wuxi, and Nanjing in Jiangsu province and neighboring Shanghai.
The “Collegiate Immersion Bootcamp for US-Based Institutions to Jiangsu” program, hosted by Duke Kunshan University and the Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial Government, included tours of historic towns and museums, visits to tech companies, and seminars discussing the ethics of emerging technologies, all of which designed to promote meaningful interactions between young people from the two countries.
Dianahy Valentin, another Duke student, was impressed by Suzhou’s urban layout and spoke highly of an exhibition where she learned how the city protects its ancient towns and streets.
“It highlights the importance of not being too hasty in their pursuit of exponential growth, and instead incorporating sustainable practices into their development,” she said.
At the closing ceremony, Duke Kunshan University’s executive vice chancellor, John Quelch, called on students to treasure this experience for the short and long term and contribute to the US-China relationship.
Alec Gallimore, Duke’s provost and DKU Board of Trustees chairman, in a video message to the students, wished “the program has not only enriched your academic pursuits, but have also broadened your horizons, challenged your assumptions, and begun to deepen your understanding of the world.”
