In the summer of 2025, BNUBS organized a total of 23 students to participate in summer academic exchange programs at the University of Cambridge (UK) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA) respectively. Immersed in world-class academic institutions, the students engaged in in-depth learning and active exploration. They not only achieved significant improvements in academic literacy and global perspective but also gained invaluable growth in cross-cultural communication and teamwork.

University of Cambridge Summer Program – Immersing in an Academic Sanctuary and Embracing a Century-old Academic Tradition

This year’s Cambridge program carried forward its classic academic heritage and collegiate experience. The students resided at Murray Edwards College, where they were fully immersed in a rich academic atmosphere. The program encompassed a diverse range of activities, including professional coursework, group research projects, and workshops on British society and culture. The course topics covered multiple cutting-edge fields such as “Business Applications of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence,” “Strategy and Innovation,” “Global Educational Equity,” and “Research and Consulting.” Taught by University of Cambridge professors and industry experts, the courses emphasized heuristic teaching and interactive discussions, greatly broadening the students’ academic horizons.

Beyond the classroom, the students visited Cambridge-based technology enterprises and the Fitzwilliam Museum, and also traveled to the University of Oxford for exchange and learning. They strolled along the banks of the River Cam, participated in traditional Formal Dinners, and volunteered as tutors at local primary schools – all of which allowed them to gain a comprehensive understanding of British academic traditions and humanistic spirit. The program not only focused on knowledge dissemination but also emphasized the transformation of thinking patterns and the cultivation of global compet

PAPSI Summer Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison – Focusing on Digital Innovation and Experiencing American-style Education

In contrast to Cambridge’s humanistic and classical vibe, the program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) was infused with the vitality of modern technology and business. Centered on the core theme of “Digital Economy, Entrepreneurship, and FinTech,” the program enabled students to systematically study hot topics such as blockchain, DeFi, entrepreneurial financing, and the digital economy in classes. They also visited renowned enterprises including Exact Sciences and EPIC, gaining first-hand insights into technological and business model innovations.

    The program also arranged visits to Northwestern University in Chicago, local family farms, and whiskey distilleries, along with cultural activities such as cheese tasting, kayaking, and barbecues – truly embodying the concept of “learning through experience.” The close interactions between UW-Madison faculty, students, and the participating students further fostered mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and American youth.

Student Feelings – Voices of Growth and Transformation

The Cambridge Program

“Previously, my focus was on ‘how to solve problems,’ but Cambridge taught me to first reflect on ‘the diverse contexts behind problems.’ The ‘Digitalization of Rural Education’ project we collaborated on integrated perspectives from three countries, and was praised by professors as ‘practical thinking that truly embodies a global vision.’”

— Zhang Yuanyi, MBA Student, Class of 2024

“This journey began with hesitation, was sustained by perseverance, and ended with transformation. Cambridge endowed us with knowledge, while the journey itself bestowed upon us maturity.”

— Zeng Tiantian, MBA Student, Class of 2024

“The instructors in the summer program guided classroom interactions with a confident ‘who else but us’ attitude. Combining their own experiences of interdisciplinary learning, they vividly illustrated the value of ‘lifelong learning.’”

— Liu Hao, Accounting Student, Class of 2023

“My affection for Cambridge has evolved from ‘admiration for a prestigious university’ to ‘recognition of its spiritual and cultural essence.’”

— Ma Yan, MBA Student, Class of 2024

“This program allowed me to integrate theory with practice, accumulating precious experience for my future MBA studies and career development.”

— Fu Jingzhi, MBA Student, Class of 2024

The PAPSI Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

“If Beijing Normal University has taught us to pursue truth with the ambition to ‘look up at the stars,’ then the UW-Madison summer program has taught us to embrace the world with a down-to-earth attitude. What this journey has imparted to me is not only the expansion of knowledge and perspective, but more importantly, a learning mindset of ‘taking the world as a classroom.’ Truly outstanding education always enables the harmonious coexistence of tradition and innovation.”

— Qi Dian, MBA Student, Class of 2020

“We gained a more systematic and in-depth understanding of fields such as business models, corporate management, AI technology, digital currency, entrepreneurial practice, and investment and financing.”

— Zhao Xiaoye, MBA Student, Class of 2022

“The program broadened my cutting-edge understanding of finance, blockchain, and the digital economy, and enhanced my abilities in cross-cultural communication and teamwork.”

— Sun Xiwen, MBA Student, Class of 2023

Contributed by Office of International Exchange

Edited by Shang Yihong

Reviewed by Hu Conghui