To enhance the internationalization of the School of Government, Shenzhen University organized a Cambridge Study Tour from February 2 to 15, 2025. Led by Dr. Hu Peixiaoyu from the School of Government, 18 students embarked on an academic and cultural dialogue at the University of Cambridge, bridging Eastern and Western perspectives.
The program emphasized interdisciplinary integration through expert lectures, roundtable discussions, final presentations, and field visits. Students explored cutting-edge topics like digital capitalism and AI ethics, and visited landmarks such as the Cambridge Museum, River Cam, London icons, and the British Museum. Combining Cambridge’s academic rigor, British cultural immersion, and research practice, the tour deepened students’ professional understanding, honed cross-cultural leadership skills, and exposed them to the allure of a world-class institution.
(Group photo of the study tour team at Homerton College, Cambridge, on the opening day)
Founded in 1209 in Cambridge, UK, the University of Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of the world’s top academic institutions, renowned for its academic excellence and global influence. Comprising 31 independent colleges under a unique collegiate system, it has produced 121 Nobel laureates, 47 heads of state, and 210 Olympic medalists.
[Academic Exploration: Engaging with Global Public Governance Frontiers]
In Cambridge classrooms, guided by Professor Patrick Baert and teaching assistant Santiago, students participated in an interdisciplinary intellectual feast.
Professor Patrick Baert, a tenured professor in Cambridge’s Department of Sociology, delivered a lecture on Digital Capitalism and Social Inequality. Using case studies of tech giants like Meta and Google, he revealed how algorithms reshape power dynamics, highlighting the paradox of “technological neutrality” and urging policymakers to prioritize human-centric approaches over technophilia. Dr. Santiago, a Cambridge sociology PhD, spoke on Workforce Restructuring in Digital Transformation, using interactive demonstrations to spark reflections on the future of labor in the digital age.
(Photo of Professor Patrick Baert teaching)
Students, divided into six groups, presented on topics like AI authenticity, social media cognition, and global leadership. Grounded in Chinese social realities, their presentations combined global perspectives with local insights, showcasing innovative blends of Cambridge’s academic rigor and China’s practical challenges.
(Group discussion in class)
Cultural Immersion: Decoding the Roots of Governance Wisdom
Amid academic pursuits, students embarked on a vivid cultural journey: From philosophical strolls through the Fitzwilliam Museum and the British Museum to the poetic songs echoing along the River Cam, and the millennial cultural heritage of London, students from the School of Government traversed centuries of civilization, decoding the underlying logic of governance wisdom.
Philosophical Strolls beyond the Cambridge Classroom
From being captivated by the medieval religious exhibits at the Fitzwilliam Museum to marveling at the authentic Parthenon relics in the British Museum, students were immersed in history’s grandeur. Encountering the historical threads of the British Industrial Revolution, they couldn’t help but reflect: does this share roots with Shenzhen’s special zone spirit, both driven by the eternal pursuit of “efficiency and fairness”? The humanistic temperament and governance ethos of these students collided with the brilliance of world civilization, sparking reflections that echo the line: And let thy feet, millenniums hence, be set in midst of knowledge.
Songs Resonating along the River Cam
Following the footsteps of poet Xu Zhimo from a century ago, the students boarded punts to revisit the River Cam, deeply engaging with Cambridge’s local history and culture. The River Cam flows through the heart of Cambridgeshire, flanked by iconic Cambridge University colleges like King’s and Trinity. Majestic architecture blends seamlessly with pastoral landscapes, and the gentle ripples from the punt poles enhance the serene ambiance. Overwhelmed with emotion, the students broke into a heartfelt chorus of Farewell to Cambridge.
London’s Millennial Heritage
Visits to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey deepened students’ understanding of British history, culture, and political systems. The group held lively discussions on topics like differences between British public governance and the Greater Bay Area, lessons from London’s urban governance, and contrasts between Chinese and Western cultures. These firsthand experience enriched their social governance perspectives throughout the tour.
This 14-day Cambridge journey was both an academic upgrade and a forging of cultural confidence. From theoretical debates by the River Cam to institutional observations at Downing Street, Shenzhen students responded to global challenges with Chinese wisdom. Far from a mere “study abroad,” this tour built an academic bridge between Shenzhen’s innovation and Cambridge’s scholarly frontiers.
The School of Government is dedicated to cultivating high-level, application-oriented, and interdisciplinary public administration professionals who systematically master public administration knowledge, possess a global perspective, and are capable of applying their expertise to solve real-world problems. This successful tour not only broadened students’ international horizons but also marked a pioneering step in the school’s global exchange and cooperation, advancing its mission to become a world-class institution balancing theory and practice, global and local engagement, and teaching and research.
(Group photo with Professor Patrick Baert and teaching assistant Santiago Vargas at course completion)
Text: Jiang Bo, Li Gen
Layout: Li Huan
Initial Review: Cai Shaoting, Sun Baohua
Second Review: Hu Peixiaoyu
Final Review: Gu Zhijun
