From November 17 to December 13, 2025, the School of Economics and Business Administration (SEBA) at Chongqing University welcomed a delegation of undergraduate students from La Trobe University Business School, Australia, for a comprehensive short-term exchange program that yielded substantial outcomes. Fourteen students gained systematic insights into the operational logic of China's western economic engine and commercial innovation practices through a structured curriculum encompassing specialized business lectures, in-depth corporate visits, and urban economic investigations.

The program was designed to help international young scholars understand the intrinsic logic of China's economic development and Chongqing's strategic position as a pivotal hub, injecting new momentum into China-Australia business education cooperation and economic dialogue.

The program commenced with an enthusiastic opening ceremony attended by Professor Gao Xiang, Deputy Director of the Office of International Affairs at Chongqing University, where faculty and students from both institutions renewed friendships and shared their expectations for the journey ahead. Over the subsequent four weeks, the 14 Australian students embarked on an immersive journey integrating academic learning, business practice, and cultural exploration.

To establish a robust cognitive framework, the program featured specialized business lectures including "China's Financial System" and "Research on Efficient and Explainable Intelligent Matching Algorithms." Professor Liu Xin, Vice Dean of SEBA, delivered an insightful analysis of the macroeconomic landscape and development strategies of China and Chongqing, sparking keen interest and lively discussions among the participants and laying a solid foundation for subsequent field visits.

Additionally, the students toured the Student Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Center at Chongqing University, exploring the 3D Printing Laboratory, Intelligent Manufacturing Laboratory, and Robotics Laboratory, experiencing firsthand the platform.

Aligned with Chongqing's positioning as a crucial strategic anchor in western China, the delegation visited multiple representative enterprises and innovation platforms. At Changan Automobile's Liangjiang Factory and Global R&D Center, the students witnessed the cutting-edge progress of "Intelligent Manufacturing in China," observing flexible welding lines accommodating multiple platforms and models, fully automated integrated painting production lines, intelligent final assembly lines incorporating human-machine engineering, and new energy vehicle designs. They gained understanding of the leapfrog development of China's automotive industry from "following" to "running alongside" global leaders.

At the vibrant Mingyue Lake Science and Technology Innovation Base, the students experienced firsthand Chongqing's platform strength in nurturing emerging industries and aggregating innovation resources, as well as the vigorous vitality of the city as a source of technological innovation.

At the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park—the origin and starting point of the China-Europe Railway Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor—the students gained direct understanding of Chongqing's critical nodal role in the "Four-Direction" global channel network. They learned how Chongqing breaks inland geographical limitations through multimodal transportation integrating rail, water, road, and air to construct a supply chain network linking the globe.

At "Sanfeng Environment," an environmental protection benchmark enterprise, the students toured the complete waste-to-energy process, systematically studying China's leading technologies, business models, and policy support systems in green development. They explored how Chongqing's environmental protection experiences are being promoted to countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, and discussed circular economy and ESG practices.

This series of visits vividly outlined the innovation landscape and comprehensive strength of Chongqing and the broader Chinese economy.

The program designed an integrated "Industry-City-Culture" exploration route, highlighting the fusion of Chongqing's economy and urban space. The students rode light rail trains threading through buildings, appreciating the efficient urban operation supported by the city's unique three-dimensional transportation; they experienced the robust consumer vitality and commercial culture amidst steaming hot pot feasts. From the internet-famous Liziba Station to the dazzling night views of the Two Rivers, and breathtaking drone performances, they felt the vibrant economic pulse and modern atmosphere of this western central city. A high-speed rail journey to Chengdu allowed them to personally experience the "same-city effect" under intense regional economic connectivity, while a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Dujiangyan Irrigation System offered insights into the profound wisdom of sustainable development and long-term planning.

Beyond academic enlightenment, the program arranged diverse traditional Chinese cultural experiences. From the serene elegance of Chinese tea art and the gentle-yet-forceful introduction to Tai Chi, to content-rich lectures on Bayu culture, the students comprehended Eastern philosophy and aesthetics of living. In calligraphy workshops, they wielded brushes to personally experience the rhythmic beauty of Chinese character art. At Sichuan Opera performances, the mysterious art of face-changing and the resounding, melodious singing left them marveling at the extraordinary charm of traditional Chinese arts.

Four weeks passed swiftly. At the closing ceremony, Associate Dean Helen Yang of La Trobe University Business School stated: "The students have embraced Chongqing with curiosity and respect. Such exchange programs are vital platforms for cultivating university students' cross-cultural competencies, resilience, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and global vision."

The Australian students likewise shared their heartfelt reflections. They universally agreed that the richness of content and meticulous organization of this exchange program far exceeded expectations, significantly expanding their global business perspectives. They gained disruptive insights into the scale, complexity, and innovation velocity of Chongqing and China's economy, particularly developing deep impressions of Chinese enterprises' technological capabilities, strategic ambitions, and the efficient synergy between government and market. Many students noted that what they saw, heard, and experienced firsthand proved far more vivid and inspiring than descriptions found online.

The successful conclusion of this short-term exchange program represents an effective endeavor by SEBA to promote internationalized practical teaching and tell China's economic story well. It has further deepened the partnership between our school and La Trobe University Business School, established a high-quality youth exchange platform, and built a golden bridge for China-Australia educational exchange. Leveraging Chongqing's unique strategic position and boundless opportunities in China's national development landscape of the new era, the School remains committed to demonstrating a real, multi-dimensional, and vibrant China to the world through deeper practical teaching and cultural exchanges, continuously contributing to the deepening of people-to-people exchanges and educational cooperation between China and foreign countries.