On the morning of June 24, the 2025 Make It Shenzhen Study Tour, jointly organized by the Shenzhen Talent Institute and the Institute of Data and Information (iDI) at Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS), commenced at the Shenzhen Talent Institute. The study tour brings together outstanding young overseas students to comprehensively showcase Shenzhen’s unique charm as the "City of Innovation" through academic exchanges, corporate visits, and cultural experiences.
Zeng Ye, Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Talent Institute, highlighted that Shenzhen's research ecosystem has entered a new chapter with world-leading scientists joining Tsinghua SIGS. "An increasing number of international talents are choosing to settle in Shenzhen, as the city strides toward becoming an international metropolis with an open and inclusive attitude," he stated. The study tour will become a regular program to help more overseas youth explore Shenzhen.
Associate Professor Dong Yuhan, Deputy Director of iDI and initiator of the program, delivered a speech. He pointed out that the study tour is the first immersive academic practice project jointly created by Tsinghua SIGS and Shenzhen. "Choosing Shenzhen means choosing to resonate with the pulse of global innovation," he stated. He noted that Tsinghua SIGS serves as a laboratory for cultivating interdisciplinary talent through partnership with companies like DJI and Huawei, adding that the study tour offers both scientific exploration and urban cultural discovery.
Zhang Yi, Director of the Office of Global Affairs at Tsinghua SIGS, outlined the school's international strengths and collaborations, encouraging participants to engage in academic exchanges and internships at top global institutions. "We look forward to outstanding participants joining the Tsinghua family in the future and will fully support everyone's growth and development," she affirmed.
The opening ceremony featured a special session on Shenzhen's immigration services and talent policies. Li Chunrong, Director of the Shenzhen Immigration Affairs Service Hall, highlighted user-friendly service policies for international talent. Shenzhen has innovatively launched a dual-track "online + offline" service model: online services are provided through a comprehensive platform enabling "One-Network Service," while an offline one-stop service center in Luohu integrates investment promotion and high-level talent services, offering professional support in finance, law, and other areas. For outstanding recent master's graduates, particularly those in STEM fields, Shenzhen offers policy incentives, visa facilitation channels, and special subsidies.
Lapochkin Mikhail, a 2024 master's student of the Smart Logistics program at iDI from Russia, shared his experience. "When I discovered the English-taught Smart Logistics program here, I immediately applied—it perfectly matched my professional background." He praised SIGS' campus environment, small-class teaching, and multicultural atmosphere.
Peter Marsh, a 2024 Ph.D. student majoring in Data Science and Information Technology at iDI from the United States, described Shenzhen as a "modern city brimming with technological charm and innovation." He added, "My time at SIGS revealed Tsinghua is not just a top university but also a warm international community."
The study tour will last nearly one week, during which participants will visit leading Shenzhen tech companies, engage in seminars at top laboratories, and deeply experience the city's cultural landscape. The organizers stated that the program aims to build a three-dimensional "academia-industry-city" linkage platform, opening a window for global young scholars to understand China's innovation.
Group photo of attendees
Source | Institute of Data and Information
Edited by Peng Bin and Yuan Yang
Reviewed by Lin Zhoulu
