The "Study Tour Pioneering Scheme: China-UK Youth Mobility Innovation Ecosystem of the Guangdong-HongKong-Macao Greater Bay Area Empowered by Artificial Intelligence", organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange and hosted by Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), commenced on the BIT Zhuhai campus on June 15.

Over 50 students and faculty members from the University of Kent and the University of Southampton gathered in Zhuhai for a seven-day journey of academic study, industry visits, and cultural exchanges.

As a flagship program for bilateral youth study tours between China and the UK, this event represents a significant practice of deep educational and cultural integration between the two countries and showcases the unique, rich academic offerings of the BIT Zhuhai campus, leveraging the Greater Bay Area's technological innovation strengths.

At the opening ceremony, Wang Ru, dean of the Graduate School at BIT Zhuhai, highlighted that the program is the first flagship project under the "World Study Tour Alliance" framework.

Wang acknowledged that its core aim is to establish a long-term, stable academic and cultural exchange channel between China and the UK, promoting deeper and more interactive higher education cooperation.

Su Ru, a representative from the University of Kent, emphasized the university's commitment to educational collaboration with Chinese institutions in fields like data science, noting that international teaching cooperation helps address global challenges.

Meckaniuk Chloe Arlette, representing the University of Southampton, stated that the field visits in the Greater Bay Area allow the students to observe the practical applications of technological innovation in urban management and industrial upgrading, fostering critical thinking and cross-cultural communication skills.

This study tour used the Greater Bay Area as a classroom, integrating academic lectures, company visits, and cultural experiences.

BIT Zhuhai organized a series of specialized lectures by professional faculty to systematically introduce relevant technical principles and application scenarios, helping participants build a solid knowledge framework.

Additionally, BIT Zhuhai also arranged visits to institutions like the Zhuhai Space Center, BYD in Shenzhen, and BIT's Shenzhen Automotive Research Institute, allowing participants to closely observe the application of technological innovations in aerospace, new energy vehicles, and high-end manufacturing, and experience the collaborative industrial development in the Greater Bay Area. The program also included Lingnan cultural experiences and city tours, balancing technological exploration with cultural immersion, enabling UK participants to appreciate both technological achievements and local history, culture, and urban landscapes.