A total of seventy-one international students set off for a journey of discovery and a rewarding summertime with 2017 Antai Global Summer Programme in Shanghai, China, amid record-high temperatures and one of the longest heat waves ever experienced by the city.

In addition to the regular July session - both Graduate and Undergraduate Tracks, a May session was launched this year catering mainly to students from North American institutions.

During the May session, 21 international students from seven different countries who are currently studying in universities such as the University of British Columbia, University of South Carolina, University of Minnesota, University of Florida and Tulane University in the New Orleans gained a better understanding of contemporary China's economy and culture.

And fifty students from 21 countries around the world were enrolled in July, battling the sweltering summer heat while taking part in classes, company visits, various cultural events and excursions. They are from a wider range of higher education institutions including prestigious names such as the University of Oxford and Cambridge.

This year, more of the latest topics and subjects such as entrepreneurship, supply chain management and consumer behaviour studies are incorporated into the curriculum, together with visits to rising Chinese companies such as Huawei, to startup accelerators such as Xnode, to the Chinese branch of General Motors, as well as to the historic Peace Hotel on the bund, formerly the Sassoon House which once housed the Cathay Hotel and is today run by the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts of Canada.

In addition, detailed commentaries were added during cultural events so as to further participants' understanding of traditions and customs.

The changes and additions are well received by all the students, who have shown a great amount of enthusiasm and interest in the economy and culture of China.

The English-taught summer programme is a rewarding three-week long journey, aiming at helping international students understand China and its business environment in particular.

Students are also encouraged to build team spirits and immerse themselves in local life through activities such as out-of-city tours, acrobatic shows, river cruising, tea-making, Zen practice, pot modelling and Chinese cooking lessons. On completion of the programme, students will be granted three credits by the SJTU.

Since starting in 2013, Antai Global Summer Programme has attracted students from a diverse range of cultural and academic backgrounds, providing them with a taste of the history, culture, policy and business scene in China, and helping them develop the vision and skill set needed for doing business in this fast-growing country.

With this programme, ACEM will also seek more cooperation opportunities with top universities around the world and further enhance its reputation home and abroad.