OVER the recent summer holiday, students from SMBU embarked on a range of meaningful journeys. Some volunteered to teach in rural areas, inspiring and bringing hope to local children. Others traveled to the countryside to give lectures on policy and emphasize the importance of education. Additionally, one group of students shared their expertise by providing international chess classes along Guangdong’s southern border.

A select few traveled to overseas countries, where they built friendships and took part in cultural exchanges. Some gave lectures to spread the spirit of the “Two Bombs and One Satellite” project, while others participated in internships to gain a better understanding of professional life. A few focused on research in scientific and technological innovation.

Vibrant summer with children

The SMBU “Katyusha” Volunteer Service Team garnered recognition among 6,334 youth volunteer service teams nationwide for their involvement in the 2024 “Colorful Holiday” Volunteer Service Project initiated by China’s Communist Youth League and the Chinese Young Volunteers Association.

Engaging with the legacy of the old revolutionary Xunwu base, the team conducted surveys on the condition of left-behind children and organized educational activities. The surveys involved nearly 30 town staff and five local families. More than 1,500 minutes of interviews were recorded, and 18 research reports were produced. The team’s efforts, which included 35 themed activities like language classes and psychological support, not only served nearly 200 children and their families, but also fostered community growth.

In Guizhou Province, Han Minghui, Guo Chuchu, and Zhang Shuaiqi, from the Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Control, undertook a 10-day teaching mission at Jiangkou County’s No. 5 Middle School. Through interactive sessions such as science lectures, math games, dramas, DIY design, Russian language learning, and fun sports activities, they ignited the rural children’s passion for learning and discovery.

Driving rural development and educational initiatives

The Zhanjiang Xuwen Rural Revitalization Practice Group’s pineapple-themed project has for years leveraged sci-tech innovation and industrial upgrading to address issues such as pineapple blackheart disease and promote the pineapple industry to Belt and Road Initiative countries. Additionally, they supported education in rural villages and launched activities.

During this year’s summer vacation, project members visited Qujie Town again. There, they created and performed a sitcom titled “Pineapple Boy’s Study Journey” at Xuwen Qujie Middle School. The sitcom was inspired by a boy who earned his tuition by selling watermelons. Project members also used drones to introduce the rural students to cutting-edge computer programming and artificial intelligence courses, aiming to ignite their enthusiasm for scientific exploration.

Endless joy in chess

SMBU has hired chess grandmasters Ye Jiangchuan, Liu Shilan, and Zhao Xue as chief experts, visiting professors, and teachers. Since 2021, international chess has been a compulsory course for every SMBU student. To date, nearly 30 students from SMBU have obtained a junior chess teacher certificate.

During the summer vacation, Zhao led 13 members of SMBU's varsity chess team to northwest Guangdong and launched a series of free chess courses for 60 left-behind children in Lechang, Shaoguan City. The courses, which include topics like the origin of chess, basic skills, and classic game analysis, not only greatly improved the children’s logical thinking and innovation abilities but also contributed to the promotion of international chess.

Diverse culture, global vision

This year is the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kazakhstan. A social practice team from SMBU carried out a summer social practice activity in Almaty from July 20 to 28.

The delegation visited various locations, including the Chinese Consulate General in Almaty, the Chinaline Language Training Institute, and Almaty No. 125 Middle School, where they experienced the legacy of friendship and cultural integration. They also toured several Chinese companies operating in Kazakhstan, such as China National Petroleum Corp. and SEPCO Electric Power Construction Corp.

On July 27, over 20 students and teachers from SMBU traveled to Singapore for an AI-themed summer field trip. They explored prestigious educational institutions, engaged with cutting-edge technology, and broadened their global perspectives.

Paying tribute to role models

A lecture team dedicated to serving as a bridge for Sino-Russian cultural exchange and cooperation visited Lianshan County in Qingyuan City to conduct a unique exchange activity centered on the theme of “Exploring Nuclear Power Plants.”

Team member Wang Shihan showcased the advantages of nuclear power generation through a comparative analysis of data. Another team member, Zhan Zhaoyi, shared the inspiring story of Academician Peng Shilu, highlighting his perseverance in overcoming nuclear submarine design challenges.

Gaining internship experience

In 2022, SMBU signed a memorandum of understanding with the Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League of China and the Shenzhen Tax Service of the State Taxation Administration. As of this July, the university has sent more than 40 interns to the Shenzhen Tax Service.

This July, after a fiercely competitive selection process, 15 students from SMBU, including Zheng Disi and Lu Simi, successfully won a four-week summer internship opportunity from the Longgang District tax administration branch.

In addition, over 30 students gained in-depth internship experience at local financial institutions or provided services at important foreign affairs conferences to hone their real-world skills.

Chasing sci-tech dreams

SMBU's “Polar Bear” team worked hard to prepare for robotics and technological innovation competitions. Each team member had a cumulative training time of at least 300 hours. Training centered around mechanical drawing, embedded development, and vision and automatic navigation algorithms.

To date, the "Polar Bear" team members have received a total of 22 honors, including eight provincial awards and 10 national awards. This summer, the team advanced to the 2024 RAICOM CAIR Engineering Competition national finals and won the third prize in the national competition.