600 newly-enrolled doctorate candidates from Tianjin University sat through their first lectures on Thursday — not on campus but in a training camp.

The four-day camp, which includes training in psychology and innovative thinking, aims to help the doctorate candidates improve their communication skills, build team spirits and enhance their academic creativity.

The training is the first of its kind.

The trainees, divided into 12 groups, will take part in activities including “Journey of trust” and “Deserted island survival” among others under the guidance of psychologists.

“Innovation is the soul of academic research and team-work is imperative for academic innovation,” Bai Haili, deputy director of Graduate School of Tianjin University, said at the opening ceremony of the camp.

By Guo Changdong