German and Chinese students see future of manufacturing in Shanghai

A summer program themed on intelligent manufacturing brought together German and Chinese university students to explore the future of industry through academic exchanges, corporate visits and cultural experiences, strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two nations.

Hosted by the Sino-German College and the School of Optical-Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, or the USST, the two-week event in September 2025 involved 40 students from Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, and the University of Regensburg in Germany.

These students engaged with USST faculty and students through academic lectures, corporate visits and cultural experiences, enabling participants to deepen friendships and explore the frontiers of intelligent manufacturing.

The program began on Sept 8, with Cai Yonglian, vice-president of the USST, delivering a speech highlighting the achievements of long-term cooperation between China and Germany in education and culture. She stressed the importance of joint efforts in contributing to global economic growth and human civilization, encouraging young people to broaden their horizons, innovate and deepen friendships in a cross-cultural environment.

Lars Anke, chief representative of the Hamburg Liaison Office China, reflected on the cooperative achievements between Hamburg and Shanghai since their sister-city relationship was established in 1986. He praised the summer program as a model project fostering in-depth exchanges among Sino-German youth and collaboratively addressing global challenges.

Yang Huinan, vice-dean of the USST's Sino-German College, introduced the college's history, talent cultivation achievements and public reputation. She expressed hope that the students would gain insights into cutting-edge technologies in intelligent manufacturing while experiencing the charm of Chinese history and culture during their visit.

Academic exchange was a core component of the program. Experts and scholars from both China and Germany held a series of lectures on intelligent manufacturing, international relations and industrial cooperation.

Topics included the innovative application of advanced materials, the development of Sino-German relations, contemporary practices integrating science and art, and bilateral cooperation in the context of Industry 4.0, which focuses on connectivity and automation.

Interactive workshops facilitated cross-cultural communication among the students, providing new ideas and perspectives for collaborative innovation and talent development in intelligent manufacturing.

Corporate visits were another key element, offering the participants valuable insights into the practical applications of intelligent manufacturing in China. The delegation toured industry-university collaboration bases such as Festo (China), Changzhou Vocational Institute of Industry Technology, and a Sino-German youth innovation and entrepreneurship center in Taicang, East China's Jiangsu province.

The participants witnessed the efficient application of Industry 4.0 technologies in fields such as autonomous driving, unmanned aerial vehicles, and small and medium-sized engines, leaving the German students impressed by the speed and scale of China's technological innovation and development.

Cultural experiences were featured throughout the program. German students visited the Shanghai Museum East and the Chinese Wushu Museum at Shanghai University of Sport to learn more about Chinese culture and martial arts. They also toured Shanghai landmarks such as the Bund, Yu Garden and the Lujiazui financial district, immersing themselves in the city's inclusive spirit.

The summer program provided not only a high-level platform for Sino-German communication in education, technology and culture but also new pathways for bilateral cooperation centered on new quality productive forces and intelligent manufacturing. The USST's Sino-German College says it will deepen educational cooperation and cultivate youth with a global vision and an innovative mindset, fueling the sustainable and healthy development of Sino-German relations.

Cai Yonglian, Xu Fang and Cao Haiyan contributed to this story.