To thoroughly implement the 14th Five-Year Plan for Internationalization Development of Shanghai DianJi University and to meet the urgent demand for high-level international talent in building Pudong into a leading zone of socialist modernization, SDJU and University of Northern Iowa (UNI) jointly organized the 2025 China-U.S. Joint Summer School Program. The program was successfully held in August in Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA. After a rigorous selection process, seven outstanding undergraduates from SDJU School of Business participated in a two-week immersive study at UNI.
The China–U.S. (2+2) Joint Program in International Economics and Trade is SDJU’s first international cooperative education program approved by the Ministry of Education. Jointly established with UNI, the program is dedicated to cultivating outstanding, applied business talents who possess a solid foundation in the humanities, excellent English proficiency, a systematic grasp of the fundamental principles of economics and the theoretical and practical knowledge of international business, as well as a strong understanding of international trade policies and regulations. Students are expected to develop innovative thinking and capabilities, gain a broad understanding of China’s and global economic, legal, and social environments, and be well-prepared to meet the demands of economic globalization.
Since its approval 14 years ago, the program has closely aligned with the development goals of Pudong for international talent and our university’s positioning as the “hub for industry-education integration in Lin-gang.” The SDJU-UNI collaboration has established a three-in-one coordinated mechanism of joint curriculum development, joint case study research, and faculty sharing. Based on this program, this year’s summer course centered on the theme Global Ethics & Cultural Intelligence. The two-week program included 32 hours of English seminar courses, two corporate case simulation workshops, and one cross-national business simulation.
During the program, participants visited seven Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders, including John Deere Global Headquarters, Target Corporation’s regular and cold-chain distribution centers, ESP International’s assembly workshop, Hansen’s Dairy, and Kemin Industries. Students also explored local Iowa shops and small businesses to better understand diverse business scopes and operational models, effectively integrating theoretical knowledge with real-world practice.
The summer program upheld a dual focus on professional excellence and cultural exchange, nurturing a strong sense of patriotism while presenting China’s stories to the world. Centered on the theme Global Ethics & Cultural Intelligence, students engaged in in-depth discussions that received high recognition from UNI Office of International Engagement, which commended that “Students from Shanghai DianJi University demonstrated a credible, amiable, and respectable image of China through their professionalism and youthful vitality.”
Adopting a “2+2” model, students completing the SDJU-UNI joint program will receive a bachelor’s diploma and degree certificate from SDJU as well as a bachelor’s degree from UNI. Over the years, more than 800 students have completed the program, with over 95% successfully admitted to world-renowned universities such as Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Wisconsin, University of Manchester, University of Sydney, and Lund University to pursue master’s degrees. Many graduates have gone on to work at Fortune Global 500 companies, including PwC, marking a new chapter in their professional development.
Looking ahead, School of Business will continue to uphold the principle of internationalized education, further amplifying the spillover effects of Sino-foreign cooperation programs. Leveraging the industrial advantages of the Lin-gang Special Area, the school aims to serve as a bridge for deeper collaboration between partner universities and regional industries, contributing SDJU’s strength to the building of Shanghai into a socialist modern international metropolis with global influence.
