"Three weeks ago, we came here with a love for the ocean and curiosity about the unknown. During the study, we not only acquired cutting-edge knowledge but also forged sincere friendships. The spirit of 'Marine Cultivation and Fisheries' will become our motivation to safeguard the blue homeland," said TAN MIN WEI, a Malaysian international student. Her words echoed the common feelings of the 27 international participants. Recently, the 2025 Shanghai Summer School "Marine Cultivation and Fisheries" Program , hosted by Shanghai Ocean University, successfully concluded. Government officials, technical experts, and young students from 12 countries gathered in Shanghai. Among them were government officials represented by the African Development Bank, technical experts collaborating with Shanghai Ocean University on South-South cooperation projects, and young students who are the new generation in the aquatic products field. During the 18-day immersive learning experience, all participants explored the frontiers of aquatic science and technology together and felt the charm of Chinese culture.

Since the opening of the "Farming the Sea and Herding Fish" Shanghai Summer School on June 23, international students have deeply felt the school's profound academic heritage and research atmosphere through academic lectures, experimental courses, and field investigations. The curriculum design of the summer school is ingenious, including multiple professional lectures focusing on the frontier of aquaculture.

The practical part includes experimental operations and field trips. By participating in experimental courses such as the dissection of fish and crustaceans, international students can actually understand the physiological structure, characteristics of tissues and organs, and the laws of life activities of aquatic organisms. In the visiting part, to help international students gain an in-depth understanding of the characteristics and development model of China's aquatic products industry, students were organized to conduct industrial research in many places such as Jinshan Aquaculture Base. In addition, to enable international students to perceive Chinese culture, the curriculum also arranged a variety of cultural experiences, including traditional Chinese cultural activities such as dragon boat racing, Chinese calligraphy, lacquer fan making, Baduanjin, and Tai Chi.

Professor Sun Zheng, the person in charge of the Shanghai Summer School "Marine Cultivation and Fisheries" Program and from the College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, said that the summer school has built a platform for cooperation between domestic and foreign universities, research institutes, and international organizations. He hopes that international students will take back their experiences and insights in China, and while jointly exploring aquaculture technology and culture, inject their maximum strength into the sustainable development of the ocean.

As an international educational exchange brand project with a 17-year history in Shanghai, the Shanghai Summer School has been successfully hosted by the university for five consecutive times. The charm of the "Marine Cultivation and Fisheries" project has attracted international students who are interested in exploring the "blue granary" and studying traditional Chinese culture to the university. It is hoped that international students can apply the aquaculture professional knowledge they have learned to specific production practices and help the development of the aquatic products industry in their home countries. Foday Mary Nguanya, an official from the African Development Bank, said excitedly that through learning, she knew that algae could become an industry and bring economic benefits, and she would promote such knowledge in Africa's agricultural development work.

Shanghai Ocean University has made remarkable achievements in the field of aquatic disciplines during its 113-year school-running history. In 2021, the university hosted the once-in-a-decade Global Aquaculture Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, conveying China's aquatic wisdom to the world. The "Marine Cultivation and Fisheries" Summer School is a vivid practice of the university's mission to build a maritime power and deepen the opening-up of education to the outside world. This summer school has received strong support from the African Development Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

As an important window for Shanghai's international educational cooperation and exchange, the Shanghai Summer School (referred to as the 3S Project) has continuously promoted mutual learning between Chinese and foreign education since its establishment. Relying on its advantages in aquaculture discipline and rich international education experience, Shanghai Ocean University has become an important platform for global students to understand the cutting-edge technologies in the modern aquatic field and perceive China.

Source：Study at SHOU