With an early start of 5 o’clock in the morning, the International Master’s of Public Administration (IMPA) class was on its way to visit the international metropolis of Shanghai, China. They would spend five days, January 11-15, 2011, on a field study tour conducted by SPPM Professors MENG Bo and YIN Chengzhi, assisted by Ms. GAO Jing and Ms. Chenni XU. Together, the 38 students – all civil servants – represent 34 different countries spanning the African and Asian continents.
Taking the day train from Beijing to Shanghai, the students were able to experience the magnitude of China’s eastern seaboard, as well as witness the expanse of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. The students started the field study off with an understanding of the city of Shanghai through a bird’s eye (Oriental Pearl Tower) and river view (Huangpu River Cruise), as well as visiting the magnificent China Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo. One student remarked, “I really do believe that Shanghai is a great model city for China and for the world” (Zulfiqar, Pakistan).
On the following days business visits were the order of the day, with the students first paying a visit to the China Executive Leadership Academy, Pudong (CELAP). There, the IMPA students learned about the history of leadership training in China dating back to Confucian times, “green GDP growth”, and China’s goal of “the harmonious society”. CELAP Vice President JIANG Hai Shan then gave a moving lecture entitled, “Five key points to understanding China.” The lecture was very well-received, with the IMPA students asking numerous questions of Prof. Jiang, even surrounding him at the end of his talk with more questions and requests of photographs. Prof. MENG Bo presented our CELAP hosts (and all subsequent hosts) with a plaque from Tsinghua commemorating our Centennial.
In the following days the IMPA class visited the Luwan District, Wuliqiao Sub-district Government, where they learned about district-level governance for an area with a population of 40,000 and interacted with the community culture centers for elderly citizens and for the mentally disabled. The class sang and danced with the community citizens, remarking that, “It is really wonderful to be able to meet the local citizens of Shanghai” (Luvoyo, South Africa).
The IMPA class was also fortunate enough to visit the suburbs of Shanghai - an hour’s drive from the city center - in Langxia Township, Jinshan District, to learn about modern agriculture and the new socialist countryside. The students received a talk on modern agricultural technologies, the local produce output, improvements on product safety, and the living conditions of the local farmers who live in high-rise apartments. The students were also given a tour of the plastic greenhouses, observing the natural growth of fruits (strawberries) and vegetables (cabbages, broccoli of all colors) aided by low-toxic, high-efficiency pesticides and photosynthetic lights.
Finally, the students rounded out the trip by visiting the Shanghai Museum and the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum as well as the famed Zhujiajiao Water Village, completing a wonderfully educational and joyful study tour to Shanghai. The IMPA students indeed gained a lot from the five-day experience and will be sure to transfer what they learned to their home countries. Each student will produce a written report on their own experience – and we look forward to reading them!
CELAP Vice President JIANG Hai Shan greets SPPM Assistant Dean MENG Bo and IMPA students after lecture
Visiting the China Pavilion, World Expo
Prof. YIN Chengzhi and IMPA students at the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum
At the Site of the First National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party
Visiting the Langxia Township, Jingshan District Modern Agriculture Plastic Greenhouse
At the Luwan District Wuliqiao Subdistrict Community Center
Aboard the Shanghai Huangpu River Cruise
