My name is Matt, I am a 26 y.o. student from Poland with a double master’s degree in development studies and sociology with a specialization in Chinese society from Lund University in Sweden and Fudan University. Before coming to China, I interned at the UN Refugee Agency in Geneva, Switzerland. My academic interests include climate action, sustainable development and energy transition.
Inspiring Courses at SSDPP
I enjoyed all of my courses because they provided a comprehensive introduction to different issues related to my major and to sociology and development studies. In one course, Introduction to Chinese Society, I had the opportunity to learn from over seven different professors. We had a small group, and every week we discussed different topics such as healthcare in China, family values, economics, and the history of Shanghai. It was an eye-opening and enriching experience. I had the chance to ask the professors many questions, and I have been staying in touch with some of them. I particularly enjoyed this course.
I also took a Mandarin course called Chinese Demography and Social Development. It was a valuable opportunity to learn about key issues in China as well as in other countries. We learned many technical terms related to demographics and prepared presentations where we proposed our own solutions to certain issues or discuss democracy-related issues in our own countries.
I learned a lot and met excellent professors from China who graduated from various Chinese and foreign universities. This experience inspired me to pursue a PhD program. I hope to receive more advice from them in the future.
Conducting Field Research in China
In the first semester, I worked on my thesis with my supervisor, Professor TIAN Feng, which was a fulfilling experience. My thesis focused on a program called “Solar Energy for Poverty Alleviation (光伏扶贫).” I assessed how this vast poverty alleviation program was introduced and implemented in China by conducting qualitative fieldwork in Shandong, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu Provinces.
The fact that one thing is challenging is the reason why you should try to do it. I like carrying out qualitative research and China is a huge and diverse country, so I wanted to see what solutions China has implemented to promote sustainability. You know, China is a special place with regard to the development of the solar industry and poverty allievation, offering much to learn. Since I would like to work to solve different issues on a global scale, I need to see how it’s done in different countries and how we can learn from each other.
To see how a program is implemented and whether a policy is effective, of course you can look at the data and that’s also very important, but going there in person and talking to people there will give you many insights that you wouldn’t get otherwise. Although I had my friends helping me to translate by my side, I wish that my Chinese could have been better. Being able to understand local language helps you to understand what people are going through. And interviewing one of the biggest companies in the solar industry was particularly enlightening, as they showed us everything we wanted to see and answered all our questions. I think that gives you hope when you see the scale of the solutions that can be implemented. And if we work together towards the right solution, we can really make improvement in a way that is sustainable in the long term.
Some of my preconceptions were validated, and I gained many new insights. I saw a country where so much is being done to make change happen and people who work extremely hard to improve their lives, which I found highly respectable and inspiring. I’m very grateful to my supervisor for supporting me at every step with connections, resources, and advice. I’m also thankful to Teacher Zhang for always being there for me. I hope to do fieldwork in China again.
Building Connections in a Global Community
I love being around people and engaging in activities together with others. Studying was, of course, my top priority, and I found that being surrounded by some of the brightest students from China and around the world motivated me to work even harder. It's a good place to socialize here in Fudan. I would sometimes just approach someone politely or someone would approach me and we would start talking.
I’m always curious about people from other cultures and countries. Fudan, by far, is the most international place, the most culturally diverse place I have ever been. Even my experience at the United Nations didn’t expose me to as many nationalities or continents. Here, I’ve encountered people from South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Central Asia. It’s an incredibly diverse environment. I didn’t want to miss the chance to meet individuals from different parts of China, as well as from Kazakhstan, Colombia, Russia, Germany, Canada, and beyond. There are various activities where people come together, offering great opportunities to connect with others.
Embracing Opportunities to Explore More
There have been many opportunities to learn about Chinese culture or attend different conferences that were recommended to me by my teachers or by my coordinator. One notable experience was attending the Global Youth Summer Camp at the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen. This event brought together local and international students from different Chinese universities, backgrounds, and majors. We engaged in discussions on topics such as AI, governance, and sustainability, and also visited Huawei’s head office. I met an impressive guy from Hubei who graduated from Harvard with a master’s degree at just 21. You know, you meet people who have achieved a lot and you’re inspired to pursue even more in your life. So I’m very grateful for that opportunity.
Additionally, I participated in the YICGG competition, where we tackled issues and developed solutions related to AI and governance. My friend Alyssa from the United States and I proposed an app designed to create sustainable policy proposals, and we got accepted to participate in the final round This competition allowed us to pitch our ideas and present our cultures. Also, I was kindly invited to a meeting with the President of Poland, where he gave a lecture.
Expanding Future Possibilities
Studying in China and learning Mandarin has opened up numerous opportunities for me. China and Chinese organizations are involved with different countries, governments, private organizations at a very wide scale and this involvement is only growing. So if you have some idea on what China is about, you can communicate with the people and you know a bit about how things work. I would like to work for the United Nations, where Mandarin is one of the official languages and China is a permanent member of the Security Council. This knowledge and cultural capital significantly enhance my competitiveness. In terms of pursuing further career in the academia, having studied at one of the top universities in China, I think many people and other universities will value that very much.
Additionally, I am interested in doing business in China in the future. I’m certainly encouraged because I can speak the language a little bit, I’ve obtained a degree here, I've made a lot of connections and I’ve traveled the country to some extent. I also manage to gain different contacts at the school of management and I met a lot of people that I can learn from. The entrepreneurial spirit and innovative environment in China have inspired me to consider starting my own business here. I believe that the conducive atmosphere and enjoyable process of setting up a business make it an exciting prospect.
A Gratifying Journey
I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone I’ve met here, including the teachers and the academic community. I’m very happy that I waited the postponed year so that I was able to experience this because it has become one of the most important and valuable chapters in my life. This time has allowed me to discover a fantastic country, connect with amazing people, and explore incredible opportunities. I only wish I had more time, energy, and resources to make even more friends and learn even more.
With the connections I’ve made, I’m confident that these opportunities will continue to unfold. I hope to return to Fudan regularly and stay in touch with the diverse community I became a part of. I’m leaving with a deep sense of gratitude, motivation, and ideas on how to make improvement happen.
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Our heartfelt appreciation goes to Matt for generously imparting his valuable insights.
Reported by HONG Jiayi
Source: School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University
