Internships forge new paths

This summer, Fudan provided 2,745 students with 335 programs on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and six countries overseas.

"Since I was born in the 1990s, I didn't get a chance to experience the entire 40 years of China's reform and opening-up," said Tan Sijia, a graduate student at Fudan. "My understanding of the process of reform and opening-up primarily is about its achievements and influence, rather than its historic logic and development."

The programs have also attracted foreign students studying at Fudan to join their Chinese classmates in activities such as popularizing science, researching traditional culture and teaching in rural areas.

To allow students who aim to work in impoverished regions to gain deeper understanding of China and learn more skills, Fudan sent over 200 students this summer to government offices, state-owned enterprises and institutions to take up temporary positions.

While trying new things, Liu had other considerations when choosing the internship than a student studying overseas, such as getting a closer look at the situation back home.

Although Liu plans to finish her graduate studies abroad, she will eventually return to China to find a job.

"I'd say I'm enjoying this internship, but I'll definitely try something else as I go along," Liu said. "There's always something better out there."

Xinhua