On Friday, September 5th, 2025, Computational Microeconomics and Machine Learning for Social Science Prof. Luyao Zhang and Global Media and Communication Prof. Fan Liang converged their classes (COMSCI/ECON 206, STATS 201, and MEDIA 203) for a field trip titled Global Frontier Nexus Field Trip. The field trip addressed salient topics in all three classes, all while encouraging cross-field reflection and communication, and being rooted in DKU’s principle of rooted globalism.
The Field Trip
The purpose of the Global Frontier Nexus Field Trip was to provide students with an immersive, comparative learning experience that connects classroom theories with real-world practices in the global technology and media industries. By engaging students directly with leaders at the forefront of technological innovation, the field trip’s activities showcased how industry and academia can intersect to foster transformative learning.
Students first visited Amazon’s Industry Digital Acceleration Center in Shanghai, where they learned about the innovative and globally oriented Frontier Demo Solutions program. The program underscored the collaboration with the Shanghai municipal government and local enterprises to accelerate digital transformation across multiple industries. This collaboration is fostered by Amazon’s celebrated “Day One” culture of continuous innovation and its client-centered approach. Furthermore, the interactive workshop organized by an AWS Ads representative was both visionary and practical. The convergence of these two philosophies illustrated how objective-based frameworks and AI-powered tools can revolutionize decision-making in advertising and broader business contexts.
In the afternoon, the DKU delegation visited Tencent’s China East Headquarters. Students received a curated tour of the exhibition center that encouraged them to explore Tencent’s global service solutions. Tencent’s digital ecosystem proved to be diverse and large-scale, as evident from the meticulous demonstrations that spanned cloud computing infrastructure to media and gaming applications.
During an engaging talk with industry experts, students learned about Tencent’s mission to advance technology for social good. Indeed, Tencent leverages its services, applications, and philanthropic initiatives to establish cornerstone foundations supporting fundamental research and societal progress. International collaboration and innovation opportunities were introduced to students, as the next generation of leaders will be active participants in shaping the technological revolution.
At the end of the day, students were confident in their understanding of state-of-the-art applications and the ideas, values, and practices that drive global industry leaders. For educators, this field trip model demonstrates the power of experiential learning; for industry partners, it showcases how engagement with students can inspire and cultivate the talent that will shape the future of global innovation.
The field trip was a success because of the efforts of its organizers, Prof. Fan Liang and Prof. Luyao Zhang. DKU faculty support was provided by Prof. Paula Ganga, who participated in the field trip. DKU staff support was offered by Isaac Zhu from the Office of Student Experience, who provided the essential logistical coordination. Major thanks are owed to AWS representatives Dr. Dongping Liu, Xiaowei Chen, and their colleagues Jessica, Yazhuo, Sunny, and Mark, and Tencent representative Ruijie Ni. The collective effort will make a difference for the innovators of tomorrow.
The success of this field trip was also made possible through the active involvement of student leaders from across DKU’s vibrant student organizations. Their contributions demonstrate how cross-disciplinary collaboration enriches innovative educational initiatives. Key supporters included Zihan Chen, Founding President of the Synergy League, an initiative that supports collaboration between student organizations; Ximing Yu, Director of Communications of the AI Club; Ke Ning, Director of Operations of the AI Club; Jiahe Chen, Founding President of the AI Club; Allen Su, Founding President of the Finance Club; Yanpei Yu, Co-President of the CS Club; Yuzhi Zhao, Core Member of the Finance Club (majoring in Computation and Design); and Siyao Pan, Core Member of the Finance Club (majoring in Environmental Science). By lending their organizational expertise, communication skills, and interdisciplinary perspectives, these student leaders ensured the trip not only provided academic and industry insights but also embodied the spirit of student-driven innovation at DKU.
Future Initiatives
The field trip positions itself as a momentous example of Profs. Fan Liang and Luyao Zhang’s efforts to advance the multidisciplinary study of technology. In line with their objectives, they are launching the SociTech Futures Lab, an interdisciplinary hub examining how emerging technologies reshape human behavior, social inequalities, and governance. This lab will not only advance rigorous, collaborative research but also provide immersive research experiences for students across disciplinary boundaries.
Concomitantly, Prof. Paula Ganga has joined as a core member of the CSCC Digital Technology and Society Cluster, where Profs. Fan Liang and Luyao Zhang serve as lead and co-lead. Together, these faculty members are advancing cross-disciplinary teaching and research that integrates liberal arts with cutting-edge technologies.
Looking ahead, Paula Ganga, Fan Liang, Dongping Liu, and Luyao Zhang will co-present a panel at the Alliance of Asian Liberal Arts Universities (AALAU) 2025 Annual Presidents’ Forum, titled “SociTech Futures: Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Cultivating Student Leadership in Advancing Technology for Society.” This session will feature faculty perspectives alongside a student poster exhibition and interactive collaboration, showcasing how interdisciplinary education empowers student leadership and global engagement.
Concluding Remarks
The Global Frontier Nexus Field Trip serves as both a model and a catalyst for future collaborations between academia, industry, and student leaders. It reaffirms Duke Kunshan University’s mission of pioneering innovative, interdisciplinary, and socially engaged education. We congratulate Profs. Fan Liang and Luyao Zhang, and the other collaborators for yet another successful event, and look forward to seeing their future initiatives come to fruition.
Acknowledgments:
Drafted by: Eric-Ștefan Duma
Advised and edited by: Prof. Fan Liang and Prof. Luyao Zhang
Published by: Shuqian Xu