From January 19 to 28, LCC successfully hosted the “Australia & Singapore Sustainable Development Study Tour”. He Yiliang, the Vice Dean of China-UK Low Carbon College (LCC), led a delegation that consists of 16 graduate students from LCC, the School of Environmental Science and Engineering (SESE) and SJTU Global College, along with administrative faculty members,to visit four world-leading universities: Monash University and the University of Melbourne in Australia, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. The delegation visited cutting-edge laboratories and innovation platforms in advanced intelligent manufacturing, green energy and sustainable systems, launching an international study tour that seamlessly integrated professional theory with practical exploration.

First Stop
Melbourne, Australia

A scholarly sanctuary where tradition and innovation converge

From January 20 to 22, the delegation first visited Monash University. At the Intelligent Manufacturing Laboratory, the students gained a systematic understanding of key applications spanning from robotic arm operations to digital twin technology, they received 3D-printed wombat souvenirs, experiencing the warmth of technology firsthand.

Subsequent visits to the Data Center and Robotics Center deepened their understanding of perceptual learning, human-machine interaction, and design modeling. The Student Innovation Club was particularly inspiring, it is not only a hub for shared interests but also an incubator for entrepreneurship. Many students utilize their free time to build teams here, independently complete the entire process from project design and technical development to securing commercial sponsorship and competing in international competitions. Their innovative spirit and execution capabilities profoundly motivated the visiting students.

At Monash Centre for Additive Manufacturing —— the largest and most technologically advanced 3D printing research platform of Australia, the students learned how 3D printing technology drives lightweight and customized production in aerospace, biomedical and other fields, thereby reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. The students actively engaged with Dr. Tian Yang, discussing the industrial application prospects, existing bottlenecks, and future development directions of 3D printing technology.

Furthermore, the student-centered, seminar-based teaching model of Monash University has left a deep impression on the visiting students. Innovative teaching spaces such as the 360-degree Flipped Classroom exemplify the educational philosophy of “empowering students to take center stage in the classroom”.

On January 23, the delegation first visited the solemn, elegant and uniquely beautiful campus of the University of Melbourne that steeped in history. Its Neo-Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles, exquisite arcades, towers, and sculptural decorations silently conveyed the solemnity and legacy of academia. At the Sensory Motor Neuroscience Laboratory, the students experienced the interactive rehabilitation training games developed upon perception control and stress testing in person. They gained a profound understanding of how technology empowers healthcare, enabling personalization and enjoyment of “gamified rehabilitation”.

Second Stop
Singapore

Frontier of Green Intelligence and Scientific Innovation

On January 26, the delegation first visited the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Nanyang Technological University. Program Director Kelvin Pang and the doctoral candidates provided a systematic overview of CEE’s research projects and latest achievements. Subsequently, the students toured the Centre of Excellence in Maritime Energy and Sustainable Development, gaining firsthand insights into its pioneering research in marine clean energy and low-carbon systems. Walking through NTU —— renowned as “the world's most beautiful green campus” —— the students gained an intuitive understanding of sustainable campus planning through its architecture that seamlessly blends nature and modernity.

On January 27, the delegation visited the National University of Singapore, where they were warmly received by Xu Min, the Vice Dean of SJTU Asia-Pacific Graduate Institute (SJTU-APGI). The students took pride in the deep cooperation achievements between the two universities and were even much proud of the accomplishments in international education achieved by Alma Mater. Subsequently, the delegation toured multiple high-level research platforms including the CREATE International Joint Laboratory, the Hydrogen Energy Innovation Research Center, and the Energy Conversion and Storage Laboratory. They engaged in in-depth discussions with researchers on topics such as new energy technologies, carbon neutrality pathways, and doctoral training, further broadening their academic horizons and research approaches.

This Sustainable Development Study Tour bridges classroom learning with global practice through field visits, academic dialogues, and immersive experience. The participants have not only broadened their international perspectives and deepened their expertise in low-carbon technology, smart manufacturing, new energy, energy storage, and the circular economy, but also gained clearer insight into their roles and responsibilities as young researchers and future practitioners in advancing sustainable development. LCC will continue to develop high-quality international study tour platforms to cultivate sustainable development leaders equipped with innovation, system thinking and global competence.

Selected Reflections on the Study Tour from Participating Students

As a doctoral candidate, this study tour represented not only a physical spatial crossing but also an in-depth exploration of diverse academic systems and research methodologies. Through field investigations and academic dialogues, I gained a global perspective on the current trajectory of energy and power engineering disciplines and developed a more concrete understanding of the research ecosystems within leading research universities.
—— Zhang Jianxin

This study tour has made me deeply appreciated that the international perspective is an essential quality for contemporary youth. In the tide of globalization, only by continually broadening our horizons and understanding the academic cultures of different countries can we better establish ourselves and reach out to the world.
—— Xu Jin

In Australian, we visited the University of Melbourne and Monash University, experiencing firsthand the contrasts and complementarities between historically rich academic environments and highly modern campuses that emphasize openness and collaboration. These were particularly impressive for their learning model centered on small-group autonomy, freedom of design, and interdisciplinary exploration, where learning extends beyond the classroom and becomes a continuous intellectual practice.
—— Li Rui 

This study visit to Singapore significantly deepened my understanding of how leading universities and a highly developed city approach sustainable energy and urban development. The exposure to advanced research environments at NTU and NUS, particularly in areas such as maritime and hydrogen energy, broadened my academic perspective and highlighted new directions for my PhD work.
—— Muhammad Sohaib Tahir

Witnessing workflows geared toward microorganism-based carbon neutrality and energy storage was eye-opening; however, joint industrial research on hydrogen as an energy vector for maritime transport was the highlight. This confirms that effective decarbonization requires rigorous integration between molecular biology and industrial engineering. A high-level technical exchange that validates the direction of our work.
—— Cristhian David Chicaiza Ortiz